The Value Line low total return forecast (for approximately 1700 stocks) is 8.2%, down from 8.5% last week.
Companies of Interest
It was nice to see Hillenbrand (HI) get an upward nudge in long-term price forecast. We featured it three and six months ago … and the price has advanced nicely. This boost restores the low total return forecast to 4.5%.
MSC Industrial Direct (MSM) markets industrial products to small- and mid-sized customers throughout the U.S. MSM distributes a full line of industrial products such as cutting tools, abrasives, measuring instruments, safety equipment, fasteners, welding supplies and electrical supplies. Like Grainger (GWW), the company has been a long-time favorite and is worthy of further study — a good opportunity if you believe in a continuing economic recovery.
Materially Stronger: Hillenbrand (HI), Middleby (MIDD), United Rentals (URI), American Water (AWK)
Materially Weaker: Digital River (DRIV), Stonemor (STON), Tecumseh Products (TECUA)
Expecting Alpha 
[…] this week’s Value Line update, we mentioned that MSC Industrial (MSM) seemed to exhibit strengthening fundamentals. The […]