Is Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) One of the Best Income Stocks for Conservative Investors?

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE:SWK) is included among the 11 Best Income Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.

A toolbox filled with an array of different tools, representing the professional products of the company.

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE:SWK) is an American manufacturer known for its industrial tools, home hardware, and security products. The company is in the midst of a steady yet impactful transformation. It has already completed $1.7 billion of a planned $2 billion cost-reduction effort, resulting in a rebound in gross margins to 31.2%, which is a 1,200-basis-point improvement from the low point. At the same time, operating leverage is strengthening, and inventory levels are declining.

While Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE:SWK)’s Tools & Outdoor division accounts for 87% of its revenue, the smaller Engineered Fastening segment plays a key role in areas like aerospace, automotive, and industrial production. Despite its strong market position and ties to reshoring, infrastructure, and automation trends, the stock is still down more than 69% from its 2021 peak and trades at under seven times its peak free cash flow.

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE:SWK) has paid uninterrupted dividends to shareholders for the past 148 years. On July 24, it declared a 1.2% hike in its quarterly dividend to $0.83 per share. This marked the company’s 59th consecutive year in which it has raised its dividends. The stock supports a dividend yield of 4.91%, as of July 31.

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Disclosure: None.