Centaur Capital's Fourth Quarter Portfolio Reports Heavy Selling and Top Five Positions

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Feb 14, 2014
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Zeke Ashton of Centaur Capital Partners keeps a fairly concentrated portfolio valued at $86 million. The guru had a heavier quarter in selling as he sold out of ten of his previous holdings. The guru added eight new stocks to his holdings, bringing his portfolio to 29 stocks. The following five companies represent Ashton’s top five holdings.

Tetra Tech (TTEK)

Ashton’s largest position is in Tetra Tech where he maintains 210,000 shares of the company’s stock. His position makes up for 6.8% of his total portfolio holdings and 0.33% of the company’s shares outstanding.

Tetra Tech is a relatively new buy for the guru. He bought 250,000 shares during the third quarter. Ashton cut his holdings in Tetra Tech -16% in the fourth quarter, selling 40,000 shares. He sold these shares in the price range of $24.50 to $28.87, with an estimated average quarterly price of $26.99 per share. Since his sell the price per share has increased approximately 5.8%.

Zeke Ashton’s holding history as of the fourth 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.

Tetra Tech has a market cap of $1.86 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $28.56 with 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 second largest holding goes to EMC Corporation where he also holds on to 210,000 shares. His position in the company makes up for 6.1% of his total portfolio and 0.01% of the company’s shares outstanding.

During the third quarter Ashton cut his position -16% by selling 40,000 shares. He sold these shares in the quarterly price range of $23.15 to $25.72, with an estimated average quarterly price of $24.24. Since his buy the price per share has increased approximately 5%.

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 Peter Lynch Chart suggests that the company is currently overvalued:

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EMC has a market cap of $52.62 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $25.57 with a P/E ratio of 20.60, a P/S ratio of 2.40 and a P/B ratio of 2.30. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 17.30% over the past ten years.

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

Ingredion (INGR)

Ashton’s third largest holding is in Ingredion where he maintains 77,500 shares. This position in the company makes up for 6.1% of the company’s shares outstanding as well as 0.10% of the company’s shares outstanding.

During the fourth quarter Ashton upped his stake in the company 55% by purchasing 27,500 shares of the company’s stock. He bought these shares near the estimated average quarterly price of $67.63 per share. Since then the price per share has dropped roughly -5.4%.

Zeke Ashton (Trades, Portfolio)’s historical holding history:

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Ingredion, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells starch and sweetener ingredients. The company's product line includes starches and sweeteners, animal feed products and edible corn oil.

Ingredion’s historical revenue and net income:

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The analysis on Ingredion reports that the company’s revenue has slowed down over the past year, its operating margin is expanding and its dividend yield is sitting near a 3-year high.

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

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Ingredion has a market cap of $4.88 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $63.64 with a P/E ratio of 12.20, a P/S ratio of 0.70 and a P/B ratio of 1.90. The dividend yield of Ingredion stocks is at 2.40%, and the company has had an annual average earnings growth of 12.90% over the past ten years.

GuruFocus rated Ingredion the business predictability rank of 4-star.

Accenture (ACN)

Zeke Ashton (Trades, Portfolio)’s fourth largest portfolio holding is in Accenture where he holds on to 62,500 shares of the company’s stock. This position makes up for 5.9% of Ashton’s total assets managed as well as 0.01% of the company’s shares outstanding.

Accenture is a new buy for Ashton. The guru previously held the company in 2012, but sold out in the third quarter of 2012. Ashton purchased 62,500 shares of Accenture in the fourth quarter price range of $70.28 to $82.51 per share, with an estimated average quarterly price of $75.61. Since then the price per share is up about 8.5%.

Ashton’s holding history as of the close of the fourth quarter:

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Accenture is a management consulting, technology services and outsourcing organization. It operates globally with one common brand and business model designed to enable it to provide clients around the world with the same high level of service.

Accenture’s historical revenue and earnings growth:

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The analysis on Accenture reports that the company has enough cash to cover all of its debt, its operating margin is expanding, its revenue has slowed down over the past year and its price is sitting near a 10-year high.

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

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Accenture has a market cap of $54.72 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $82.06 with a P/E ratio of 16.70, a P/S ratio of 1.90 and a P/B ratio 11.10. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 13.30% over the past ten years.

GuruFocus rated Accenture the business predictability rank of 4-star.

Dillard’s (DDS)

Ashton’s fifth largest holding goes to Dillard’s where he maintains 50,500 shares of the company’s stock. This position makes up for 5.7% of his total assets managed as well as 0.11% of the company’s shares outstanding.

The guru did not alter his position in the company over the past quarter.

Ashton’s historical holding history as of the fourth quarter:

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Dillard’s operates as fashion apparel, cosmetic and home furnishing retailer.

Dillard’s historical revenue and earnings growth:

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The analysis on Dillard’s reports that the company has a high Piotroski F-Score, indicating a healthy situation for the company, and it also notes that the company’s price and P/B ratio are both trading at near 10-year highs.

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

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Dillard’s has a market cap of $3.9 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $88.54 with a P/E ratio of 11.60, a P/S ratio of 0.60 and a P/B ratio of 2.20.

Check out Zeke Ashton’s fourth quarter holdings here.

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