Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What is you view on Tata Motors, the Indian car maker?

Article Excerpt

Tata Motors (ADR), $24.04, symbol TTM on New York (Shares outstanding: 506.4 million; Market cap: $12.2 billion), designs, makes and sells vehicles, including cars, trucks and buses, mainly in India. It also makes and sells related parts and accessories. Tata is based in Mumbai, India. Tata Motors is part of the Tata Group, one of India’s leading business conglomerates. Tata Group has interests in a number of areas, including steel, software services, hotels, chemicals, insurance and asset management. Tata’s sales have grown along with the Indian economy. In 2003, its revenue was $3.2 billion. By 2006, revenue had more than doubled, to $7.7 billion. Earnings jumped 37.5%, to $1.10 a share from $0.80 a share. Cash flow per share rose 29.6%, to $1.49 from $1.15. In June 2008, Tata bought Ford Motor Co.’s money-losing Jaguar and Land Rover brands for $2.3 billion (all amounts in U.S. dollars). Tata bought these operations to enhance the company’s future growth prospects outside of India. Tata’s revenue…