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Oil-Dri of America (Oil-Dri of America) Predictability Rank


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Warren Buffett said many times that the companies he likes are:

1. Simple businesses that he understands
2. that have predictable and proven earnings and
3. with economic moat
4. those can be bought at a reasonable price.

It is hard to quantify "simple businesses that he (Buffett) understands", so we will focus on the other three characteristics instead. In GuruFocus Research: What worked in the market from 1998-2008? Part I: Introduction of Predictability Rank, we will show that the businesses that have predictable and proven earnings are usually also simple businesses that an average person could understand.

GuruFocus conducted a back test study of Warren Buffett's strategy of "buying good companies at fair prices" for the years from 1998-2008.


Oil-Dri of America Predictability Rank Calculation

In our database there are 2403 stocks that have been traded from Jan. 2, 1998 to Aug. 31, 2008. We have the complete 10-year financial data and trading prices of these companies for this period. We rank the predictability of these companies based on the consistency of their revenue per share and EBITDA (earning before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) per share over the past ten fiscal years, and study the correlation between the stock performances and the predictability of the business.

Our study may be subject to these biases and assumptions:

Dividend yields are not counted for investment returns
Effects of price changes due to spin-offs may not be fully adjusted
Study is subjected to survivorship bias due to de-listing, bankruptcy, LBO, M&A, etc.

The correlation between business predictability and investment returns of a company is showed below.

Correlation Between Business Predictability and Investment Returns

PredictablesNon-PredictableAll stocks
Total Number of stocks57018332403
Total Lost Money61830891
Total Lost More Than 50%18412430
Total Lost More Than 90%48690
Average Gain260.6%100.0%138.1%
Median Gain150.0%13.0%39.0%
Maximum Gain2852.0%11483.0%11483.0%
Maximum Loss-100.0%-100.0%-100.0%
Annualized Average Gain12.7%6.7%8.4%
Annualized Median Gain8.9%1.1%3.1%


















For the 570 predictable companies, we have seen strong correlation between the predictability of businesses and the stock performances over the past 10 years, regardless of the valuation of business at 1998. Accordingly, we have ranked the business predictability from 5-star to 1-star, as shown in this table.

Predictability Rank5-Star4.5-Star4-Star3.5-Star3-Star2.5-Star2-Star1-Star (non-predictable)Average among all
% Out of All 2403 Stocks 3.3% 2.9% 3.7% 3.3% 3.3% 3.7% 3.3% 76.3% 100%
% that are in Loss (10y) 3% 10% 8% 9% 11% 18% 16% 45% 37%
Average Gain (10y) 364.6% 330.9% 278.0% 235.1% 243.5% 227.8% 154.8% 100.0% 138.1%
Median Gain (10y) 238.5% 193.5% 171.0% 159.0% 132.5% 113.5% 87.0% 13.0% 39.0%
Maximum Gainer 2228.0% 2547.0% 2452.0% 2852.0% 2432.0% 1892.0% 1807.0% 11483.0% 11483.0%
Maximum Loser -82.0% -53.0% -67.0% -100.0% -83.0% -100.0% -78.0% -100.0% -100.0%
Annualized Average Gain 15.4% 14.6% 13.2% 12.0% 12.2% 11.7% 9.1% 6.7% 8.4%
Annualized Median Gain 12.1% 10.6% 9.8% 9.3% 8.2% 7.3% 6.0% 1.1% 3.1%
















For detailed information about each predictability rank, please go to GuruFocus Research: What worked in the market from 1998-2008? Part I: Introduction of Predictability Rank

Also read:

Part II: What worked in the market from 1998-2008? Part II: Role of Valuations
Part III: Intrinsic Value, Discounted Cash Flow and Margin of Safety

Oil-Dri of America Predictability Rank Related Terms

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Oil-Dri of America (Oil-Dri of America) Business Description

Traded in Other Exchanges
Address
410 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 400, Chicago, IL, USA, 60611-4213
Oil-Dri Corp of America develops, manufactures, and markets sorbent products made predominantly from clay. Its absorbent offerings, which draw liquid up, include cat litter, floor products, toxin control substances for livestock, and agricultural chemical carriers. The company has two segments based on the different characteristics of two primary customer groups namely Retail and Wholesale Products Group and Business to Business Products Group. The company's products are sold under various brands such as Cat's Pride, Jonny Cat, Amlan, Agsorb, Verge, Pure-Flo, and Ultra-Clear.
Executives
Aaron Christiansen officer: VP, Manufacturing - CPG 410 NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE, CHICAGO IL 60611
Allan H Selig director
Patricia J Schmeda director 3400 NORTH WOLF ROAD, FRANKLIN PARK IL 60131
Patrick James Walsh officer: VP, Human Resources 410 N. MICHIGAN AVENUE, SUITE 400, CHICAGO IL 60611
Christopher B Lamson officer: Group VP of Retail & Wholesale 410 N. MICHIGAN AVENUE, SUITE 400, CHICAGO IL 60611
Amy Ryan director 410 N. MICHIGAN AVENUE, CHICAGO IL 60611
Daniel S Jaffee director, officer: President and CEO
Matthew Daley officer: VP, Corporate Controller 410 N. MICHIGAN AVENUE, CHICAGO IL 60611
Jessica D Moskowitz officer: Vice President 410 N. MICHIGAN AVENUE, SUITE 400, CHICAGO IL 60611
Paul Hindsley director 410 N. MICHIGAN AVE., CHICAGO IL 60611
Molly Vandenheuvel officer: Chief Operating Officer 410 N. MICHIGAN AVENUE, CHICAGO IL 60611
Mary Beth Sullivan officer: VP, Human Resources 410 NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE, SUITE 400, CHICAGO IL 60611
Susan M Kreh officer: Chief Financial Officer 18400 PLEASANT STREET, BROOKFIELD WI 53045
J Steven Cole director C/O COLE & ASSOCIATES, 633 SKOKIE BLVD, NORTHBROOK IL 60062
Ellen-blair Chube director 150 N. RIVERSIDE PLAZA, CHICAGO IL 60606