In recent weeks, it has started creeping up, and it now trades at 15. They haven't, however, and if you're banking on another takeover play, you're apt to be disappointed.
Analysts say price was behind the collapse of the takeover talks.
He thinks that on fundamentals, United is worth 25 to 30 a share. But even Lustgarten thinks a buyout in the near future isn't likely. He says as the economy improves and the company's sales and earnings start turning up again, a buyer or buyers might emerge once more. Still, some players involved in the earlier talks think a buyout play is out of the question. The reason, asserts one of the principals, is that the company has serious asbestos lawsuits that discouraged some of the potential buyers after conducting due diligence on United.