This Week at MANIFEST (3/20/2015)

“There is little value in the single cow.” — Irish Proverb

“Any man who owns a cow can always find a woman to milk her.” — Irish Saying

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Daniella!

After spending last weekend in Chicago with some Badgers, Spartans, Buckeyes and various other varmints, I was reminded that Chicago starts St. Patrick’s Day early with a parade on Saturday. The streets were packed with throngs of green-clad celebrants and we watched as the Chicago River was dyed green in compliance. I’m not sure I understand the difference between an Irish proverb and an Irish saying … or what is the meaning behind the bovine suggestions here. But given a choice, I think every portfolio needs more than one cow to avoid the adverse effects of cow tipping.

Chicago also honors a famous cow with a play every March, “When Irish Cows Are Smiling.” Set in March 1872, five months since the Great Chicago Fire, the MOO-morial service, held at the Diggum, Deepe & Dye Funeral Parlour, pays tribute to Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, Daniella Joy, the infamous firebug.

Companies of Interest: Value Line

The average Value Line low total return forecast for the companies in this week’s update batch is 3.9% — slightly higher than the 3.7% for the Value Line 1700.

Materially Stronger: Gentex (GNTX), Synaptics (SYNA), Drew Industries (DW)

Materially Weaker: Avon Products (AVP), Windstream (WIN), Titan International (TWI), Cincinnati Bell (CBB)

Standard Coverage Initiated: Balchem (BCPC)

Discontinued:

Market Barometer

Value Line Low Total Return (VLLTR) Forecast. The long-term low total return forecast for the 1700 companies featured in the Value Line Investment Survey is 3.7%, up slightly from 3.6% last week. For context, this indicator has ranged from low single digits (when stocks are generally overvalued) to approximately 20% when stocks are in the teeth of bear markets like 2008-2009.

Stocks to Study (3/20/2015)

• LKQ Corp (LKQ) – Highest MANIFEST Rank (100)
• Neustar (NSR) – Highest Low Return Forecast (VL)
• Express Scripts (ESRX) – Lowest P/FV (Morningstar)
• Neustar (NSR) – Lowest P/FV (S&P)
• Bioscrip (BIOS) – Best 1-Yr Outlook (ACE)
• Neustar (NSR) – Best 1-Yr Outlook (S&P)

Breaking News: Rite-Aid (RAD) actually has a financial strength rating (2%). While Value Line maintains its “C” (0%) rating on Rite-Aid, Morningstar checks in with a “C” … and the effective interest rate is still steep at 6.8% but it is better than it was!