Topic: How To Invest

Pat: I would like your opinion on a U.S. stock: Jarden Corp. Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Jarden Corp., $44.25, symbol JAH on New York (Shares outstanding: 79.7 million; Market cap: $3.5 billion; www.jarden.com), makes and sells a wide range of consumer products. It owns a number of brands, including Coleman, Crock-Pot, Food-Saver, Diamond, First Alert, Hoyle, Bionaire, Rawlings, Mr. Coffee, Oster and Sunbeam. In the three months ended March 31, 2012, Jarden’s revenue rose slightly, to $1.50 billion from $1.48 billion a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, earnings per share rose 17.5%, to $0.47 from $0.40. Over the past few years, Jarden has expanded beyond the U.S. As a result, international sales now account for roughly 40% of its revenue. As well, the company made its first foray into the African market at the end of 2011. Meanwhile, Jarden’s focus on niche markets and the relatively low cost of its products have helped push up its profits over the past few years, despite the slow global economy. The shares are up 72.9% since August 2011 and now trade at 17.7…