Delphi Automotive PLC (NYSE:DLPH) was one of Loeb’s top stock picks overall, with the 13F reporting a position of 10 million shares. Delphi, an auto parts manufacturer specializing in electrical, electronic, and powertrain systems, experienced a decline in earnings last quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2011 primarily due to reduced margins. Auto related companies are of interest to many value investors who point to a historically old U.S. consumer auto fleet and to low earnings multiples- in Delphi Automotive PLC (NYSE:DLPH)’s case, the trailing P/E is 13. Analyst expectations have it priced at 9 times forward earnings estimates.
Third Point added shares of Murphy Oil Corporation (NYSE:MUR) during the fourth quarter of 2012 and closed December with a total of 6.2 million shares in its portfolio. Loeb has suggested that the integrated oil and gas company spin out one or more of its business units, such as its retail gas stations. The stock carries trailing and forward P/E multiples of 12 and 10, respectively, but spinouts often have the effect of creating shareholder value as management becomes better able to focus on the new business’s core operations. We’d suggest following the stock but not buying unless there are further positive developments.
The fund initiated a position of 3.7 million shares in Tesoro Corporation (NYSE:TSO), an $8 billion market cap company which operates midstream energy assets and retail gas stations. Loeb’s stated thesis here has been that investors are undervaluing many of Tesoro Corporation (NYSE:TSO)’s refining assets including a new acquisition of a refinery previously owned by BP. The stock has already more than doubled from its levels a year ago, but is still arguably cheap at an enterprise value of 4x trailing EBITDA and earnings multiples of around 10 as well. The five-year PEG ratio is 0.8 as the sell-side expects significant earnings growth.
The 13F shows that Loeb bought 3.1 million shares of Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF)– likely after being unimpressed with billionaire Bill Ackman’s presentation arguing for shorting the stock and seeing the price collapse. Find Ackman’s favorite stocks. Of course, fellow billionaire Carl Icahn has become the highest-profile Herbalife long following a charged argument with Ackman on CNBC but this is a sizable position for Third Point as well. Certainly on a quantitative basis Herbalife is cheap at 10 times trailing earnings, though short interest remains high and some of Ichan’s proposed moves (including a buyout) seem unlikely given concerns that- at least in the long run- Herbalife is a pyramid scheme.
A somewhat lower profile battle is brewing at Agrium Inc. (USA) (NYSE:AGU) where Barry Rosenstein’s JANA Partners has called for a breakup of the company’s wholesale and retail businesses. Agrium sells agricultural products through these two channels, and its earnings multiples clock in at 10 or slightly higher. Last quarter revenue edged up 3% compared to the fourth quarter of 2011, and while earnings growth was high in percentage terms that growth rate is not sustainable. Agrium’s management has resisted JANA’s move, and as a result we think it is another candidate for a watchlist rather than a portfolio.
Disclosure: I own no shares of any stocks mentioned in this article.
