Sanofi (SNY - $52)(SNY)
Sanofi is a pharmaceutical company with a good mix of durable businesses with strong growth characteristics. The company has a strong franchise in diabetes treatments, maintaining dominant market share in this rapidly growing category. Sanofi is a leading player in emerging markets, where sales growth rates are twice that of the overall pharmaceutical market. Sanofi is also a leader in vaccines, and they have a strong footprint in over-the-counter products. We think that margins and profitability should improve as the company leverages fixed R&D spending and enforces good cost controls. The company’s balance sheet has more cash than debt, and the shares sell at a substantial discount to our estimate of intrinsic value. Moreover, Sanofi has a dividend yield of 3.7%.
From Bill Nygren (Trades, Portfolio)'s Oakmark Fund first quarter 2014 commentary.
