This little-known buy has special appeal

Article Excerpt

TENNANT CO. $31 (New York symbol TNC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 18.8 million; Market cap: $582.8 million; WSSF Rating: Average) makes industrial floor cleaning equipment, including scrubbers, sweepers and polishers. It also makes outdoor cleaning equipment for garages, stadiums, parking lots and city streets. North America accounts for two-thirds of its revenue. Receives little media attention Most investors and their brokers have probablynever heard of Tennant. It operates in a narrow field that generates little media coverage compared to, say, computer software. But the company has a long history of steadily rising revenues and profits. Tennant’s revenues grew from $424.2 million in 2002 to $599.0 million in 2006, or 9.0% compounded annually. Earnings grew at a compound annual rate of 23.3%, from $0.68 a share (total $12.3 million) in 2002 to $1.57 a share ($29.8 million) in 2006. Part of Tennant’s growth comes from acquisitions, particularly companies that expand its presence in overseas markets. For example, in 2006 Tennant…