Based on the aggregated intelligence of 160,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer Cosan
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Cosan's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.
Cosan facts
Headquarters (Founded) |
Sao Paulo, Brazil (2007) |
Market Cap |
$3.8 billion |
Industry |
Packaged foods and meats |
Trailing-12-Month Revenue |
$7.5 billion |
Management |
CEO Marcos Lutz (since 2009) |
Trailing-12-Month Operating and Profit Margin |
4.3% and 8.3% |
Cash / Debt |
$498.4 million / $3.2 billion |
Competitors |
Archer-Daniels-Midland |
Key Customers |
Bunge |
Other Highly Rated Packaged Food Stocks |
Kraft Foods |
Sources: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's) and Motley Fool CAPS.
On CAPS, 95% of the 321 members who have rated Cosan believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include RLS2BE and All-Star mrindependent, who is ranked in the top 1% of our community.
Last year, RLS2BE tapped Cosan as a particularly sweet alternative: "In a pinch, sugar ethanol totally outperforms corn ethanol without crunching food supplies. If/when the Middle East gets messier, sugar ethanol demands will make this stock more valuable than gold!"
In a pitch from Wednesday, mrindependent helped keep the positive momentum going:
I believe value momentum investing will be the most successful strategy for awhile. As a producer of sugar and ethanol in Brazil, this company should benefit if, as I expect, energy and agricultural products experience a long term upwards price trend. ... The company enjoys a sizable cash cushion, which should keep it safe despite the fact that its' balance sheet shows significant debt. Despite its 275% [1-year price run-up], this stock still looks like a bargain.
What do you think about Cosan, or any other stock for that matter? If you want to retire rich, you need to put together the best portfolio you can. Owning exceptional stocks is a surefire way to secure your financial future, and on Motley Fool CAPS, thousands of investors are working every day to find them. CAPS is 100% free, so get started!