Arnold Van Den Berg Buys UnitedHealth Group Inc., M.D.C. Holdings Inc., Sells Patterson Companies Inc., Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp.

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Aug 19, 2008
Arnold Van Den Berg likes to buy good companies sold at historical low P/S ratios. This has been working for him for more than 30 years... unitl last year. But did it really stop working? Maybe not. These are his buys and sells during the second quarter. Arnold Van Den Berg owns 64 stocks with a total value of $2.4 billion.


Arnold Van Den Berg buys UnitedHealth Group Inc., M.D.C. Holdings Inc., sells Patterson Companies Inc., Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. during the 3-months ended 06/30/2008, according to the most recent filings of his investment company, Century Management. Arnold Van Den Berg owns 64 stocks with a total value of $2.4 billion. These are the details of the buys and sells.





New Purchases: MDC, UNH,


Added Positions: FDX, GE, NWL, PG, UPS,


Reduced Positions: ABFS, BGG, BUD, RNT, WMT,


Sold Out: ESCC, PDCO,





For the details of Arnold Van Den Berg's stock buys and sells, go to http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=Arnold+Van+Den+Berg


Added: General Electric Company (GE)


Arnold Van Den Berg added to his holdings in General Electric Company by 338.14%. His purchase prices were between $26.26 and $37.15, with an estimated average price of $31. The impact to his portfolio due to this purchase was 1.59%. His holdings were 1,844,985 shares as of 06/30/2008.


General Electric is one of the largest and most diversified industrial corporations in the world. GE is engaged in developing manufacturing and marketing a wide variety of products for the generation transmission distribution control and utilization of electricity. Some of GE's products include major appliances; lighting products; industrial automation products; medical diagnostic imaging equipment; motors; electrical distribution and control equipment; locomotives; power generation and delivery products. General Electric Company has a market cap of $291.97 billion; its shares were traded at around $29.35 with a P/E ratio of 13.65 and P/S ratio of 1.64. The dividend yield of General Electric Company stocks is 4.3%.


Added: United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS, Financial)


Arnold Van Den Berg added to his holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. by 122.42%. His purchase prices were between $60.36 and $73.94, with an estimated average price of $69.6. The impact to his portfolio due to this purchase was 0.68%. His holdings were 484,307 shares as of 06/30/2008.


United Parcel Service Inc. is the world's largest express carrier the world's largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services. Their primary business is the time-definite delivery of packages and documents throughout the United States and in over 200 other countries and territories. They have established a vast and reliable global transportation infrastructuredeveloped a comprehensive competitive and guaranteed portfolio of servicesand consistently supported these services with advanced technology. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a market cap of $65.83 billion; its shares were traded at around $65.3 with a P/E ratio of 318.54 and P/S ratio of 1.30. The dividend yield of United Parcel Service, Inc. stocks is 2.9%.


Added: The Procter & Gamble Company (PG, Financial)


Arnold Van Den Berg added to his holdings in The Procter & Gamble Company by 1973.78%. His purchase prices were between $60.11 and $69.76, with an estimated average price of $65.7. The impact to his portfolio due to this purchase was 0.64%. His holdings were 263,909 shares as of 06/30/2008.


The Procter & Gamble Company manufactures and markets a broad range of consumer products in many countries throughout the world. Products fall into five business segments: fabric and home care paper beauty care health care and food and beverage. Today P&G markets more than 250 products to more than five billion consumers in 130 countries. The Procter & Gamble Company has a market cap of $221.6 billion; its shares were traded at around $71.27 with a P/E ratio of 19.57 and P/S ratio of 2.67. The dividend yield of The Procter & Gamble Company stocks is 2.5%.


Added: FedEx Corp. (FDX, Financial)


Arnold Van Den Berg added to his holdings in FedEx Corp. by 80.11%. His purchase prices were between $77.25 and $96.75, with an estimated average price of $89.9. The impact to his portfolio due to this purchase was 0.43%. His holdings were 291,972 shares as of 06/30/2008.


FedEx Corporation is a global transportation and logistics enterprise that offers customers a one-stop source for global shipping logistics and supply chain solutions. Services offered by FedEx companies include worldwide express delivery ground small-parcel delivery less-than-truckload freight delivery and global logistics supply chain management and electronic commerce solutions. FedEx Corp. has a market cap of $26.74 billion; its shares were traded at around $85.92 with a P/E ratio of 23.83 and P/S ratio of 0.72. The dividend yield of FedEx Corp. stocks is 0.6%.


Added: Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NWL, Financial)


Arnold Van Den Berg added to his holdings in Newell Rubbermaid Inc. by 43.77%. His purchase prices were between $16.98 and $23.18, with an estimated average price of $20.3. The impact to his portfolio due to this purchase was 0.37%. His holdings were 1,714,351 shares as of 06/30/2008.


Newell Rubbermaid Inc. is a global manufacturer and full-service marketer of name-brand consumer products serving the needs of volume purchasersincluding discount stores and warehouse clubs home centers and hardware stores and office superstores and contract stationers. The company's multi-product offering consists of name-brand consumer products in six business segments: Storage Organization & Cleaning; Home Decor; Office Products; Infant/Juvenile Care & Play; Food Preparation Cooking & Serving and Hardware & Tools. Newell Rubbermaid Inc. has a market cap of $5.25 billion; its shares were traded at around $18.94 with a P/E ratio of 12.35 and P/S ratio of 0.80. The dividend yield of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. stocks is 5%.


New Purchase: UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH, Financial)


Arnold Van Den Berg initiated holdings in UnitedHealth Group Inc.. His purchase prices were between $26.01 and $37.25, with an estimated average price of $32.9. The impact to his portfolio due to this purchase was 3.18%. His holdings were 2,901,220 shares as of 06/30/2008.


UnitedHealth Group Inc. offers health care coverage and related services to help people achieve improved health and well-being through all stages of life. The company's products and services reflect a number of core capabilities including medical information management health benefit administration care coordination risk assessment and pricing health benefit design and provider contracting. With these capabilities it is able to provide comprehensive health care management services through organized health systems and insurance products. UnitedHealth Group Inc. has a market cap of $39.12 billion; its shares were traded at around $32.13 with a P/E ratio of 10.88 and P/S ratio of 0.52. The dividend yield of UnitedHealth Group Inc. stocks is 0.1%.


New Purchase: M.D.C. Holdings Inc. (MDC, Financial)


Arnold Van Den Berg initiated holdings in M.D.C. Holdings Inc.. His purchase prices were between $39.44 and $45.32, with an estimated average price of $42.4. The impact to his portfolio due to this purchase was 0.02%. His holdings were 12,165 shares as of 06/30/2008.


M.D.C. HOLDINGS INC. is engaged in the construction sale and related financing of residential housing and the acquisition and development of land for use in its homebuilding activities and sale to others in the Denver Phoenix Maryland Virginia mid Atlantic region Las Vegas Dallas California metropolitan areas. They are also is involved in real estate brokerage property management condominium conversions and fee construction of apartment and commercial buildings. M.D.C. Holdings Inc. has a market cap of $1.87 billion; its shares were traded at around $40.43 with P/S ratio of 0.87. The dividend yield of M.D.C. Holdings Inc. stocks is 2.5%.


Reduced: Aaron Rents Inc. (RNT, Financial)


Arnold Van Den Berg reduced to his holdings in Aaron Rents Inc. by 23.63%. His sale prices were between $21.24 and $25.46, with an estimated average price of $23.5. The impact to his portfolio due to this sale was -0.05%. Arnold Van Den Berg still held 234,315 shares as of 06/30/2008.


AARON RENTS INC. is engaged in renting and selling residential and office furniture and accessories household appliances consumer electronics and business equipment.The Co. also manufactures and reconditions its own specially designed residential and office furniture. Furniture manufactured by the Co. is primarily for sale or rent in its stores. Aaron Rents Inc. has a market cap of $1.52 billion; its shares were traded at around $28.58 with a P/E ratio of 19.60 and P/S ratio of 0.95. The dividend yield of Aaron Rents Inc. stocks is 0.2%.


Reduced: Briggs & Stratton Corp. (BGG, Financial)


Arnold Van Den Berg reduced to his holdings in Briggs & Stratton Corp. by 71.84%. His sale prices were between $13.01 and $18.36, with an estimated average price of $15.1. The impact to his portfolio due to this sale was -0.42%. Arnold Van Den Berg still held 1,098,429 shares as of 06/30/2008.


Briggs & Stratton Corp. is one of the world's largest producers of air cooled gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment. The company designs manufactures markets and services these products for original equipment manufacturers worldwide. These engines are primarily aluminum alloy gasoline engines. Briggs & Stratton Corp. has a market cap of $667.51 million; its shares were traded at around $13.47 with a P/E ratio of 29.60 and P/S ratio of 0.31. The dividend yield of Briggs & Stratton Corp. stocks is 6.1%.


Reduced: Arkansas Best Corp. (ABFS, Financial)


Arnold Van Den Berg reduced to his holdings in Arkansas Best Corp. by 52.03%. His sale prices were between $31.13 and $40.61, with an estimated average price of $36.6. The impact to his portfolio due to this sale was -0.44%. Arnold Van Den Berg still held 550,328 shares as of 06/30/2008.


Arkansas Best Corporation is a diversified holding company engaged through its motor carrier subsidiaries in less-than-truckload and truckload shipments of general commodities through its freight forwarding and logistics subsidiaries in intermodal marketing and freight logistics services. Arkansas Best Corp. has a market cap of $951.04 million; its shares were traded at around $37.61 with a P/E ratio of 16.57 and P/S ratio of 0.52. The dividend yield of Arkansas Best Corp. stocks is 1.56%.


Reduced: AnheuserBusch Companies Inc. (BUD, Financial)


Arnold Van Den Berg reduced to his holdings in AnheuserBusch Companies Inc. by 77.25%. His sale prices were between $46.6 and $61.92, with an estimated average price of $53.5. The impact to his portfolio due to this sale was -0.72%. Arnold Van Den Berg still held 356,997 shares as of 06/30/2008.


Anheuser-Busch Companies is the holding company parent of Anheuser-BuschIncorporated and to a number of subsidiaries that conduct variousother business operations. The company's operations are comprised of thefollowing business segments: domestic beer international beer entertainment packaging such as aluminum beverage container recycling malt production rice milling real estate development turf farming metalized paper label printing and transportation services. AnheuserBusch Companies Inc. has a market cap of $48.77 billion; its shares were traded at around $67.82 with a P/E ratio of 23.50 and P/S ratio of 2.86. The dividend yield of AnheuserBusch Companies Inc. stocks is 2.2%.


Reduced: WalMart Stores Inc. (WMT, Financial)


Arnold Van Den Berg reduced to his holdings in WalMart Stores Inc. by 30.01%. His sale prices were between $53.95 and $58.94, with an estimated average price of $56.5. The impact to his portfolio due to this sale was -1.67%. Arnold Van Den Berg still held 2,378,741 shares as of 06/30/2008.


Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is the world's largest retailer. They are engaged in the operation of mass merchandising stores which serve their customers primarily through the operation of three segments which are the Wal-Mart Stores segment the SAM'S Club segment and the International segment. WalMart Stores Inc. has a market cap of $232.08 billion; its shares were traded at around $58.83 with a P/E ratio of 17.50 and P/S ratio of 0.59. The dividend yield of WalMart Stores Inc. stocks is 1.7%.


Sold Out: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. (ESCC, Financial)


Arnold Van Den Berg sold out his holdings in Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp.. His sale prices were between $0.76 and $1.1, with an estimated average price of $1. The impact to his portfolio due to this sale was less than 0.01%.


Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation is an established high-technology company with outstanding computer graphics technology and a worldwide presence in high-performance 3D visual simulation. In addition E&S applies its core technology into higher-growth personal computer products for both simulation and workstations. Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. has a market cap of $11.53 million; its shares were traded at around $1.04 with P/S ratio of 0.34.


Sold Out: Patterson Companies Inc. (PDCO)


Arnold Van Den Berg sold out his holdings in Patterson Companies Inc.. His sale prices were between $29.76 and $37.18, with an estimated average price of $33.7. The impact to his portfolio due to this sale was less than 0.01%.


Patterson Companies Inc. is a value-added distributor serving the dental companion-pet veterinarian and rehabilitation supply markets. Patterson Companies Inc. has a market cap of $3.99 billion; its shares were traded at around $32.86 with a P/E ratio of 19.42 and P/S ratio of 1.32.