Holding companies aim to unlock value

Article Excerpt

These two iconic U.S. conglomerates are using spinoffs to unlock their holding company discount. We feel these moves will ultimately succeed, but prefer Johnson & Johnson for your new buying. JOHNSON & JOHNSON $176 is a spinoff buy. The company (New York symbol JNJ; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 2.6 billion; Market cap: $457.6 billion; Dividend yield: 2.6%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.jnj.com) operates through three major businesses: Pharmaceutical (55% of 2021 revenue) makes anti-infective, antipsychotic, contraceptive, dermatological, and gastrointestinal medicines; Medical Devices (29%) sells a range of orthopedic, surgical, cardiovascular, sterilization, diabetic, and vision-care devices; and Consumer Health (16%) makes over-the-counter products such as Johnson’s baby-care items, Band-Aid bandages, Tylenol and Motrin painkillers, Listerine mouthwash, and Neutrogena skin cream. The company still plans to spin off its Consumer Health business as a separate firm in 2023. Meantime, in the quarter ended April 3, 2022, Johnson & Johnson’s sales rose 5.0%, to $23.43 billion from $22.32 billion a year earlier. That’s mainly due to stronger sales of its…