I firmly believe that financial stocks will lead the pack in 2013, spurred by the Fed's aggressive easy-money policies.
Based on this outlook, here is a new recommendation: American Capital Ltd. (ACAS), a Bethesda, Md.-based private equity firm that finances growth firms and makes money from turnarounds, distressed businesses, energy infrastructure investments and its own mortgage trusts.
ACAS is a turnaround story itself, having run into a liquidity crisis in September 2008 and threatened by bankruptcy, even as it suspended its dividend.
But it has been all positive news since then as the finance company has sharply shed its debt ratios and returned to profitability.
Just in the past year, revenues are up nearly 19% to $625 million. Return on equity is an enviable 34%. Its net asset value (NAV) has jumped from $10 in 2010 to more than $17 today.
What I really like about American Capital is its buyback and dividend policy. If the stock price sells below its NAV of $17.39, it buys back its own shares.
Since it began this policy in late 2011, it has bought back 15% of the company�s shares. It will start paying a dividend when it sells above its NAV, but the NAV has been rising so fast that the price has had a hard time keeping up.
It could happen this year, judging from its price rise since Jan. 1. Yet the stock is relatively cheap, selling for 12 times estimated earnings in 2013. Zack's just rated it a #1 buy.
Let's make it a top buy, as well. Purchase American Capital and set a protective stop of $12 a share.
Related articles
- Top stocks 2013: Gladstone Commercial
- Top picks 2013: M&T Bank
- Leucadia & Jefferies: Better together
No comments:
Post a Comment