Topic: How To Invest

Q: I know you don’t like IPOs, but what do you think of Loar Holdings? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

A: Loar Holdings, $59.43, symbol LOAR on New York (Shares outstanding: 89.7 million; Market cap: $5.5 billion; www.loargroup.com), specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling niche aerospace and defence components. Those products include autothrottles, lap-belt airbags, two- and three-point seat belts, water purification systems, fire barriers, temperature and fluid sensors and switches, carbon and metallic brake discs, fluid and pneumatic-based ice protection, RAM air components, sealing solutions, and motion and actuation devices. Founded in 2012, the company went public on April 24, 2024, selling shares at $28. That was above the pre-IPO proposed pricing of $24 to $26. The shares are now up 98.5% from the IPO price. Abrams Capital Management is the largest owner of Loar stock, with a 42.9% interest after the IPO. Loar has three core end markets: commercial (45% of revenue), business jet and general aviation (24%), defence (19%), and non-aviation (12%). The company’s growth strategy depends on acquisitions, and since its founding in 2012, it has made 16 smaller purchases. For…