The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: General Electric, United Technologies, Synchrony Financial and Compass Diversified Holdings
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – October 14, 2014 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the General Electric Company (GE-Free Report), United Technologies Corp. (UTX-Free Report), Synchrony Financial (SYF-Free Report) and Compass Diversified Holdings (CODI-Free Report).
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Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Is GE Considering Milestone Aviation Acquisition?
As per reports by the Wall Street Journal, General Electric Company ' s (GE-Free Report) finance arm is discussing a deal to acquire Milestone Aviation Group Ltd., a move that will enable the company to include helicopters in its aircraft-leasing operations.
The deal could be worth more than $2.5 billion, according to the report. Apparently, Milestone Aviation, the world ' s largest helicopter leasing company by fleet value, is also looking for an initial public offering.
Founded in 2010, Milestone Aviation’s helicopter leasing services are utilized for transportation of workers and supplies for oil companies, and also in search and rescue operations and in urgent medical needs. Private equity firms Nautic Partners and The Jordan Company invested $500 million when the Irish aviation finance company was launched.
The company recently expanded its fleet with choppers worth $2.2 billion, and has reportedly placed additional orders for helicopters worth approximately $3 billion.
Adding Milestone Aviation is expected to be favorable for the General Electric’s aircraft segment, GE Capital Aviation Services (:GECAS). GECAS presently operates a fleet of over 1,600 aircraft, catering to airlines, cargo businesses and other clients. The acquisition would expand GECAS’ portfolio of rental assets beyond the competitive plane-leasing business, enabling it to venture into the lucrative helicopter business.
The impressive demand for helicopters is being driven by the expansion of exploration and extraction of natural resources, rising demand in the public sector (for law enforcement, emergency services, patrol activities and search and rescue missions) and higher corporate demand.
Sikorsky Aircraft, the helicopter leasing division of United Technologies Corp. (UTX-Free Report), has been witnessing thriving business in the field as clients expand the list of uses of big helicopters. With this thrust into helicopter leasing, GECAS can explore new adjacencies and possibly capitalize on the growing popularity of copter usage in the lucrative oil and gas exploration industry.
General Electric is currently reforming its operations, with a long-term strategy of shrinking its financial arm, GE Capital, and aligning its portfolio toward core industrial operations. In its aggressive restructuring stance, General Electric has been pursuing acquisition targets that promise robust synergies and are immediately accretive.
To stimulate its shift away from the financial business, General Electric spun off its private-label credit-card business under the name Synchrony Financial (SYF-Free Report) in July. The company also bid successfully to acquire the energy assets of French conglomerate Alstom for $13.5 billion, as part of its efforts to strengthen its core industrial operations.
General Electric presently sports a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the diversified operations industry is Compass Diversified Holdings (CODI-Free Report), which carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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