Guru Mario Gabelli Makes Micro Reductions

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Oct 11, 2013
Sometimes GAMCO Investors’ chairman, founder and CEO Mario Gabelli seems to align his investments. His diverse portfolio shows unrelenting research, leaving no stone unturned, and finding opportunity in all the crooks and crannies of the U.S. market. Check out this local homegrown broadcaster that boomed and a $17 million dollar semiconductor company that competes with giants globally.

Guru Mario Gabelli holds both companies and made reductions in the third quarter of 2013.

Beasley Broadcast Group (BBGI, Financial): Reduced

Up 55% over 12 months, Beasley Broadcast Group Inc. has a market cap of $178.3 million; its shares were traded at around $7.68 with a P/E ratio of 18.30.

Founded in 1961 as radio station WPYB-AM in Benson, North Carolina, Beasley Broadcast Group Inc. is a radio broadcasting company that owns and operates 44 stations in 11 large and mid-size markets in the United States, reaching 6.2 million listeners weekly. Beasley Broadcast Group operates its radio stations in clusters to capture demographic listener groups. The company continues to invest in interactive support services to develop and promote its radio station websites.

Beasley Broadcast Group Inc. reported financial results for the second quarter of 2013 with net revenue at $26.9 million up from $24.8 in the second quarter of 2012, marking an increase in net revenue of 8.3%. Operating income for the quarter was at $7.4 million down 3.6% from the same quarter a year ago at $7.7 million. The company’s net income is $2.4 for the quarter down 38.9% from the same quarter in 2012 at $3.9 million. This impacts net income per diluted share at $0.10 for the most recent quarter reported, compared to $0.17 per share year over year. The broadcast companies same station net revenue shows an increase of 4.2% over last year in the same quarter.

Guru Action: Gabelli made three micro-reductions on his BBGI holding in the month of July 2013. His last trade was on July 11, 2013, when Guru Mario Gabelli reduced his position by 0.01%, selling shares in the price range average of $9.50. The current share price is $7.68 with a change from average down 19%. His current shares remain at 1,518,465.

This remarkable five-year history shows nine quarters of triple-digit gains, peaking at a gain of 383% in the fourth quarter of 2008 when he bought 34,066 shares at an average price of $1.59 per share.

Across a five-year history, he has averaged a gain of 74% on 436,077 shares bought at an average price of $4.42 per share. Selling, he has averaged a gain of 110% on 215,291 shares bought at an average price of $3.65 per share.

Track historical pricing, revenue and net income:

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Sevcon Inc. (SEV, Financial): Reduced

Up 31% since January, Sevcon Inc. has a market cap of $16.9 million; its shares were traded at around $4.85 with a P/B ratio of 2.90.

Organized in 1987, Sevcon Inc. designs and sells microprocessor-based controls for zero emission and hybrid electric vehicles through wholly-owned subsidiaries located in the United States, England, France, South Korea and Japan. Sevcon also manufactures special metalized film capacitors for electronics applications through a subsidiary located in the United Kingdom. The company has global competitors including Danaher's Motion division, Sauer Danfoss, Hitachi and the motors division of General Electric, as well as Curtis Instruments Inc. and other private companies.

Sevcon Inc. reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 ended June 29, 2013, with revenue of $8.7 million, slightly down from $8.9 million in the same quarter a year ago. The company’s net income was reported at $124,000, down from $156,000 in the same quarter a year ago. Earnings of $0.04 per diluted share were reported for the most recent quarter, slightly down from $0.05 per diluted share in the same quarter of fiscal 2012. Sevcon’s operating income was $293,000, up from $35,000 in the same quarter of fiscal 2012.

Guru Action: As of Aug. 23, 2013, Guru Mario Gabelli reduced his position by 0.76%, selling shares in the price range average of $5.38. The current share price is $4.85 with a change from average down 10%. His current shares remain at 561,900.

His eight-quarter holding history shows mixed results. Gabelli took a loss in five quarters, starting with a new buy of 509,600 shares bought at an average price of $6.52 per share and losing 25.6%. He began gaining in the fourth quarter of 2012 for the three consecutive quarters, but overall, he has averaged a loss of 25% on 566,200 shares bought at an average price of $6.44 per share.

Track historical pricing, revenue and net income:

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Read the rest of Gabelli’s third quarter selling trade details.

Mario Gabelli’s GAMCO Investors currently lists 799 stocks in a portfolio valued at $15.9 billion, with a quarter over quarter turnover of 4%. The portfolio added 50 new stocks.

Mario Gabelli’s recent top buys, sells, holdings:



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