Barron’s Calls for P&G Split

More outsiders are calling for a break up of Procter & Gamble. Editors at Barron's, the financial newspaper, insist that such a split would improve P&G's beleaguered performance.

The “radical action” would give the Cincinnati-based company a chance to contend with more “agile competitors,” according to Barron's article this weekend. Procter & Gamble has been struggling with weak performance, with its shares down 17% this year.
 

A breakup would give investors a chance to invest in companies that would be growing from a smaller base, with Barron's projecting that P&G's businesses could be worth $90 per share if traded separately. That compares with a recent stock price of $75. There may be plenty of reasons for a split, but a 20% upside on a stock price isn't one of them.