Market dominance adds to their appeal

Article Excerpt

These three firms provide vital information to lenders and other financial companies. They are also leaders in their niche markets. That cuts their risk and makes it hard for new competitors to challenge them. DUN & BRADSTREET CORP. $100 (New York symbol DNB; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 38.8 million; Market cap: $3.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.6; Dividend yield: 1.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.dnb.com) is the world’s largest provider of credit reports on individual companies. Its customers use these reports to make buying and lending decisions. Credit reports supply two-thirds of Dun & Bradstreet’s revenue. The remaining third comes from other information products, including software that helps businesses manage websites and customer data. In the quarter ended June 30, 2013, Dun & Bradstreet’s revenue rose just 0.7%, to $386.4 million from $383.7 million a year earlier. Stronger demand for its credit reports and other products in Europe (which accounts for 15% of its revenue) and Asia (13%) offset…