Eye for Bargain Stocks Cuts Saputo’s Risk

Article Excerpt

SAPUTO INC. $28 (Toronto symbol SAP; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 206.4 million; Market cap: $5.8 billion; SI Rating; Average) is Canada’s largest producer of dairy products, including milk, butter and cheese. It also produces dairy products in the United States, Argentina and Europe. These operations account for 97% of its revenue. The remaining 3% comes from its bakery operations, which make snack-cakes, cookies and tarts. Much of the company’s recent growth comes from 16 acquisitions of bargain stocks over the past 10 years. We generally downplay companies that expand through acquisitions, due to the hidden risk that comes with most new purchases. However, Saputo has a strong record of picking up struggling operations with bargain stocks and quickly turning them around. Focused on international markets Major producers like Saputo control most the Canadian dairy industry, so there’s little opportunity to expand in Canada. Consequently, most of the company’s purchases of bargain stocks in the past few years were outside of…