But Japan’s Canon needs a catalyst

Article Excerpt

CANON INC. ADRs $21 is still worth holding. The company (New York symbol CAJ; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 1.1 billion; Market cap: $23.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 6.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.canon.com) is a leading maker of printers, copiers and other office equipment. Its other products include digital cameras and parts for TVs and medical gear. The stock is down nearly 30% in the past year. That’s mainly because more people are using their smartphones to take pictures and store them online. That has cut demand for Canon’s cameras and printers. The COVID-19 pandemic has also forced the company to shut down its plants in Japan, which is where it makes most of its products. As a result, Canon’s sales in the first quarter of 2020 fell 7.8%, to $7.18 billion from $7.79 billion a year earlier. Earnings per ADR also declined 26.9%, to $0.19 from $0.26. Canon aims to spur its long-term growth with other products such…