Spinoff created two pure-play buys

Article Excerpt

One of the main ways investors benefit from spinoffs is that they tend to create firms that focus on a narrow market. That makes them easier to evaluate compared to competing investments. A good example is Labcorp, which recently spun off its clinical drug testing business as Fortrea. Labcorp acquired most of Fortrea’s assets through its acquisition of Covance in 2014 for $5.6 billion. The split will let Labcorp focus on medical test results for hospitals and medical laboratories, while Fortrea helps pharmaceutical firms bring new drugs to market. We feel both have a bright future. LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA, or LABCORP, $217 is a buy. The company (New York symbol LH; Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 88.6 million; Market cap: $19.2 billion; Dividend yield: 1.3%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.labcorp.com) provides clinical laboratory services from locations in the U.S., the U.K., Europe and Asia. In 2022, it performed more than 600 million tests for patients worldwide. On June 30, 2023, Labcorp spun off its Clinical Development business as…