Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) was a huge increase for Cohen last quarter; he upped his stake over 10,000%. The increasing need for wireless data services should be a driving force behind Verizon’s expected 4% revenue growth in 2013. Adding to this is the expected adoption of more smartphones across a rising population. Verizon trades in line with AT&T on various levels, but does standout on expected earnings – 5-year CAGR of 11.5% – compared to AT&T’s 6.5%. Further driving our investment thesis for Verizon is its steep valuation discount on a forward earnings basis, where the mobile provider trades at a 15x forward P/E compared to its trailing P/E of 40x. This, coupled with its 4.7% dividend yield and 0.5 beta, makes Verizon quite the defensive play. Ken Fisher, founder of Fisher Asset Management, is one of Verizon’s biggest supporters (see Ken Fisher’s newest picks).
Cohen also increased his stake in General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) by a whopping amount last quarter – over 30,000%. We believe it is hard to pass up GE’s diverse product base. GE derives over 80% of its revenues from for very different, very distinct segments. These include healthcare, energy, finance and aerospace. We like the prospects in all of GE’s segments and believe that the demand for innovative healthcare products will only increase with an aging population. Equally as important to the company, energy markets are already making demands for fossil fuel alternatives. GE pays a 3.5% dividend yield and presents investors with a solid value play, trading at only 13x forward earnings. Warren Buffett is just one of GE’s big-name investors (see Warren Buffett’s new picks here).
Mead Johnson Nutrition Co (NYSE:MJN) is Cohen’s 30th largest 13F holding and is a leader in pediatric nutrition following its 2009 spinoff from Bristol-Myers Squibb. With a rising global population and better health standards in emerging countries, Mead should continue to perform well. Mead posted 3Q results that came in at $0.71, compared to $0.78 for 3Q 2011, and revenues were down 1.3% year over year.
This decline has helped push Mead’s stock price down nearly 12% over the last three months. Mead has a relatively stable market – in part exhibited by its 0.7 beta – but also has growth opportunities outside of the U.S. China is one of Mead’s greatest opportunities despite the country’s recent slowdown. The majority of the nutrition company’s international sales come from the Asia-Latin America market (70%), which comprise nearly one-fifth of total top line revenues. Mead is also a major player in China’s baby formula market, with 17% of that particular market share. With that being said, emerging markets will play a key part in helping the nutrition company meet the Street’s 5-year expected earnings growth rate of 11%. Mead called billionaire and founder of Renaissance Technologies Jim Simons as its top fund owner last quarter (check out Jim Simons’ latest picks).
