Every year Barron’s gets its Roundtable team together and they discuss stock picks and the status of the economy in general. Â Guru Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio) is a member of Barron’s Roundtable team, and the following stocks are his stock picks for 2013 and how they ended up doing for the year.Â
Hillshire Brands (HSH)
Last year Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio) recommended to Barron’s the stock Hillshire Brands. On Jan. 11, 2013, when Gabelli recommended the stock, the company was trading at around $29.58 per share and at year-end the company was up 13.00% to $33.44 per share. For 2013 Qualcomm delivered a total return of 15.10%.
Gabelli has not released his fourth quarter holdings yet, so as of the third quarter he held on to 2,656,888 shares of Hillshire, representing 2.15% of the company’s shares outstanding and 0.48% of his total portfolio.
Gabelli’s holding history as of the third quarter:
Hillshire Brands is a manufacturer and marketer of food products. It provides meat-centric food solutions for the retail and foodservice markets. The company's brands' portfolio includes iconic brands such as Jimmy Dean, Ball Park, Hillshire Farm, State Fair, Sara Lee frozen bakery and Chef Pierre pies.
Hillshire’s historical revenue and earnings growth:
The Peter Lynch Chart suggests that the company is currently overvalued:
Hillshire Brands has a market cap of $4.19 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $34.11 with a P/E ratio of 18.50, a P/S ratio of 1.10 and a P/B ratio of 8.60. The company holds a small dividend yield of 1.80%.
Post Holdings (POST)
Another one of Gabelli’s recommendations was for the company Post Holdings. At the time of the 2013 Roundtable article McKesson was trading at $35.27, and as of year-end the price per share has increased 39.7% to $49.27 per share. For 2013 Post Holdings delivered a total return of 39.7%.
Gabelli held on to 903,019 shares of Post Holdings as of the third quarter. This position made up for 2.76% of the company’s shares outstanding as well as 0.21% of his total portfolio.
Gabelli’s holding history as of Q3:
Post is a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded ready-to-eat cereals in the United States and Canada. Post's products are manufactured through a flexible production platform consisting of four owned primary facilities.
Post’s historical revenue and net income:
Post Holdings has a market cap of $1.81 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $55.53 with a P/E ratio of 189.70, a P/S ratio of 1.70 and a P/B ratio of 1.10.
Viacom (VIA)
Another one of Gabelli’s recommendations was for the company Viacom. At the time of the 2013 Roundtable article Viacom was trading at $60.08, and as of year-end the price per share has increased 46.1% to $87.77 per share. For 2013 McKesson delivered a total return of 48%.
As of the close of the third quarter Gabelli held on to 3,449,345 shares, representing 0.72% of the company’s shares outstanding and 0.23% of the guru’s total portfolio.
Gabelli’s holding history as of Q3:
Viacom is a entertainment content company that connects with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms in more than 160 countries and territories.
Viacom’s historical revenue and earnings growth:
The Peter Lynch Chart suggests that the company is currently overvalued:
Viacom has a market cap of $37.07 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $83.11 with a P/E ratio of 16.90, a P/S ratio of 3.00 and a P/B ratio of 7.20. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 10% over the past five years.
Xylem (XYL)
Gabelli recommended the company Xylem for Barron’s Roundtable last year. On Jan. 11, 2013, the company was trading at $27.18 per share and at year-end the company’s price had increased approximately 27.3% to $34.60 per share. For the year Xylem delivered a total return of 29%.
Gabelli held on to 4,071,851 shares of Xylem as of the close of the third quarter. This position makes up for 2.2% of the company’s shares outstanding and 0.67% of his total portfolio.
Gabelli’s historical holding history:
Xylem is engaged in the design, manufacturing, and application of highly engineered technologies for the water industry. It is an equipment and service provider for water and wastewater applications.
Xylem’s historical revenue and net income:
The analysis on Xylem reports that the dividend is trading at a 1-year low, its price is near a 3-year high and its P/S ratio is also near a 3-year high.
Xylem has a market cap of $6.59 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $35.70 with a P/E ratio of 28.30, a P/S ratio of 1.80 and a P/B ratio of 3.10. The dividend yield is currently at 1.30%.
Graco (GGG)
Gabelli recommended the company Graco for Barron’s Roundtable last year. On Jan. 11, 2013, the company was trading at $53.48 per share and at year-end the company’s price had increased approximately 46.1% to $78.12 per share. For the year Graco delivered a total return of 47.9%.
As of Q3 Gabelli owned 1,178,378 shares of Graco, representing 1.92% of the company’s shares outstanding and 0.51% of the guru’s total portfolio weighting.
Gabelli’s historical holding history:
Graco Inc. and its subsidiaries design, manufacture and sell equipment that pumps, meters, mixes, dispenses and sprays a wide variety of fluids and semi-solids.
Graco’s historical revenue and net income:
The Peter Lynch Chart suggests that the company is currently overvalued:
Graco has a market cap of $4.68 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $76.42 with a P/E ratio of 22.90, a P/S ratio of 4.40 and a P/B ratio of 7.60. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 5% over the past ten years.
GuruFocus rated Graco the business predictability rank of 2-star.
Patterson (PDCO)
Another one of Gabelli’s favored stocks of the past year was in Patterson. The price of the company was at $35.49 per share on Jan. 11, 2013, and as of year-end the company’s price was trading up about 16.1% to $41.20 per share. For the year Patterson delivered total returns of 17.4%.
As of the third quarter Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio) owned 1,569,930 shares of Patterson, representing 1.5% of the company’s shares outstanding and 0.37% of his total portfolio.
Gabelli’s historical holding history:
Patterson Companies is a distributor of dental supply in North America, companion animal and equine veterinary supply in USA and rehabilitation and assistive products supply.
Patterson’s historical revenue and earnings growth:
The Peter Lynch Chart suggests that the company is currently overvalued:
Patterson Companies has a market cap of $4.36 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $41.28 with a P/E ratio of 20.60, a P/S ratio of 1.10 and a P/B ratio of 3.00. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 7.20% over the past ten years.
GuruFocus rated Patterson the business predictability rank of 3.5-star.
Weatherford International (WFT)
Gabelli recommended the company Weatherford International for Barron’s Roundtable last year. On Jan. 11, 2013, the company was trading at $11.53 per share and at year-end the company’s price had increased approximately 34.3% to $15.49 per share. For the year Weatherford delivered a total return of 34.3%.
During the third quarter Gabelli held on to 10,753,045 shares of Weatherford, representing 1.4% of the company’s shares outstanding and 0.97% of his total portfolio.
Gabelli’s holding history as of the third quarter:
Weatherford International is a provider of equipment and services used for the drilling, completion and production of oil and natural gas wells. The company operates in approximately 100 countries and has service and sales locations in nearly all of the oil and natural gas producing regions in the world.
The analysis on Weatherford reports that the revenue has slowed down over the past year, the company has issued $1.9 billion of debt over the past three years and its gross and operating margins have been in a 5-year decline.
Weatherford’s historical revenue and earnings growth:
Weatherford International has a market cap of $11.22 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $14.58 with a P/S ratio of 0.70 and a P/B ratio of 1.40. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 8.20% over the past ten years.
National Fuel Gas (NFG)
Gabelli recommended the company National Fuel Gas for Barron’s Roundtable last year. On Jan. 11, 2013, the company was trading at $49.10 per share and at year-end the company’s price had jumped approximately 45.4% to $71.40 per share. For the year National Fuel Gas delivered a total return of 48.5%.
Gabelli held on to 3,699,513 shares of the company’s stock, representing 4.42% of the company’s shares outstanding as well as 0.09% of his total portfolio.
Gabelli’s historical holding history:
National Fuel Gas is a diversified energy company consisting of four business segments:Â Utility segment, the Pipeline and Storage segment, the Exploration and Production segment and the Energy Marketing segment.
National Fuel Gas’ historical revenue and net income:
The Peter Lynch Chart suggests that the company is currently overvalued:
National Fuel Gas Company has a market cap of $6.11 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $73.01 with a P/E ratio of 23.50, a P/S ratio of 3.40 and a P/B ratio of 2.70. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 4.50% over the past ten years.
Boulder Brands (BDBD)
Another one of Gabelli’s favored stocks of the past year was in Boulder Brands. The price of the company was at $12.32 per share on Jan. 11, 2013, and as of year-end the company’s price was trading up about 28.7% to $15.86 per share. For the year Patterson delivered total returns of 28.7%.
Gabelli owned 2,772,345 shares of Boulder Brands as of the third quarter, representing 4.66% of the company’s shares outstanding and 0.26% of his total portfolio.
Gabelli’s historical holding history:
Boulder Brands is a marketer of functional food products in the U.S. and Canada. Its products are sold in mass merchandise, grocery, natural food, and club stores throughout the U.S. and Canada, with a majority of products sold through supermarket chains and food wholesalers. Its product portfolio consists of spreads, milk and other grocery products marketed under the Smart Balance, Earth Balance and Bestlife brands.
Boulder Brands’ historical revenue and earnings growth:
The analysis on Boulder Brands reports that the price is near a 10-year high, the company has issued $185.77 million of debt over the past three years and the company’s inventory has been building up, meaning they might be having difficulties selling their product.
Boulder Brands has a market cap of $894.4 million. Its shares are currently trading at around $14.93 with a P/E ratio of 106.7, a P/S ratio of 2.10 and a P/B ratio of 2.60.
Check out the Barron’s article here.
You can view Gabelli’s entire third quarter portfolio here.
