The fiscal year of Precision Castparts ends in March. Through the first nine months of the fiscal year, sales increased 20% and earnings per share advanced 26%. The company is on track to earn about $12 for fiscal 2014, up about 23% from $9.36 a year ago. Precision continues to deploy its cash flow on acquisitions. Its $2.9 billion acquisition of Timet , the largest independent titanium manufacturer in the U.S., is on track to exceed original expectations for synergies. It expects to close the $600 million purchase of Permaswage, a maker of aerospace fittings, by the middle of 2014. Despite aggressive acquisition activity in recent years, Precision retains a strong balance sheet and plenty of flexibility to make more acquisitions. Management believes it will earn about $16 per share in fiscal year 2016, which implies high-teens annual growth.
Source: Sequoia Fund's 2013 Annual Report - Management's Discussion of Fund Performance
