Topic: How To Invest

Dear Pat: I would very much appreciate your advice on the following securities: Dorman Products and Fred’s Inc. Thank you.

Article Excerpt

Dorman Products, $30.17, symbol DORM on Nasdaq (Shares outstanding: 36.4 million; Market cap: $1.1 billion; www.dormanproducts.com), sells a wide range of automotive replacement parts. The company mainly sells these products in the U.S. through auto-parts retailers and warehouse distributors. Through its subsidiaries, the company also distributes auto parts in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In the three months ended June 30, 2012, Dorman’s revenue rose 13.6%, to $144.2 million from $127.0 million a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, earnings per share rose 25.7%, to $0.44 from $0.35. New car sales have been rising, which hurts replacement part makers like Dorman. However, the company’s sales and profits should keep rising, partly because it continues to introduce profitable new products. As well, Dorman is now distributing parts for heavy-duty vehicles. This is a new business for the company, and it is using its extensive distribution network to quickly gain market share. Costs associated with this move will hold back Dorman’s near-term profits, but it’s…