The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: ABB, Power-One, AECOM Technology, Fluor and Chicago Bridge & Iron

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Apr 29, 2013, 09:30 ET

CHICAGO, April 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 ABB Ltd. (NYSE:ABB), Power-One, Inc. (Nasdaq:PWER), AECOM Technology Corp. (NYSE:ACM), Fluor Corp. (NYSE:FLR) and Chicago Bridge & Iron (NYSE:CBI).

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Here are highlights from Friday's Analyst Blog:

ABB to Acquire Power-One

ABB Ltd. (NYSE:ABB) recently announced its intention to acquire Power-One, Inc. (Nasdaq:PWER), a leading provider of renewable energy and energy-efficient power conversion and power management solutions. Board of Directors of both the companies have agreed to this deal whereby ABB will be paying Power-One $6.35 per share in cash or $1,028 million equity value.

The proposed acquisition will be structured as a merger and is subject to customary closing requirements which include the approval of Power One's shareholders. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2013. ABB intends to fund the acquisition with its own funds.

Through this acquisition ABB is expected to become a leading supplier of solar inverters globally. The acquisition of Power-One is well thought and comes at an opportune time when the International Energy Agency has predicted the Solar PV (Photovoltaics) system to grow by more than 10% every year until 2021.

Photovoltaics is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. The quick growth of Photovoltaics is primarily being driven by robust energy demand, especially in emerging markets, rising electricity prices and declining costs.

Power-One offers the market's most broad products of solar inverters, for both residential and utility applications. In addition, it also has a portfolio comprising of power solutions which complements ABB's power conversion business. Power-One primarily has its operations in in China, Italy, North America and Slovakia. In 2012, the company generated $120 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) on sales of approximately $1 billion.

ABB's leading portfolio in power and automation, global footprint and service organization make it a natural player in solar PV. For many years ABB has brought its solutions to the solar PV industry and is on track to generate sales of more than $100 million in solar inverters in 2013. Solar inverters are one of the fastest-developing technologies in power electronics, requiring substantial research and development (R&D) resources. In 2012, ABB invested about $1.5 billion in R&D overall.

The permutation of these two companies is expected to create value-driven growth based on innovation.

Based in Zurich, Switzerland, ABB Ltd. is a power and automation technology company and currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some other players in the same industry, which can be considered buying at the moment are AECOM Technology Corp. (NYSE:ACM), Fluor Corp. (NYSE:FLR) and Chicago Bridge & Iron (NYSE:CBI), which have a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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