Avoid this small-cap spinoff

Article Excerpt

WORKHORSE GROUP INC. $1.04 (Nasdaq symbol WKHS; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 42.1 million; Market cap: $43.8 million; Takeover Target Rating: High; www.workhorse.com) makes electrically powered trucks and unmanned drones. It has also developed software that monitors delivery fleets. The company now plans to spin off its SureFly business as a separate company. That unit has developed a small, 2-person, battery-powered helicopter. Potential customers for those vehicles include taxi services and farmers. Workhorse has yet to reveal details of the spinoff, but hopes to complete the transaction by the end of 2018. The small size of the spinoff (as well as the remaining operations) may attract a takeover offer. However, Workhorse is losing money, and recently sold $10.35 million worth of shares to shore up its balance sheet. We don’t recommend Workhorse. Workhorse…