TOKYO -- Fanuc may not be a household name, but the Japanese industrial robot maker likes it that way. It is no exaggeration, however, to say that without its products, global assembly lines, including those of iconic brands such as Apple, would come to a shuddering halt.
Fanuc controls the lion's share of the world market for production machinery and boasts an almost unheard of 40% operating profit margin. Recently, the company caused a stir in the stock market by announcing it will funnel up to 80% of its profits to shareholders through higher dividends and share buybacks.
