Boston Beer Co Inc (SAM), Virtus Investment Partners Inc (VRTS): I’m Sure Glad I Bought These 2 Stocks

Growth on the wing

Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ:BWLD) operates in about 950 locations and has plans to expand even further. A combination of a casual family restaurant and a brew pub in the same building appeals to a diverse clientele. Most of its locations feature dining al fresco, which is popular with both the younger and older set during the warmer months.

The company has been growing earnings at a 16% rate and should at least keep up that pace based upon the latest SEC filings. The P/E ratio is reasonable at about 32. Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ:BWLD), despite its expansion, has no debt allowing it to keep fueling even more growth. Fellow Motley Fools rate it high with a CAPS rating of four. The stock is a buy in my book and many others.

Laser focus

Coherent, Inc. (NASDAQ:COHR) makes lasers and other optical systems for industrial, scientific, and academic applications. Earnings have been growing briskly at 20% a year and the stock is reasonably priced with a P/E ratio of about 24. Available information from the company and investors indicate that the positive performance will continue.

Coherent, Inc. (NASDAQ:COHR) has a solid management team in place and no debt. Some of its products have a niche within the industry, which gives it an advantage. The Motley Fool CAPS rating is five. There doesn’t seem to be any reason not to buy it for your growth portfolio.

Conclusion

A relatively simple screen composed of six investing criteria worked well for me when I picked two stocks last year, Boston Beer Co Inc (NYSE:SAM)and Virtus Investment Partners Inc (NASDAQ:VRTS). Both companies have grown since then and share prices have exploded. And both probably continue to rate a buy.

I ran the screen again this year and identified two other companies, Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ:BWLD) and Coherent, Inc. (NASDAQ:COHR), which could do just as well going forward. They appear poised for expansion and profit.

Mark Morelli owns shares of Boston Beer and Virtus Investment Partners. The Motley Fool recommends Boston Beer and Buffalo Wild Wings. The Motley Fool owns shares of Boston Beer and Buffalo Wild Wings.

The article I’m Sure Glad I Bought These 2 Stocks originally appeared on Fool.com.

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