High market share cuts their risk

Article Excerpt

These small industrial companies face a number of challenges, including rising costs and falling sales in Europe and other overseas markets. However, all four are leaders in their niche industries. That should continue to spur their long-term growth. They also have long histories of raising their dividends. Still, we see only two as buys right now. GENUINE PARTS CO. $64 (New York symbol GPC; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 155.1 million; Market cap: $9.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 3.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.genpt.com) gets 50% of its sales and 53% of its earnings by selling auto parts. The company operates 1,300 of its own outlets under the NAPA banner, and its distribution business serves 4,750 independent stores across North America. Genuine also distributes industrial parts (34% of sales, 33% of earnings), office furniture (12%, 10%) and electrical equipment (4%, 4%). In January 2012, the company paid $165.6 million for 30% of Exego Group, a privately held firm that sells auto…