Customers opt for cheaper equipment

Article Excerpt

SNAP-ON INC. $292 is a hold. The company (New York symbol SNA; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 52.9 million; Market cap: $15.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.1; Dividend yield: 2.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.snapon.com) makes tools for auto mechanics and industrial customers. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Snap-On’s revenue (excluding financial services) rose 3.4%, to $1.20 billion from $1.16 billion a year earlier. Thanks to savings from an ongoing plan to improve efficiency, earnings improved 7.5%, to $4.75 a share from $4.42. The stock trades at a reasonable 15.3 times the $19.14 a share that the company will probably earn this year. However, rising interest rates could also lead to higher loan losses for the company’s lending business. As well, its customers are shifting to lower-priced equipment in response to rising inflation. The $7.44 dividend yields 2.5%. Snap-On is a hold. hold. …