On March 19, Bloomberg reported that Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is seeking to spend $5 billion to $20 billion on an acquisition. He prefers “simple” businesses with pretax profit exceeding $75 million, “consistent earnings power,” “good” returns on equity and little or no debt. Bloomberg went on and stated that there are 50 U.S. companies with that much market value and profit, a return on equity exceeding 10 percent and a debt-to- equity ratio less than 50 percent, according to Bloomberg’s own data.
GuruFocus dug into the list of companies and present information on company’s business, ownership of the Investment Gurus, and trade activity of insiders. The companies are grouped according to industries they operate in. In this part we treat three diversified industrial companies: Illinois Tool Works Inc.(ITW, Financial), ITT Corp.(ITT, Financial)Â , Danaher Corp.(DHR, Financial)Â
Illinois Tool Works Inc.(ITW)
Illinois Tool Works Inc. manufactures and markets a variety of productsand systems that provide specific problem-solving solutions for a diversecustomer base worldwide. The company's business units are divided into six segments: Engineered Products-North America; Engineered Products-International; Specialty Systems-North America; Specialty Systems-International; Consumer Products; and Leasing and Investments. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a market cap of $15.15 billion; its shares were traded at around $30.36 with a P/E ratio of 9.5 and P/S ratio of 1. The dividend yield of Illinois Tool Works Inc. stocks is 4.1%. Illinois Tool Works Inc. had an annual average earning growth of 9.2% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Illinois Tool Works Inc. the business predictability rank of 3-star.
Illinois Tool Works Inc. is owned by 6 Gurus.
6 Gurus Kept Positions in ITW Unchanged or Slightly Adjusted: Arnold Van Den Berg owns 1,313,331 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 2.67% of the $1.73 billion portfolio of Century Management. John Rogers owns 1,473,677 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 1.25% of the $4.14 billion portfolio of ARIEL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC. Brian Rogers owns 4,750,000 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 1.23% of the $13.49 billion portfolio of T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund. Tom Gayner owns 243,110 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 0.76% of the $1.13 billion portfolio of Markel Gayner Asset Management Corp. NWQ Managers owns 5,680,269 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 1.31% of the $15.24 billion portfolio of NWQ Investment Management Co. Ruane Cunniff owns 34,352 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 0.02% of the $6.97 billion portfolio of Ruane & Cunniff & Goldfarb Inc.
1 Guru Sold Out ITW: Kenneth Fisher sold out his holdings in the quarter that ended on 12/31/2008.
Recent Trades of Illinois Tool Works Inc. by CFO: Sell: Sr VP & CFO Ronald D Kropp sold 4,000 shares of ITW stock on 11/24/2008 at the average price of $31.97; the price of the stock has decreased by 5.04% since.
Recent Trades of Illinois Tool Works Inc. by Directors and Officers: Sell: Director Harold B Smith sold 1,500,000 shares of ITW stock on 02/23/2009 at the average price of $30.21; the price of the stock has increased by 0.5% since.
ITT Corp.(ITT)
ITT Corporation supplies advanced technology products and services in several growth markets. ITT is a global leader in the transport treatment and control of water wastewater and other fluids. The company plays a vital role in international security through its defense communications and electronics products; space surveillance and intelligence systems; and advanced engineering and related services. It also serves the growing leisure marine and electronic components market with a wide range of products. ITT Corp. has a market cap of $6.98 billion; its shares were traded at around $38.42 with a P/E ratio of 9.5 and P/S ratio of 0.6. The dividend yield of ITT Corp. stocks is 2.2%. ITT Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 10.6% over the past 10 years.
ITT Corp. is owned by 2 Gurus. 1 Guru Kept Positions in ITT Unchanged or Slightly Adjusted: John Keeley owns 237,530 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 0.18% of the $6 billion portfolio of Keeley Fund Management.
1 Guru Reduced Positions in ITT: Jean-Marie Eveillard owns 1,500 shares as of 12/31/2008, a decrease of 31.82% of from the previous quarter. This position accounts for less than 0.01% of the $7.54 billion portfolio of Arnhold & S. Bleichroeder Advisers, LLC. 1 Guru Sold Out ITT: George Soros sold out his holdings in the quarter that ended on 12/31/2008.
Recent Trades of ITT Corp. by Directors and Officers: Sell: Senior Vice President Donald E Foley sold 32,000 shares of ITT stock on 01/05/2009 at the average price of $50.13; the price of the stock has decreased by 23.36% since.
Danaher Corp.(DHR)
Danaher Corporation conducts its operations through two business segments:Process/Environmental Controls and Tools and Components. The Process/Environmental Controls segment produces and sells a range of products including compact professional electronic test tools quality assurance products and systems and power protection products. The Tools and Components segment is a worldwide producer and distributor of general purpose mechanics' hand tools and automotive specialty tools.
Danaher Corp. has a market cap of $17.16 billion; its shares were traded at around $53.85 with a P/E ratio of 12.7 and P/S ratio of 1.4. The dividend yield of Danaher Corp. stocks is 0.2%. Danaher Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 17% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Danaher Corp. the business predictability rank of 4.5-star.
Danaher Corp. is owned by 2 Gurus. 1 Guru Increased Positions in DHR: Kenneth Fisher owns 7,456 shares as of 12/31/2008, an increase of 85.98% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for less than 0.01% of the $23.44 billion portfolio of Fisher Asset Management, LLC.
1 Guru Kept Positions in DHR Unchanged or Slightly Adjusted: Ruane Cunniff owns 778,472 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 0.63% of the $6.97 billion portfolio of Ruane & Cunniff & Goldfarb Inc.
GuruFocus dug into the list of companies and present information on company’s business, ownership of the Investment Gurus, and trade activity of insiders. The companies are grouped according to industries they operate in. In this part we treat three diversified industrial companies: Illinois Tool Works Inc.(ITW, Financial), ITT Corp.(ITT, Financial)Â , Danaher Corp.(DHR, Financial)Â
Illinois Tool Works Inc.(ITW)
Illinois Tool Works Inc. manufactures and markets a variety of productsand systems that provide specific problem-solving solutions for a diversecustomer base worldwide. The company's business units are divided into six segments: Engineered Products-North America; Engineered Products-International; Specialty Systems-North America; Specialty Systems-International; Consumer Products; and Leasing and Investments. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a market cap of $15.15 billion; its shares were traded at around $30.36 with a P/E ratio of 9.5 and P/S ratio of 1. The dividend yield of Illinois Tool Works Inc. stocks is 4.1%. Illinois Tool Works Inc. had an annual average earning growth of 9.2% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Illinois Tool Works Inc. the business predictability rank of 3-star.
Illinois Tool Works Inc. is owned by 6 Gurus.
6 Gurus Kept Positions in ITW Unchanged or Slightly Adjusted: Arnold Van Den Berg owns 1,313,331 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 2.67% of the $1.73 billion portfolio of Century Management. John Rogers owns 1,473,677 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 1.25% of the $4.14 billion portfolio of ARIEL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC. Brian Rogers owns 4,750,000 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 1.23% of the $13.49 billion portfolio of T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund. Tom Gayner owns 243,110 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 0.76% of the $1.13 billion portfolio of Markel Gayner Asset Management Corp. NWQ Managers owns 5,680,269 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 1.31% of the $15.24 billion portfolio of NWQ Investment Management Co. Ruane Cunniff owns 34,352 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 0.02% of the $6.97 billion portfolio of Ruane & Cunniff & Goldfarb Inc.
1 Guru Sold Out ITW: Kenneth Fisher sold out his holdings in the quarter that ended on 12/31/2008.
Recent Trades of Illinois Tool Works Inc. by CFO: Sell: Sr VP & CFO Ronald D Kropp sold 4,000 shares of ITW stock on 11/24/2008 at the average price of $31.97; the price of the stock has decreased by 5.04% since.
Recent Trades of Illinois Tool Works Inc. by Directors and Officers: Sell: Director Harold B Smith sold 1,500,000 shares of ITW stock on 02/23/2009 at the average price of $30.21; the price of the stock has increased by 0.5% since.
ITT Corp.(ITT)
ITT Corporation supplies advanced technology products and services in several growth markets. ITT is a global leader in the transport treatment and control of water wastewater and other fluids. The company plays a vital role in international security through its defense communications and electronics products; space surveillance and intelligence systems; and advanced engineering and related services. It also serves the growing leisure marine and electronic components market with a wide range of products. ITT Corp. has a market cap of $6.98 billion; its shares were traded at around $38.42 with a P/E ratio of 9.5 and P/S ratio of 0.6. The dividend yield of ITT Corp. stocks is 2.2%. ITT Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 10.6% over the past 10 years.
ITT Corp. is owned by 2 Gurus. 1 Guru Kept Positions in ITT Unchanged or Slightly Adjusted: John Keeley owns 237,530 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 0.18% of the $6 billion portfolio of Keeley Fund Management.
1 Guru Reduced Positions in ITT: Jean-Marie Eveillard owns 1,500 shares as of 12/31/2008, a decrease of 31.82% of from the previous quarter. This position accounts for less than 0.01% of the $7.54 billion portfolio of Arnhold & S. Bleichroeder Advisers, LLC. 1 Guru Sold Out ITT: George Soros sold out his holdings in the quarter that ended on 12/31/2008.
Recent Trades of ITT Corp. by Directors and Officers: Sell: Senior Vice President Donald E Foley sold 32,000 shares of ITT stock on 01/05/2009 at the average price of $50.13; the price of the stock has decreased by 23.36% since.
Danaher Corp.(DHR)
Danaher Corporation conducts its operations through two business segments:Process/Environmental Controls and Tools and Components. The Process/Environmental Controls segment produces and sells a range of products including compact professional electronic test tools quality assurance products and systems and power protection products. The Tools and Components segment is a worldwide producer and distributor of general purpose mechanics' hand tools and automotive specialty tools.
Danaher Corp. has a market cap of $17.16 billion; its shares were traded at around $53.85 with a P/E ratio of 12.7 and P/S ratio of 1.4. The dividend yield of Danaher Corp. stocks is 0.2%. Danaher Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 17% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Danaher Corp. the business predictability rank of 4.5-star.
Danaher Corp. is owned by 2 Gurus. 1 Guru Increased Positions in DHR: Kenneth Fisher owns 7,456 shares as of 12/31/2008, an increase of 85.98% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for less than 0.01% of the $23.44 billion portfolio of Fisher Asset Management, LLC.
1 Guru Kept Positions in DHR Unchanged or Slightly Adjusted: Ruane Cunniff owns 778,472 shares as of 12/31/2008, which accounts for 0.63% of the $6.97 billion portfolio of Ruane & Cunniff & Goldfarb Inc.
