New firms show the power of brands

New firms spun off from larger companies sometimes rise quickly, like Carrier and Otis. That’s probably because investors are familiar with their products and like their prospects. However, others such as Viatris and Kyndryl, are more obscure and need a few years to build a.. Read More

July 31, 2019, Client Letter

In recent years, I’ve mentioned that the world is going through a gigantic monetary experiment. At first, I was referring to the “quantitative easing” that the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks began in 2008/2009, to offset the financial crisis. But the more I.. Read More

Expect these recent spinoffs to recover

New spinoffs often struggle for a period, partly because investors tend to dump their new shares. We think that’s why Kyndryl and Viatris are down since they became separate companies. Still, we believe both will eventually move higher, and we see each of them as… Read More

Q: I think you wrote a while back about how Scotts Miracle-Gro was a way to invest in marijuana without the risk of buying an actual producer or retailer. What do you think about the stock now? Thanks for all the good advice!

A: Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, $148.95, symbol SMG on New York (Shares outstanding: 55.0 million; Market cap: $8.4 billion; www.scottsmiraclegro.com), manufactures, markets, and sells consumer lawn and garden products worldwide. In the U.S., the company manufactures Scotts, Miracle-Gro, and Ortho brands.

In 2013, the company’s CEO Jim… Read More

We don’t see all spinoffs as winners

While most spinoffs pay off for investors over time, some deliver big gains right away while others can go into a deep slump. Here are two recent spinoffs moving in opposite directions.
GXO LOGISTICS INC. $88 is a spinoff buy. The company (New York symbol GXO; Manufacturing sector;… Read More

Let our stock updates help direct you

COTY INC. $7.73 is still a hold for aggressive investors. The company (New York symbol COTY; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 816.1 million; Market cap: $6.3 billion; Dividend suspended in 2020; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.coty.com) is a leading maker of beauty and cosmetics products. Its main brands include CoverGirl,… Read More