Paul Ferrier

Martin Marietta Materials: A success built stone by stone

In the space of a decade, Martin Marietta Materials has become one of the leaders in aggregates extraction in the United States, on the strength of a well-oiled acquisition strategy. Despite a slowdown in the construction sector in 2023, Martin Marietta has not only held its ground, but has also seen its margins and sales reach record levels. With the gradual upturn in construction and the passage of legislation in favor of infrastructure investment, Martin Marietta is well positioned to capitalize on these trends.

May 20, 2024 at 10:23 am EDT

A return to normality for the airport sector?

Four years after the start of the Covid-19 crisis, airports are finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The pandemic, which severely impacted air transport, seems to be giving way to a gradual recovery.

May 03, 2024 at 05:04 am EDT

Packaging Corporation of America : Solid board

Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) was born in 1959 from the merger of several small companies. Through organic growth and acquisitions, the company has become North America's third-largest packaging producer, with over 14,000 customers. After a disappointing 2023 for the sector as a whole, the upturn in demand in 2024 should benefit PCA, which stands out for its superior fundamentals.

April 29, 2024 at 05:19 am EDT

Ingersoll Rand: A new era for the compressor manufacturer

Since its restructuring in 2020, Ingersoll Rand, a manufacturer of pumps and compressors, has outperformed its sector in terms of growth. This performance is the result of an aggressive acquisition strategy, made possible by the company's ability to generate substantial cash flow.

April 15, 2024 at 05:16 am EDT

Globe Life, a fraudulent insurer?

On Thursday, Globe Life found itself at the heart of a scandal following damning revelations by Fuzzy Panda Research, a short-seller, highlighting widespread fraudulent practices. The insurer, formerly backed by Warren Buffett, lost over 56% of its market value in a single day.

April 12, 2024 at 06:08 am EDT

ITT: From SME, to Conglomerate, to Specialization

ITT, an American industrial manufacturer, is entering a phase of expansion after a decade of stagnation. The company's growth forecasts, rising shareholder returns and steadily improving margins could spark investor interest in the stock.

April 08, 2024 at 05:34 am EDT

Idexx Laboratories: Superior growth prospects

Don't be fooled by the puppies and kittens in the illustration, IDEXX Laboratories means serious business. It deployed a formidable model. A specialist in animal health, the company charms investors with constantly expanding margins and sales. It has built a veritable fortress (Warren Buffett calls it a MOAT) around its diagnostic products and services, which guarantee recurring revenues. In addition, the company is very generous with its shareholders, who are rewarded with substantial share buy-backs.

March 11, 2024 at 01:18 pm EDT

Bitter taste for chocolate lovers as cocoa prices soar

Chocolate lovers beware, the cocoa market has taken off in recent months, with prices literally doubling in the space of a year. These soaring costs, fueled by disappointing harvests in West Africa and exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon, may bring difficult times for consumers and chocolate manufacturers alike.

February 14, 2024 at 12:26 pm EST

Indices: From European shores to American ones

The smaller European markets have started the year well. Greece dominates, building on the success of 2024. The Netherlands and Denmark did not disappoint, as each is home to a star of the European stock market: ASML for the former and Novo Nordisk for the latter. We conclude with a trip to the United States, where the return to favor of mid-caps will have to wait.

February 07, 2024 at 10:47 am EST

Old Dominion Freight Line's high margins

Founded in 1934, Old Dominion Freight Line began as a modest family business and has grown to become one of the largest less-than-truckload (LTL) freight carriers in North America. Today, the company boasts the highest margins in its industry, backed by a sustainable competitive advantage and a strong corporate culture. Despite an industry slowdown in 2023, the outlook for 2024 is promising.

February 06, 2024 at 11:57 am EST

Topbuild: A leader in insulation

Spun off in 2015, TopBuild has become a leader in the world of insulation installation and building materials distribution. In a sector often perceived as unglamorous, the company has demonstrated that there is value and growth to be seized. With a solid acquisition strategy and inspired management, TopBuild has achieved spectacular revenue growth in a niche market.

January 19, 2024 at 10:02 am EST

New players shake up the established order

Although Tesla set a new record for electric vehicle deliveries in the fourth quarter, the American giant has relinquished its crown as leader in electric vehicle sales to its Chinese rival, BYD. However, the American company retains its leadership for the whole of 2023!

January 05, 2024 at 11:18 am EST

W.W. Grainger, Inc. : The Amazon of MRO

William Wallace Grainger founded the company that still bears his name in Chicago in 1929. Nearly a century later, and an IPO in 1967, the group has become North America's largest distributor of technical supplies for professionals. A sort of huge hardware store, in short, but with an extensive service offering.

August 22, 2023 at 05:34 am EDT

Caterpillar: a new show of force

Caterpillar certainly has a knack for falling asleep on the stock market, before experiencing brutal up and down sessions. Often in the right direction, in fact. It's as if investors were constantly doubting the capabilities of the mechanical engineering giant, before being dazzled by its results.

August 03, 2023 at 06:07 am EDT

Tetra tech: growth aligned with environmental challenges

Tetra Tech is a U.S.-based consulting and engineering services company focused on water, the environment, sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy. With over 50 years' experience, the group has completed 100,000 projects in more than 100 countries by 2022. It is valued around $9 billion.

July 28, 2023 at 04:14 am EDT

Ferrari N.V. : Automotive haute-couture

A true icon of the automotive industry, Ferrari is known both for its posh clientele and for its exploits in motorsport. Since its IPO at the end of 2015 and its separation from the Fiat Chrysler Group at the beginning of 2016, Ferrari's share price has quintupled. In this article, we analyze the company in 2023, its current situation and its future prospects.

July 06, 2023 at 10:28 am EDT

Chipotle: A history to get excited about

Chipotle needs no introduction. The well-known fast food company specializing in burritos, tacos and other Mexican dishes was created in 1993 by Steve Ells, a former chef at Stars in San Francisco, considered one of the cradles of Californian cuisine. The brand is a staple in the United States, where it has almost all of its 3,240 restaurants, which employ more than 100,000 people.

April 27, 2023 at 10:55 am EDT

SODEXO : Very little upside potential, so the risk for a correction is significant

Sodexo shares can be expected to top out below the medium term resistance at 95.78 EUR. The timing appears attractive to take advantage of a correction below this level.

April 04, 2023 at 08:38 am EDT

Harbour Energy, the unsung leader in British oil

While renewable energies are on the rise, recent events have shown that fossil fuels are still essential to the functioning of modern economies. Even if exploitation and production are becoming more and more difficult in the North Sea, there is still a small village of oil enthusiasts. Among them is Harbour Energy.

January 11, 2023 at 11:33 am EST