Sony sets the stage for your gains

Article Excerpt

SONY CORP. ADRs $62 is still a hold. The Japanese conglomerate (New York symbol SNE; Manufacturing sector; ADRs outstanding: 1.3 billion; Market cap: $80.6 billion; Dividend yield: 0.6%; Takeover Target Rating: Lowest; www.sony.net) has created a new subsidiary called Sony Electronics Corporation to hold three of its businesses—Imaging Products and Solutions, Home Entertainment and Voice, and Mobile Communication. The reorganization seems to be in response to reports that activist investor Daniel Loeb is taking advantage of Sony’s weaker stock price during the COVID-19 outbreak to increase his stake in the company. At last report, he held about 2% of Sony, and still wants the company to separate its entertainment businesses (including Columbia Studios and Sony Music) from its electronic-manufacturing operations. Placing most of its electronic operations into a single subsidiary—with its own CEO—should make it easier for Sony to eventually spin off the business to shareholders. shareholders…