With economic data taking a backseat to a slew of better-than-expected earnings reports, the broad-based S&P 500 continues to knock off one all-time record close after another. For skeptics like me, that’s an opportunity to see whether companies have earned their current valuations.
Keep in mind that some companies deserve their current valuations. Take railroad operator Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) for example. Union Pacific grew profit by 11% in its most recent quarter as it was able to offset demand weakness in coal with higher prices. With many railroad operators predicting a pickup in shipments in the second half of the year, Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) certainly looks to be in great shape moving forward.
Still, other companies might deserve a kick in the pants. Here’s a look at three companies that could be worth selling.
Raise the yellow caution flag
In spite of trucking company YRC Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:YRCW)‘s share price doubling last week following the company’s first quarterly profit in six years (that’s right… six years), shares are still down a mind-boggling 99.9928% over the past decade. Somehow avoiding bankruptcy a few years back by diluting existing shareholders into oblivion, YRC has investors now thinking the company may be on the mend. However, its history makes me believe otherwise.
The problem isn’t just that YRC Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:YRCW)’s business isn’t really equipped to compete with its peers — it’s that the entire trucking industry is still in the midst of a fragile recovery. With trucking demand still weak, YRC’s pricing power will remain minimal at best, which will only compound its seemingly never-ending recovery.
In short, I feel YRC Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:YRCW) is far from out of the woods and would seriously consider waving the yellow caution flags after a 100% run higher over the past week.
Can you hear me now?
Unlike YRC, which I consider to be in awful shape, audio communication solutions maker Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE:PLT) is merely a sell in my book based on its recent share price appreciation.
Plantronics reported its fourth-quarter results earlier this week, and by all accounts they weren’t bad. Net revenue grew 15% as unified communications revenue (Bluetooth handsets) jumped 34% because of rapidly growing demand in China and increasing global legislation that requires the use of hands-free devices while driving.
However, I also couldn’t help but notice that adjusted gross margin fell 160 basis points to 52.3% from the year-ago period. While that’s still at the high end of Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE:PLT)’ gross margin range over the past decade, it’s also concerning because the Bluetooth devices that Plantronics makes, like practically all electronic devices, are subject to commoditization. I wouldn’t be surprised if Plantronics were to see continued margin deterioration in the coming quarters as competition overseas increased and competitors undercut the company on pricing.
Luckily for shareholders, Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE:PLT) has a moat of cash on hand — about $345 million — which will put a solid floor under any precipitous drops in gross margin. It’s not a lost cause by any means, but at 15 times forward earnings and a growth rate that I project could dip below 5%, I’m not all too excited about its prospects in the interim.
I think we’re lost
I’m not sure if anyone’s told China yet, but the navigation market is so last decade! Shares of China-based AutoNavi Holdings Ltd (ADR) NASDAQ:AMAP) have soared over the past week on essentially no news despite the glaring fact that its product portfolio is in a highly commoditized and easily replaceable industry.
Stateside, Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN) is seeing many of the issues I project AutoNavi will soon encounter. With mobile coverage spreading into many rural areas, many smartphones and tablets are now able to deliver the same navigation quality and features that Garmin’s and AutoNavi’s products bring to the table. Understandably, China’s wireless infrastructure isn’t as developed as what we have here in the U.S., so the lifespan of AutoNavi’s products will be extended compared to Garmin, which has been on a multiyear downswing. Ultimately, though, the same product replacement cycle is going to hit AutoNavi when China’s wireless infrastructure improves, and will slowly erode its business.
While there could be some value to be had here if the company were to pay a dividend (which it currently does not), after a 30%-plus rally on basically no news I can’t help but be skeptical.
Foolish roundup
This week’s theme is all about longevity. Innovation and commoditization in the technology sector look like big enemies of China-based AutoNavi and Bluetooth headset maker Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE:PLT), while a large debt load and years of losses seem like a perfectly good reason to doubt YRC Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:YRCW)’s future potential.
I’m so confident in my three calls that I plan to make a CAPScall of underperform on each one. The question is: Would you do the same?
The article 3 Stocks Near 52-Week Highs Worth Selling originally appeared on Fool.com.
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.
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