Investor Chuck Akre recently shared his secret for stock success with a group of Fools: He simply looks for 100-baggers. After we politely snickered, Chuck explained that while he hasn't actually found a 100-bagger yet, he does believe that companies that can compound shareholder capital at high rates have the best chance of generating phenomenal returns over the long haul.
As you'll see below, Medtronic
|
Company |
ROE |
Net Margin |
Asset Turnover |
Leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Medtronic |
25.1% |
22.3% |
0.60 |
1.88 |
|
ZOLL Medical |
5.2% |
3.5% |
1.16 |
1.29 |
|
Boston Scientific |
(21.9%) |
(33.3%) |
0.32 |
2.02 |
Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's.
With higher margins than ZOLL Medical and Boston Scientific, Medtronic clearly outshines the competition. The DuPont formula, broken out in the table above, shows that Medtronic uses its consumer advantage -- high margins and reasonable leverage -- to generate very attractive returns on equity for shareholders.
The Foolish bottom line
I thought Chuck was a little crazy to pursue only 100-baggers. Then again, perhaps he's crazy like a fox. If a company like Medtronic can generate incredible returns on equity over time, the market likely would pay higher and higher prices for a piece of its greatness. True, we might have to settle for a two- or three-bagger, instead of a 100-bagger ... but maybe that was Chuck's point all along.
