Polaris continues to deliver better-than-expected results, benefiting from persistent demand in response to well-received product launches and healthy growth in recently acquired businesses. While our narrow moat is predicated on strength in the firm’s brand and traditional product categories, we believe acquisitions and expansion into adjacent businesses could act as a major catalyst for earnings…
With a portfolio of leading brands and an expansive global distribution network, Kimberly-Clark continues to withstand the challenges resulting from intense competitive activity and lackluster macro conditions. Management raised the lower end of its full-year adjusted earnings per share expectations to $5.65-$5.75 (from $5.60 and compared with our forecast of $5.71), partly reflecting a lower…
Diageo issued a brief interim management statement for the three months ended Sept. 30. Overall, the company’s organic net sales climbed 3.1% in the period, led by North America (up 5.1%) and Latin America and Caribbean (up 10.9%). Analysts continue to believe that over the next decade Diageo will grow revenue by almost 6% per…
Nestle’s underlying sales increased 4.4% during the first nine months of fiscal 2013, driven by 3.0% volume growth and 1.4% higher prices. While concerns surrounding slowing growth in some emerging markets have circulated throughout the consumer products industry, Nestle’s performance was again skewed toward developing regions (up 8.8%, and about 45% of consolidated sales), while…
Last week, Buckeye announced it has agreed to acquire Hess’ terminal assets spanning the East Coast and Caribbean for $850 million. The addition of 39 million barrels of storage increases Buckeye’s storage capacity by more than 50% to 112 million barrels and complements the partnership’s existing wide-moat footprint very well, in our view. In particular,…
Snap-on reported third-quarter 2013 earnings per share of $1.43, nearly in line with the $1.42 EPS Street consensus estimate. Once again, the company was able to expand consolidated operating margin, which was 14.8% versus 13.5% last year, despite challenging operating conditions from anemic European economic conditions and reduced defense spending in the U.S. Our $105…
