Centaur Capital Partners' Third Quarter Top Holdings

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Nov 14, 2013
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Zeke Ashton of Centaur Capital Partners keeps a fairly concentrated portfolio valued at $116 million. The guru sold out of four of his previous holdings and had a heavy quarter of buying as 13 of his 33 stocks were new buys. The following five companies represent Ashton’s top five holdings.

First American Financial Corp (FAF)


The guru’s largest position is in First American Financial where he holds on to 400,000 shares of the company’s stock. His position represents 8.4% of his entire portfolio and 0.37% of the company’s shares outstanding.

During the third quarter Ashton upped his stake in First American by a notable 26.98%. The guru purchased a total of 85,000 shares in the third quarter price range of $20.90 to $24.61, with an estimated average quarterly price of $22.30. Since then the price per share is up about 13.8%.

Ashton’s historical holding history:

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First American Financial Corp is the holding company for the First American Corporation's financial services business. The company is engaged in the business of providing financial services through its title insurance and services segment and its specialty insurance segment.

First American’s historical revenue and net income:

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The analysis on First American reports that the company’s interest coverage is comfortable, its gross and operating margins have both been in a long-term decline and its price is sitting near its 5-year high.

Top guru shareholders of First American Financial:

1. John Rogers: 8,650,370 shares, representing 8.09% of the company’s shares outstanding.

2. RS Investment: 2,910,492 shares, representing 2.72% of the company’s shares outstanding.

3. John Keeley: 2,091,525 shares, representing 1.96% of the company’s shares outstanding.

The Peter Lynch Chart suggests that the company is currently undervalued:

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First American has a market cap of $2.69 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $25.38 with a P/E ratio of 12.40, a P/S ratio of 0.50 and a P/B ratio of 1.10. The company’s dividend yield is currently sitting at 1.90%.

Apple (AAPL)

The guru’s second largest holding is in Apple where he holds on to 16,750 shares of the company’s stock. This position makes up for 6.9% of his total portfolio holdings.

During the third quarter Ashton made a slight decrease of his holdings. He cut his position -1.47% by selling 250 shares of the company’s stock. He sold these shares in the quarterly price range of $402.88 to $507.74, with an estimated average quarterly price of $464.25. The price per share is up 13.6% from the average quarterly price.

Ashton’s historical holding history:

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Apple designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers, mobile communication devices, and portable digital music and video players and sell a variety of related software, services, peripherals, and networking solutions.

Apple’s historical revenue and net income:

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The analysis on Apple reports that the company’s revenue has slowed over the past year, its asset growth is notably faster than its revenue growth and its operating margin is expanding.

The Peter Lynch Chart suggests that the company is currently undervalued:

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Apple has a market cap of $475.52 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $528.50 with a P/E ratio of 13.30, a P/S ratio of 2.80 and a P/B ratio of 3.70. The company currently holds a dividend yield of 2.30% and has seen an annual average earnings growth of 64.50% over the past ten years.

GuruFocus rated Apple the business predictability rank of 4.5-star.

Coach (COH)

Ashton’s third largest holding is in Coach where he holds on to 127,200 shares of the company’s stock. His position represents 6% of his portfolio and 0.05% of the company’s shares outstanding.

During the third quarter Ashton significantly increased his holdings in Coach. The guru upped his stake 103.52% by purchasing a total of 64,700 shares. He bought these shares in the price range of $51.85 to $59.55, with an estimated average quarterly price of $55.06 per share. Since his increase, the price per share has dropped approximately -2.3%.

Ashton’s historical holding history:

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Coach is an American marketer or fine accessories and gifts for women and men. Their products include handbags, men’s bags, women’s and men’s small leathergoods, footwear, outerwear, watches, travel accessories, scarves, sunwear, fragrance, jewelry and related accessories.

Coach’s historical revenue and net income:

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The analysis on Coach reports that the company’s revenue has slowed down over the past year, its dividend yield is near a 5-year high and its P/B and P/S ratios are near 3-year lows.

The top guru shareholders of Coach:

1. Dodge & Cox: 6,736,200 shares, representing 2.39% of the company’s shares outstanding.

2. Steve Mandel: 5,858,347 shares, representing 2.08% of the company’s shares outstanding.

3. David Rolfe: 2,624,036 shares, representing 0.93% of the company’s shares outstanding.

The Peter Lynch Chart shows that Coach currently appears to be undervalued:

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Coach has a market cap of $14.92 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $53.10 with a P/E ratio of 14.40, a P/S ratio of 3.10 and a P/B ratio of 6.70. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 22.3% over the past ten years.

GuruFocus rated Coach the business predictability rank of 3.5-star.

Tetra Tech (TTEK)

Ashton’s fourth largest position is in Tetra Tech where he maintains 250,000 shares of the company’s stock. His position makes up for 5.6% of his total portfolio holdings and 0.39% of the company’s shares outstanding.

Tetra Tech is a new buy for the guru. He bought all 250,000 shares during the third quarter in the price range of $22.45 to $25.98, with an estimated average quarterly price of $23.97 per share. Since his buy the price per share has increased approximately 14.4%.

Zeke Ashton’s holding history as of the third quarter:

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Tetra Tech Inc. is a provider of consulting, engineering, program management, construction management and technical services that focuses on supporting fundamental needs for water, natural resources, the environment, infrastructure and energy.

Tetra Tech’s historical revenue and net income:

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The analysis on Tetra Tech reports that the company’s revenue has been in decline over the past year, they have issued $203.806 million in debt over the past three years and its operating margin is expanding.

The top guru shareholders of Tetra Tech:

1. Third Avenue Management: 927,198 shares, representing 1.44% of the company’s shares outstanding.

2. Chuck Royce: 696,170 shares, representing 1.08% of the company’s shares outstanding.

3. Ron Baron: 648,200 shares, representing 1% of the company’s shares outstanding.

Tetra Tech has a market cap of $1.77 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $27.43 with a P/E ratio of 527.50, a P/S ratio of 0.70 and a P/B ratio of 1.90. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 13.80% over the past five years.

EMC Corporation (EMC)

The guru’s fifth largest holding goes to EMC Corporation where he also holds on to 250,000 shares. His position in the company makes up for 5.5% of his total portfolio and 0.01% of the company’s shares outstanding.

During the third quarter Ashton boosted his stock 100% by; purchasing 125,000 shares. He bought these shares in the quarterly price range of $23.62 to $27.04, with an estimated average quarterly price of $25.97. Since his buy the price per share has dropped approximately -8.4%.

Ashton’s historical holding history:

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EMC and its subsidiaries develop, deliver and support the Information Technology industry's a range of information infrastructure and virtual infrastructure technologies and solutions.

EMC’s historical revenue and net income:

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The analysis on EMC reports that the company’s revenue has slowed down over the past year, they have issued $3.7 billion of debt over the past three years and its operating margin is expanding.

The top guru shareholders of EMC:

1. Manning & Napier Advisors: 30,039,743 shares, representing 1.44% of the company’s shares outstanding and 3.6% of their total assets managed.

2. PRIMECAP Management: 24,929,149 shares, representing 0.2% of the company’s shares outstanding and 0.84% of their total portfolio.

3. David Rolfe: 9,303,186 shares, representing 0.45% of the company’s shares outstanding and 6.3% of Rolfe’s total assets managed.

The Peter Lynch Chart suggests that the company is currently overvalued:

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EMC has a market cap of $48.81 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $23.72 with a P/E ratio of 18.90, a P/S ratio of 2.30 and a P/B ratio of 2.30. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 18.80% over the past ten years.

GuruFocus rated EMC Corporation the business predictability rank of 3-star.

Check out Ashton’s complete third quarter portfolio here.

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