BRIGGS & STRATTON CORP. $22

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORP. $22 (New York symbol BGG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 43.3 million; Market cap: $952.6 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; Dividend yield: 2.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.briggsandstratton.com) makes lawn mower engines, portable power generators, pressure washers and… Read More

Keep holding these top-quality small caps

These three small-cap manufacturers continue to dominate their niche industries. They’re staying ahead of the competition by developing innovative products or building their businesses through timely acquisitions.

But all three operate in cyclical industries, and their share prices have fallen lately as economic growth slows… Read More

Acquisition will bring steadier sales

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORP. $20 (New York symbol BGG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 46.7 million; Market cap: $934.0 million; Priceto-sales ratio: 0.5; Dividend yield: 2.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.briggsandstratton.com) is buying Allmand Bros., a privately held Nebraska firm that… Read More

Market leadership gives them an edge

These four small-cap Manufacturing & Industry picks are riskier than most of our large-cap selections in that sector. However, they’re all market leaders with strong reputations, which makes it harder for new competitors to steal their customers. Moreover, all four are using their strong balance… Read More

Our latest advice on four small cap stocks

Small cap stocks are companies with market caps (or the value of all their outstanding shares) below $2 billion, or some other arbitrary figure. Many investors avoid small caps like the four we analyze below, because they’re generally more volatile than large cap stocks. These… Read More