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Warren Buffett's Targets Part I: Potential White Elephants Of The Guru Investor

Warren Buffett is one of the most trusted and popular investors on the market. He made from a dozen dollars over USD 58 billion. On this blog, I also cover the activities of the guru investor and publish his trades and thoughts.

There are several speculations on the market what Warren Buffett buys next. He has around USD 15 billion in cash, a number that is growing monthly. Some of Warren Buffett's criteria are:

- Market Capitalization from $15 Billion to $40 Billion
- Capital Expenditures / Net Fixed Assets > 10%
- 5-Year Average Growth in ROIC in Highest 50%
- P/E Ratio < Average Company Value in Home Market
- Return on Common Equity > 10%
- Excludes Banks, Brokerages, Asset Managers, Technology, Biotechnology Companies

By screening the market with the above mentioned criteria, there are popping out a few interesting stocks. Some are often discussed like General Mills or Hershey, W.W. Grainger or FedEx.

Big takeovers make sense for Warren Buffett, also when they are higher valuated. More important are the stable cash flows. The strategy is to buy stocks that have big brands and produce products. They buy commodities and create wonderful things for people all over the world.

5 picks that Warren Buffett would like to consider....

General Mills (NYSE:GIS) has a market capitalization of $30.78 billion. The company employs 41,000 people, generates revenue of $17.774 billion and has a net income of $1.793 billion. General Mills’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $3.443 billion. The EBITDA margin is 19.37 percent (the operating margin is 16.04 percent and the net profit margin 10.09 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 35.17 percent of General Mills’s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 119.44 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 28.34 percent was realized by General Mills. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.69. Last fiscal year, General Mills paid $0.99 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 18.31, the P/S ratio is 1.73 and the P/B ratio is finally 4.73. The dividend yield amounts to 3.08 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 0.20.

Long-Term Stock Price Chart Of General Mills (GIS)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of General Mills (GIS)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of General Mills (GIS)

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) has a market capitalization of $21.45 billion. The company employs 12,100 people, generates revenue of $6.644 billion and has a net income of $660.93 million. Hershey’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1.399 billion. The EBITDA margin is 21.07 percent (the operating margin is 16.72 percent and the net profit margin 9.95 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 40.10 percent of Hershey’s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 183.93 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 69.79 percent was realized by Hershey. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $3.45. Last fiscal year, Hershey paid $1.56 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 27.80, the P/S ratio is 3.21 and the P/B ratio is finally 20.71. The dividend yield amounts to 2.02 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 0.21.

Long-Term Stock Price Chart Of Hershey (HSY)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Hershey (HSY)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Hershey (HSY)

W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW) has a market capitalization of $17.65 billion. The company employs 21,100 people, generates revenue of $8.950 billion and has a net income of $698.85 million. W.W. Grainger’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1.357 billion. The EBITDA margin is 15.16 percent (the operating margin is 12.64 percent and the net profit margin 7.81 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 11.26 percent of W.W. Grainger’s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 18.67 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 23.97 percent was realized by W.W. Grainger. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $11.25. Last fiscal year, W.W. Grainger paid $3.06 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 22.61, the P/S ratio is 1.97 and the P/B ratio is finally 5.84. The dividend yield amounts to 1.46 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 0.92.

Long-Term Stock Price Chart Of W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of W.W. Grainger (GWW)

CBS Corporation (NYSE:CBS) has a market capitalization of $37.00 billion. The company employs 20,930 people, generates revenue of $14.089 billion and has a net income of $1.669 billion. CBS Corporation’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $3.594 billion. The EBITDA margin is 25.51 percent (the operating margin is 20.95 percent and the net profit margin 11.85 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 22.38 percent of CBS Corporation’s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 57.98 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 16.24 percent was realized by CBS Corporation. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.94. Last fiscal year, CBS Corporation paid $0.44 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 20.96, the P/S ratio is 2.63 and the P/B ratio is finally 3.80. The dividend yield amounts to 0.78 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 2.27.

Long-Term Stock Price Chart Of CBS Corporation (CBS)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of CBS Corporation (CBS)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of CBS Corporation (CBS)

FedEx (NYSE:FDX) has a market capitalization of $44.34 billion. The company employs 112,000 people, generates revenue of $44.287 billion and has a net income of $1.561 billion. FedEx’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $5.538 billion. The EBITDA margin is 12.50 percent (the operating margin is 5.76 percent and the net profit margin 3.52 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 8.91 percent of FedEx’s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 17.19 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 9.72 percent was realized by FedEx. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $5.19. Last fiscal year, FedEx paid $0.56 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 27.37, the P/S ratio is 1.00 and the P/B ratio is finally 2.60. The dividend yield amounts to 0.42 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 1.50.

Long-Term Stock Price Chart Of FedEx (FDX)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of FedEx (FDX)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of FedEx (FDX)

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*I am long GIS. I receive no compensation to write about these specific stocks, sector or theme. I don't plan to increase or decrease positions or obligations within the next 72 hours.

For the other stocks: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I receive no compensation to write about any specific stock, sector or theme.