Three ways to boost your foreign exposure

Article Excerpt

An easy way for investors to gain international exposure is with well-established foreign firms whose shares trade as American Depositary Receipts on the New York exchange. Here are updates on three of our favourite ADR stocks (including Diageo, see box). ABB LTD. ADRs $30 is a buy. This Swiss-based company (New York symbol ABB; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs o/s: 2.0 billion; Market cap: $60.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.0; Divd yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.abb.com) is a leading maker of electrical transformers, transmission systems and circuit breakers for electrical utilities. It also makes automation systems and robotic equipment. In October 2022, ABB completed the spinoff of its turbocharging business (called Accelleron). That unit makes equipment to improve the performance of diesel and gasoline-powered engines. Shareholders will receive 1 Accelleron share for every 20 ABB shares they hold (each American Depositary Receipt equals 1 common share). The new Accelleron shares trade on the Swiss Stock Exchange. ABB also sold an 8% stake…