Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
What: Shares of Quanex Building Products Corporation (NX 6.92%) jumped as much as 11% today after announcing an asset sale.
So what: Quanex is selling a Nichols Aluminum, LLC, a subsidiary that makes flat-rolled aluminum sheet products, to Aleris for $110 million in cash. This will allow the company to focus on its main market, supplying products for the window and door industry.
Now what: Management is seeing an opportunity to focus on the growing housing and commercial building markets. The company has very little debt so this makes the balance sheet even more attractive, but the success of the deal will come down to Quanex growing the remaining business. It's been holding near break even but investors are expecting a jump in profit this year and next, so keep an eye on performance this year.
