John Rogers Buys DeVry, American Express

A rundown of guru's largest buys in the 1st quarter

Author's Avatar
Jun 24, 2016
Article's Main Image

John Rogers (Trades, Portfolio) is the founder of Ariel Investment LLC, which he started in 1983. During the first quarter he bought shares in the following stocks:

The guru increased his stake in Northern Trust Corp. (NTRS) by 59.09% with an impact of 0.74% on the portfolio.

It is a financial holding company that provides asset servicing, fund administration, asset management, fiduciary and banking solutions for corporations, institutions, families and individuals. During the first quarter earnings per common share had a growth of 7% from the same quarter of 2015, and assets under custody increased 2% year over year.

GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 8 out of 10 with ROE of 10.74% that is outperforming and ROA of 0.85 that is underperforming 55% of the companies in the Global Asset Management industry. Financial strength has a rating of 6 out of 10 with cash to debt of 2.92 that is far below the industry median of 9,999.0.

The largest shareholder among the gurus is T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund (Trades, Portfolio) with 1.79% of outstanding shares followed by PRIMECAP Management (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.78%, Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.47%, Chuck Royce (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.06%, Ken Fisher (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.05% and Pioneer Investments (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.03%.

The investor bought a 332,326-share stake in Willis Towers Watson PLCÂ (WLTW) with an impact of 0.48% on the portfolio.

The company is an insurance broker. It provides insurance brokerage, reinsurance and risk management consulting services. Adjusted revenues increased 13% over pro forma prior-year first-quarter 2015, and revenues grew 11%.

GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 7 out of 10 with ROE of 9.80% and ROA of 1.93% that are outperforming 55% of the companies in the Global Insurance Brokers industry. Financial strength has a rating of 4 out of 10 with cash to debt of 0.24 that is far below the industry median of 9,999.0.

Jeff Ubben (Trades, Portfolio) is the company's largest shareholder among the gurus, with 5.55% of outstanding shares followed by David Herro (Trades, Portfolio) with 2.67%, First Eagle Investment (Trades, Portfolio) with 2.55%, Diamond Hill Capital (Trades, Portfolio) with 1.84%, Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss with 1.32%, Charles Brandes (Trades, Portfolio) with 1.03% and Richard Pzena (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.9%.

The guru increased his stake in Zebra Technologies Corp. (ZBRA) by 56.26% with an impact of 0.46% on the portfolio.

During the first quarter net sales decreased 5.2%, and gross profit decreased 4.6%. The company reported 26.4% decrease for non-GAAP net income.

The company designs, manufactures, sells and supports direct thermal and thermal transfer label printers, radio frequency identification printer/encoders, dye sublimation card printers, real-time locating solutions and support software.

GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 7 out of 10 with ROE of -15.02% and ROA of -2.73% that are underperforming 82% of the companies in the Global Diversified Industrials industry. Financial strength has a rating of 4 out of 10 with cash to debt of 0.07 that is below the industry median of 1.09.

The largest shareholder among the gurus is RS Investment Management (Trades, Portfolio) with 1.34% of outstanding shares followed by Meridian Funds (Trades, Portfolio) with 1.22%, Royce with 0.78%, Robert Olstein (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.5%, Westport Asset Management (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.4% and Gabelli with 0.08%.

The investor raised his stake in Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (JLL) by 28.07% with an impact of 0.45% on the portfolio.

The company is a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate. It offers integrated services delivered by teams to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying or investing in real estate. During the last quarter gross revenue grew 14%, and fee revenue increased 11%. The company reported a 7% dividend increase.

GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 6 out of 10 with ROE of 16.59% and ROA of 7.59% that are outperforming 81% of the companies in the Global Real Estate Services industry. Financial strength has a rating of 6 out of 10 with cash to debt 0.22 that is below the industry median of 0.34.

Columbia Wanger (Trades, Portfolio) is the company's second-largest shareholder among the gurus with 2.19% of outstanding shares followed by Meridian Funds (Trades, Portfolio) with 1.32%, Ron Baron (Trades, Portfolio) with 1.05%, Ken Heebner (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.98%, Royce with 0.49%, Jim Simons (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.4% and Jeremy Grantham (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.32%.

The guru increased his stake in Lazard Ltd. (LAZ) by 17.00% with an impact of 0.44% on the portfolio.

The company, with its subsidiaries, operates as a financial advisory and asset management firm. It provides crafting solutions to the complex financial and strategic challenges around the world including corporations, governments and individuals.

Diluted net income per share was 50 cents for the first quarter, compared to 77 cents for the 2015 first quarter. The company reported a 13% decrease in operating revenue.

GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 7 out of 10 with ROE of 101.41% and ROA of 25.41% that are outperforming 97% of the companies in the Global Capital Markets industry. Financial strength has a rating of 6 out of 10 with cash to debt of 1.09 that is far below the industry median of 9,999.0.

Fisher is the company's second-largest shareholder among the gurus with 1.42% of outstanding shares followed by Pioneer Investments (Trades, Portfolio) with 1.31%, Royce with 1.16%, Columbia Wanger (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.91%, Simons with 0.18% and Heebner with 0.17%.

The investor raised his stake in Bristow Group Inc. (BRS) by 23.98% with an impact of 0.43% on the portfolio.

The company is a provider of helicopter services to the offshore energy industry based on the number of aircraft operated and one of two helicopter service providers to the offshore energy industry with global operations. Fourth quarter operating revenue decreased 10.4% from the same quarter of 2015 and adjusted EBITDAR had a 31.4% decrease.

GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 6 out of 10 with ROE of -4.75% and ROA of -2.22% that are outperforming 55% of the companies in the Global Oil & Gas Equipment & Services industry. Financial strength has a rating of 4 out of 10 with cash to debt 0.09 that is below the industry median of 0.45.

John Buckingham (Trades, Portfolio) is company's second-largest shareholder among the gurus with 0.24% of outstanding shares followed by Steven Cohen (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.2% and Paul Tudor Jones (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.08%.

The guru increased his stake in KKR & Co. LPÂ (KKR) by 24.56% with an impact of 0.36% on the portfolio.

The company offers a broad range of asset management services to its investors and provides capital markets services to its firm, its portfolio companies and its clients. Book value per adjusted unit was $10.79 for the first quarter of 2016 compared to $12.19 per adjusted unit for the same quarter of a year before.

GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 4 out of 10 with ROE of -1.99% and ROA of -0.18% that are underperforming 70% of the companies in the Global Asset Management industry. Financial strength has a rating of 5 out of 10 with cash to debt 0.12 that is far below the industry median of 9,999.0.

Royce is the company's second-largest shareholder among the gurus with 0.39% of outstanding shares followed by Simons with 0.28%, Private Capital (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.21%, Pzena with 0.16%, Tom Gayner (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.12%, Jim Chanos (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.07%, Gabelli with 0.05% and Dodge & Cox with 0.01%.

The investor raised his stake in DeVry Education Group Inc. (DV) by 753.79% with an impact of 0.35% on the portfolio.

The company offers programs in business, health care, accounting, finance, law and technology. It serves students in postsecondary education. During the last quarter total revenue decreased 3.2% and operating income excluding special items grew 6.2%. Diluted earnings per share was 81 cents, compared to diluted earnings per share of 72 cents in the same quarter of a year before.

GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 6 out of 10 with ROE of 2.38% and ROA of 1.77% that are underperforming 65% of the companies in the Global Education & Training Services industry. Financial strength has a rating of 8 out of 10 with no debt.

Charles de Vaulx (Trades, Portfolio) is the company's largest shareholder among the gurus, with 12.47% of outstanding shares followed by First Pacific Advisors (Trades, Portfolio) with 4.38%, FPA Capital Fund (Trades, Portfolio) with 2.23%, Royce with 1.4%, Westport Asset Management (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.51%, David Dreman (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.24% and Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss with 0.2%.

The guru increased his stake in American Express Co. (AXP) by 253.22% with an impact of 0.34% on the portfolio.

The company is a payments, network and travel company that offers credit payment card products and travel-related services to consumers and businesses.

GuruFocus gives the stock a profitability and growth rating of 8 out of 10 with ROE of 23.22% and ROA of 3.22% that are outperforming 59% of the companies in the Global Credit Services industry. Financial strength has a rating of 6 out of 10 with cash to debt 0.50 that is far below the industry median of 9,999.0.

The largest shareholder among the gurus is Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio) with 15.94% of outstanding shares followed by Dodge & Cox with 2.77%, Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss with 2.18%, First Eagle Investment (Trades, Portfolio) with 1.64%, Chris Davis (Trades, Portfolio) with 1.49%, Fisher with 1.24%, First Pacific Advisors (Trades, Portfolio) with 0.6% and Grantham with 0.55%.

Disclosure: I do not own any shares of any stocks mentioned in this article.

Start a free seven-day trial of Premium Membership to GuruFocus.