I’ll take it—the fourth quarter earnings report that is.
And I’m going to add TRW Automotive Holdings to Jubak’s Picks today, February 22. (Well, actually I’ll add it to the portfolio when the market opens tomorrow February 23. The stock fell by 3.2% today.
In the fourth quarter TRW Automotive Holdings (TRW) saw a 32% increase in earnings per share from the fourth quarter of 2009, the company reported on February 16. Excluding one-time items, earnings grew by 46%. Either way, earnings of $1.56 or $1.72 a share easily beat the consensus Wall Street estimate of $1.24 a share. Sales in the quarter climbed by 9.7% to $3.71 billion. The company reduced net debt by $815 million to $768 million. (Net debt is debt–$1.846 billion at the end of 2010—minus cash and cash equivalents–$1.078 billion.
Everything about the quarter tells me that the Wall Street estimate of 2011 earnings growth of just 6% is too low.
The U.S. auto industry is rebounding and results at the auto suppliers are even more leveraged to that rebound than are those of the automakers themselves. (For more on the auto suppliers see my post https://jubakpicks.com/2011/01/11/really-want-to-leverage-the-recovery-of-the-auto-industry-try-these-5-stocks-of-auto-suppliers/ ) Standard & Poor’s estimates that U.S. light vehicles sales will climb by almost 13% in 2011. I think sales at TRW Automotive should climb at that rate or even slightly better given the company’s exposure (25% of sales) to car safety systems, which are an increasingly important part of the selling proposition for car makers. In addition the company’s reduction in debt should, along with increased sales, lead to slightly higher margins in 2011.
I’m buying these shares with a  with a one-year target price of $78 a share. On February 22 the share traded at 9 times 2010 earnings per share.
Full disclosure: I don’t own shares of any of the companies mentioned in this post in my personal portfolio. The mutual fund I manage, Jubak Global Equity Fund, may or may not now own positions in any stock mentioned in this post. The fund did own shares of TRW Automotive as of the end of January. For a full list of the stocks in the fund as of the end of January see the fund’s portfolio at http://jubakfund.com/about-the-fund/holdings/
can i strongly 2nd your request that the fund becomes available on TD ameritrade.
already sent it to jubak, but didn’t hear anything yet about it.
I think a couple things have changed about the Jubak Picks site and portfolios since JUBAX was rolled out. First, he has a premium site (half price for Jubak Picks readers, free for JUBAX owners) where he primarily posts now. He still makes some posts here and at msn, but those posts probably go to the premium site first.
Second, it looks like the 3 day rule (presumably for journalistic integrity) has taken a back seat to JUBAX performance. I believe that Jim is focussed now on his assets under management, rather than the performance of some theoretical portfolios. As someone hoping to own JUBAX (if it ever becomes available at TDAmeritrade), I believe that is appropriate.
organicbob,
The article was first posted on Feb. 18th at 1:14pm at Jubak asset managment’s web site. You have to pay or own shares in JUBAX to get JAM.
The 3 day rule was for when Jim would purchase for his own investments not Jubak’s Picks. Also, it is my understanding that Jim has put his money into JUBAX so no need to give 3 days.
Two things:
This article was written today, the 23rd, but yet
Jim says the following:
“And I’m going to add TRW Automotive Holdings to Jubak’s Picks today, February 22. (Well, actually I’ll add it to the portfolio when the market opens tomorrow February 23”.
Also, Jim used to buy three days after his post. Has this been discussed somewhere else now that the rule seems to no longer be valid?
I don’t expect Jim to ans, so perhaps someone else who reads his blog will…tks
I was an auto bull until oil started spiking.