United Technologies Should Acquire This Rule Breaker Before It's Too Late
Why isn't United Technologies playing in the smart-home market? NextMarket Insights pegs the opportunity rising from under $2 billion last year to more than $10.9 billion by 2017.
Mostly that number describes spending on home automation systems from telecom and cable providers. But with apps governing so much of our lives, it seems only a matter of time before the "smart home" market includes any sort of intelligent gear that makes it easier to keep up with the house. You might even argue we're already there: Home Depot and Lowe's each offer a variety of purported "smart home" electronics via their online storefronts.
Enter Nest Labs. The privately held maker of precisely this sort of gear -- including a well-received learning thermostat -- just introduced a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector that's easily governed via apps:
The Nest smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. Sources: Nest Labs, YouTube.
As a homeowner, I'm thrilled by what Nest is doing. As an investor, there isn't much I can do to cash in on the company's progress. (Not till it comes public via IPO, anyway.) Unless, of course, someone were to make a rich enough bid to acquire Nest. United Technologies should be that company.
Why? Growth and adjacency. United Technologies already offers all sorts of industrial gear for automating and securing commercial buildings. Would creating a "smart home" unit with Nest at the centerpiece really be so bad? The greatest risk to the company, I think, would be ranging outside its circle of competence to develop a service team for residential installations and maintenance. But even that shouldn't be too much of a problem when Nest already has a database of pros certified on its gear available through its website.
We're also talking about seizing a market that's in the midst of multibagger growth. And United Technologies, which has juiced revenue by just 1.2% on average over the past five years, could use the catalyst. Think I'm wrong? Have a better idea? Tell us all about it in the comments box below.
9 more wealth-making stock ideas for you to seize now
Of all the attributes that make United Technologies stock attractive, its 2.2% yielding dividend might be the prettiest. But there are even better ideas out there. I know because our analysts recently identified 9 rock-solid dividend stocks you need to know about. Ready to learn more? Download this valuable free report by simply clicking here now.
The article United Technologies Should Acquire This Rule Breaker Before It's Too Late originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Tim Beyers is a member of the Motley Fool Rule Breakers stock-picking team and the Motley Fool Supernova Odyssey I mission. He didn't own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article at the time of publication. Check out Tim's Web home and portfolio holdings, or connect with him on Google+, Tumblr, or Twitter, where he goes by @milehighfool. You can also get his insights delivered directly to your RSS reader.The Motley Fool recommends Home Depot. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
