WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Elliott Investment Management L.P., a significant investor in Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: NASDAQ:HON), has called for the company to split into two separate entities, Honeywell Aerospace and Honeywell Automation. The investment firm, which manages funds with a collective investment exceeding $5 billion in Honeywell, believes this move could result in a share-price increase of 51-75% over the next two years.
Elliott's proposal, detailed in a letter to Honeywell's Board of Directors, suggests that the current conglomerate structure is outdated and a simplification could enhance shareholder value. The firm points to inconsistent financial results and underperforming share prices as indicators that a change is necessary. By separating Aerospace and Automation, Elliott posits that each would be sector leaders with more focused strategies and management, better operational performance, and improved capital allocation.
The press release states that Elliott's letter was sent in the spirit of collaboration, aiming to work together with Honeywell to unlock the company's full potential. The letter is available for public view at ElliottLetters.com.
Elliott's analysis draws on examples of other conglomerates like General Electric (NYSE:GE) and United Technologies (NYSE:RTX), which have benefited from similar restructuring. The investment firm argues that independent entities typically enjoy better management oversight and a clearer investment narrative, leading to superior valuations.
Honeywell, with a history of over 100 years, has been a significant player in the American industrial landscape. Elliott's letter acknowledges the company's past successes but emphasizes the need for a strategic shift to address recent performance issues. The investment firm has requested a meeting with Honeywell to discuss the proposal further.
This report is based on a press release statement from Elliott Investment Management L.P. and has not been independently verified.
In other recent news, Honeywell International has experienced a series of significant developments. The company reported mixed third-quarter earnings, with an 8% year-over-year increase in adjusted earnings per share (EPS), reaching $2.58, despite sales falling short due to project delays and supply chain disruptions. Honeywell's Aerospace segment maintained its strong performance, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) reiterated its Buy rating on Honeywell with a price target of $227.00, acknowledging Honeywell's slight increase in third-quarter segment EBIT and narrowed full-year 2024 earnings guidance. However, the company also revised its organic growth forecast for the year downward to 3-4% due to delays in Oil & Gas projects.
In a significant shift, Wolfe Research downgraded Honeywell's stock from Outperform to Peer Perform, ending a nearly two-decade-long period of outperforming the market. This decision was influenced by operational challenges and a less optimistic outlook.
In organizational changes, CFO Greg Lewis (JO:LEWJ) is set to transition to Senior Vice President of Honeywell Accelerator, with Mike Stepniak taking over as CFO in February 2025. Honeywell completed four acquisitions in 2024, totaling over $9 billion, and plans to spin off its advanced materials division. These recent developments highlight Honeywell's strategic focus on future growth, supported by strong order trends and a record backlog of $34 billion.
InvestingPro Insights
As Elliott Investment Management pushes for a split of Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: HON), recent data from InvestingPro sheds light on the company's current financial standing and market position.
Honeywell's market capitalization stands at an impressive $146.46 billion, underscoring its significant presence in the industrial sector. The company's revenue for the last twelve months as of Q3 2023 reached $37.85 billion, with a modest growth of 3.96% over the same period. This growth, while positive, may support Elliott's argument for potential improvements through restructuring.
InvestingPro Tips highlight Honeywell's strong dividend history, having raised its dividend for 14 consecutive years and maintained payments for 40 years. This consistent dividend policy has likely contributed to investor confidence, with the stock trading near its 52-week high and showing a strong 22.61% return over the past year.
However, the company's P/E ratio of 25.83 and PEG ratio of 3.5 suggest that the stock may be trading at a premium relative to its earnings growth. This valuation could be a factor in Elliott's push for a split, as they believe it could unlock additional shareholder value.
For investors seeking a deeper understanding of Honeywell's potential, InvestingPro offers 11 additional tips that could provide valuable insights into the company's prospects and the potential impact of a split.
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