Quaker Chemical

Many investors avoid small cap stocks, because they tend to more volatile than larger companies. You can offset this risk by sticking with small caps that are leaders in their niche markets. Here are three of our favourite small-cap stocks. However, only two are buys right now.

MTS SYSTEMS CORP. $37 (Nasdaq symbol MTSC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; …read more »

We still think investors will profit most — and with the least risk — by buying shares of well-established, dividend-paying stocks with strong business prospects.

These are companies that have strong positions in healthy industries. They also have strong management that will make the right moves to remain competitive in a changing marketplace.

Stocks like these give investors an additional measure of …read more »

QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP. $30 (www.quakerchem.com) has paid $10.5 million for the 60% of its joint venture in Mexico that it did not already own. It may have to pay an additional $2 million in July 2012, depending on certain circumstances. To put these figures in context, Quaker earned $9.8 million, or $0.79 a share, in the second quarter of 2011. …read more »

These four small industrial companies should continue to benefit as the global economy grows. They are also market leaders, and their shares trade at attractive multiples to earnings. They also kept paying dividends during the recession. However, only two are buys right now.

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORP. $23 (New York symbol BGG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: …read more »

CEDAR FAIR L.P. $20 (www.cedarfair.com) lost $31.6 million, or $0.57 a unit, in 2010, mainly due to $98.1 million in charges related to the early repayment of debt and a writedown of fixed assets. In 2009, it earned $35.4 million, or $0.63 a unit. Revenue in 2010 rose 6.7%, to a record $977.6 million from $916.1 million, thanks to a …read more »

ALLIANT ENERGY CORP. $29 (New York symbol LNT; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 110.5 million; Market cap: $3.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; WSSF Rating: Average) expects that it earned $2.65 a share in 2008. However, earnings for 2009 will likely drop to between $2.18 and $2.48 a share as the slowing economy has hurt electricity demand. The stock now …read more »

QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP. $17 (New York symbol KWR; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 10.6 million; Market cap: $180.2 million; WSSF Rating: Average) makes lubricants and specialty chemicals that protect industrial machinery from corrosion.

The company recently raised its quarterly dividend for the first time since 2004, from $0.215 a share to $0.23. The new annual rate of $0.92 …read more »

While the recent downturn has hurt most stocks, it’s been particularly hard on manufacturing companies such as these five. That’s because they serve narrow markets or cyclical industries. However, all of them are doing a good job controlling costs, which will help them stay profitable until the economy improves. That should also let them keep paying above-average dividends.

QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP. …read more »

QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP. $26 (New York symbol KWR; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 10.3 million; Market cap: $267.8 million; WSSF Rating: Average) is taking advantage of low-cost government financing to triple production capacity at its plant in Middletown, Ohio. The plant makes lubricants that protect machinery from corrosion. Quaker will also transfer some of its other operations …read more »

QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP. $22 (New York symbol KWR) reported record third-quarter sales of $140.7 million, up 20.9% from $116.4 million a year earlier. A $3.3 million pre-tax charge to settle an environmental lawsuit limited Quaker’s earnings to $3.16 million, up slightly from $3.14 million. Per-share earnings fell to $0.31 from $0.32 on more shares outstanding. Best Buy.

CONAGRA INC. $25 (New …read more »