Although growth stock picks can be highly volatile, they can make good long-term investments. They may be well-known stars or quiet gems, but they do share one common attribute—they are growing at a higher-than-average rate within their industry, or within the market as a whole, and could keep growing for years or decades.
And keep in mind that we focus on growth stocks, which have a good long-term history and favourable prospects. We downplay momentum stocks that tend to attract many investors simply because they are moving faster than the market averages, but are liable to fall sharply when their momentum fades.
There’s room for growth stock investing in your portfolio, but make sure you follow our TSI Network three-part Successful Investor strategy for your overall portfolio:
- Invest mainly in well-established companies;
- Spread your money out across most if not all of the five main economic sectors (Manufacturing & Industry; Resources & Commodities; Consumer; Finance; Utilities);
- Downplay or avoid stocks in the broker/media limelight.
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McKesson’s customers include 40,000 pharmacies, as well as doctor’s offices, hospitals and clinics. The company also supplies surgical tools and health and beauty products.
McKesson’s revenue rose 20.6%, from $93.0 billion in 2007 to $112.1 billion in 2011 (fiscal years end March 31). Earnings jumped 45.2%, from $881 million in 2007 to $1.3 billion in 2011. Because of fewer shares outstanding, earnings per share shot up 68.2%, from $2.89 in 2007 to $4.86 in 2011.
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Sales rose 8.0%, to $3.5 billion from $3.3 billion; the company increased its selling prices in response to rising ingredient costs. That helped it offset a 0.7% drop in beer volume.
The company continues to realize big savings from MillerCoors, its joint venture in the U.S. with rival brewer SABMiller. Combined with savings from its own restructuring plan, Molson Coors cut its costs by $106.6 million in 2011.
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Genuine Parts didn’t say how much it is paying, but Quaker City will add $300 million to its annual revenue of $12.5 billion. Owning this distributor will also make it easier for the company to increase its sales on the east coast.
As well, the company has raised its quarterly dividend by 10.0%, to $0.495 a share from $0.45. The new annual rate of $1.98 yields 3.1%.
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The company earned $441.9 million in 2011, down 4.5% from $462.5 million in 2010. Earnings per share fell 1.7%, to $4.14 from $4.21, on fewer shares outstanding. If you exclude unusual items, such as costs to settle an income tax dispute, earnings per share would have risen 9.9%, to $4.87 from $4.43. Sales rose 12.7%, to $8.8 billion from $7.8 billion.
The stock has gained over 30% in the past year, and now trades at 18.7 times Sherwin’s projected 2012 earnings of $5.72 a share. That’s a high p/e ratio for a company that is so closely tied to the U.S. housing market. Rising oil prices could also squeeze Sherwin’s profit margins (the company uses oil to make its paint).
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Demand for this new service could be strong, particularly as more people use tablet computers and smartphones to watch videos online. It will also help draw more customers to Wal-Mart’s VUDU website, which lets users purchase and download movies.
Wal-Mart is a buy.
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An independent group is now reviewing the mine’s environmental impact, and should release its report in April 2012. Meanwhile, Newmont has cut 6,000 jobs at Conga. That will lower its losses until it can restart the project.
Newmont is a buy.
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Demand for Boeing’s other planes is also rising. As a result, its 2011 revenue rose 6.9%, to $68.7 billion from $64.3 billion in 2010. Earnings rose 21.1%, to $4.0 billion from $3.3 billion. Due to more shares outstanding, earnings per share rose 19.5%, to $5.33 from $4.46. Without a favourable tax gain, Boeing would have earned $4.81 a share in 2011.
The company expects to deliver 585 to 600 aircraft in 2012, up from 477 in 2011. However, proposed cuts to U.S. military spending could limit Boeing’s 2012 earnings to $4.52 a share. The stock trades at 16.6 times that figure.
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Goodrich looks like a good fit with United Technologies’ other aerospace operations: Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines; Hamilton Sundstrand aircraft controls; and Sikorsky helicopters. Goodrich will add $8 billion to United Technologies’ yearly revenue.
Meanwhile, the company earned $5.0 billion in 2011, up 13.9% from $4.4 billion in 2010. Earnings per share rose 15.8%, to $5.49 from $4.74, on fewer shares outstanding. If you exclude writedowns of investments and other unusual items, earnings per share would have risen 9.9%, to $5.53 from $5.03. Revenue rose 7.1%, to $58.2 billion from $54.3 billion.
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The company should continue to profit from strong demand for its analytics services, which help businesses gather and analyze large amounts of data, including customer purchasing patterns. However, at over 27 times earnings, the stock could drop suddenly if Teradata’s earnings fail to live up to expectations.
Teradata is a hold.
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