Just as we examine companies each week that may be rising past their fair value, we can also find companies potentially trading at bargain prices. While many investors would rather have nothing to do with companies tipping the scales at 52-week lows, I think it makes a lot of sense to determine whether the market has overreacted to the downside, just as we often do when the market reacts to the upside.
Here’s a look at three fallen angels trading near their 52-week lows that could be worth buying.
For commodity companies, their production growth and demand is almost wholly dependent on China. This holds true for copper producer Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE:FCX), which has also suffered from negative investor sentiment over its decision to diversify its operations by purchasing oil and natural gas companies Plains Exploration & Production Company (NYSE:PXP) and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE:FCX) for a combined $9 billion in cash and stock. Investors may not like the state of the copper market here, or be skeptical about Freeport’s big bet on natural gas, but I think the company set itself up for long-term success.
To begin with, China’s demand for copper is expected to remain robust, given its $157 billion infrastructure bill passed in September. Copper is a common component used in heavy construction, so the demand and copper pricing stability should be there. Let’s not also overlook the comments from Freeport’s senior vice president of marketing and sales (which I’ve highlighted before) in which he anticipates the company potentially doubling its copper exports to China up to 1 million metric tons by 2016. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE:FCX) is basically telling you not to worry about the demand side of the copper business.
As for its “questionable” natural gas purchases, with President Obama emphasizing a push toward cleaner-burning fuels and U.S. energy independence, I don’t think Plains Exploration or McMoRan Exploration will be struggling to find buyers of their fuel. The true gem of the two is Plains Exploration which combines onshore rigs in California — a spot where plenty of fossil fuels still lay trapped below ground — and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.
Altogether, Freeport is a well-oiled profit-pumping machine valued at seven times forward earnings and paying close to a 4% yield. Sign me up!
Hardly what I’d call a short-circuit
One of the many dangers of investing in the technology sector is that many of the products can be easily commoditized and become quickly obsolete with the rapid tech replacement cycle of today’s products. That still didn’t predicate me from keeping my distance from printed circuit board, or PCB, manufacturer TTM Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTMI) .
On the surface, TTM looks like a disaster, with the company taking a huge non-cash goodwill and asset impairment charge of $218.4 million in 2012 and total sales falling 5.6% from 2011. But removing these one-time, non-cash charges and focusing on its sales strength in the smartphone and tablets printed circuit board segment, and you’ll discover an incredibly cheap company.
Specifically, TTM’s high-definition-capable PCBs for smartphones and touchpad tablets are in such high demand that their prices remain high and gross margin remains well above TTM’s segment average. As long as demand for these HDI-PCBs stays strong — and I really don’t see why it wouldn’t — then TTM Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTMI) can expect its margins and sales to improve. With the company valued at only eight times forward earnings, there’s plenty of room for growth in TTM Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTMI).
Dress, and invest, for less
I have been waiting forever for a pullback in discount retailer Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) , so I’m not going to let a great opportunity like this pass by without getting my CAPScall of outperform firmly in place.
Both Ross Stores and The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX) , the retailer behind TJ Maxx, have excelled since the recession by using the same turnaround plan that Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) used in the mid-1990s. They’ve both been bringing in well-known, high-demand, designer merchandise at discount prices and targeting the cost-conscious consumer looking for a fresh style at an inexpensive price. Both retailers, however, ran into a brick wall last week when they released their February same-store sales results, which noted a comparable-store gain of 1% for TJX and a decline of 1% for Ross Stores.
Why I think Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) will succeed simply has to do with its management team’s understanding of its customers wants and needs, and sticking to its game plan. Higher payroll taxes were expected to take a bite out of Ross’ earnings, as well as a delay for consumers in receiving their tax returns. However, shareholders have more than paid their penance for a chain still primed to outperform. Unless inventories start to climb at either Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) or TJX, I could make a case for both as strong buys on any noticeable dip.
Foolish roundup
This week’s common theme is that management has laid a solid long-term foundation for all three companies here to follow. Better diversification for Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE:FCX), more smartphone and touchpad tablet demand for TTM Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTMI)’s HDI-PCB’s, and Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST)’ designer brands are the keys that will lead these companies higher over the long run.
The article 3 Stocks Near 52-Week Lows Worth Buying originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Sean Williams.
Fool contributor Sean Williams has no material interest in any companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on CAPS under the screen name TMFUltraLong, track every pick he makes under the screen name TrackUltraLong, and check him out on Twitter, where he goes by the handle @TMFUltraLong.The Motley Fool recommends TTM Technologies and owns shares of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold.
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