A company with a market value of about $1 billion is small enough to grow fast, yet large enough so that it can begin to appeal to institutional investors such as pension funds.
I define large-capitalization stocks as those with a market value of $10 billion or more, mid-capitalization stocks as $1 billion to $10 billion, and small-capitalization stocks as under $1 billion. So, a billion dollars is right on the line between small-cap and mid-cap.
Once a year, I write about ten stocks that straddle this line. I call it my Billion Dollar Portfolio.
The batch you’re about to read about is my 18th Billion Dollar Portfolio. The previous 17 have averaged a one-year total return (price change and dividends) of 13.5%. That compares well with the average for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Total Return Index, which has been 11.7%. Of the 17 lists, 12 have been profitable and 11 have beaten the index. Bear in mind that my column results are hypothetical and shouldn’t be confused with results I obtain for clients. Also, past performance doesn’t predict the future.
New Picks
Let’s look at some stocks currently near the billion-dollar line.
Apogee Enterprises (APOG), with headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, makes architectural glass and metal glass frames. The stock sells for about the same price as eight years ago, and I view the company as a bit of an underachiever. Yet I suspect it may be a good takeover candidate.
Global Industrial (GIC), based in Port Washington, New York, distributes industrial supplies such as workbenches, pumps, fans, shelves and materials-handling equipment. Its return on stockholders’ equity (a standard measure of profitability) is very high, at 69% in the past four quarters.
Kronos Worldwide
La-Z-Boy
Malibu Boats
Photronics
Regenxbio (RGNX)is a biotechnology company with headquarters in Rockville, Maryland. It is working on gene therapy to correct certain genetic defects. The company has shown losses most years but had a profit in 2021. As of September seven of 10 analysts called it a “buy.”
Standex International
Tennant Co. (TNC) calls Eden Prairie, Minnesota home. It makes wood products, especially flooring, and floor cleaning equipment. Its profitability has waxed and waned over the years, but it’s managed to show a profit in 13 of the past 15 years. At about 1.0 times sales, it might be a takeover candidate.
Usana Health Sciences
Last Year
My selections from a year ago fizzled. Collectively, they were down nearly 21%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Total Return Index was down only 61.5%. My worst selection was Johnson Outdoors (JOUT), down 55%. My best was PC Connection (CNSN), up 14%.
Disclosure: I currently have no positions in the stocks mentioned today, for myself or clients.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/johndorfman/2022/10/24/1-billion-portfolio-la-z-boy-photronics-kronos-and-7-other-stock-buys/