Widely Held Guru Stocks Near 52-Week Lows

Author's Avatar
Aug 05, 2014
Article's Main Image

If you are looking to go bargain hunting for stocks, here are some well-known companies that have been lagging the markets and could be ready to reverse their downward trends. To use guidance from the investing gurus, I looked for stocks near their 52-week lows that are widely held by the gurus. The following link can be used to find similar stocks: 52-Week Low Guru Stocks. Following the gurus can provide confirmation of investing ideas. Our “Most Broadly Held Portfolio” has outperformed the S&P 500 by 32.57 percent since its inception on December 30, 2005. The portfolio contains the most widely held stocks by the gurus.

Pfizer Inc (PFE) closed at $28.75 on 8/4/2014, near its 52-week low of $27.76. The stock is down 12.77 percent from its 52-week high of $32.96 on 3/6/2014. Pfizer is a research-based, global biopharmaceutical company. It global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines, as well as many of the world’s best-known consumer healthcare products. Its pharmaceuticals include Celebrex, Chantix, Eliquis Lyrica, and Viagra. Its well-known consumer healthcare brands include Centrum, Advil, Robitussin, and ChapStick. With its low P/E of 9.2, earnings only need to grow at a rate of 2.26 percent to justify its current price as determined by the GuruFocus DCF Calculator. The stock is held by 39 gurus we follow with Dodge & Cox having the largest holding of 64.1 million shares, representing 1.01 percent of the shares outstanding.

Market Cap: 184.09 billion, P/E: 9.20

Business Predictability: 3.5/5, Financial Strength: 7/10, Profitability & Growth: 8/10

03May20171409471493838587.png

GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK) closed at $48.55 on 8/4/2014, near its 52-week low of $47.51. The stock is down 14.42 percent since its 52-week high of $56.73. GlaxoSmithKline creates, discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets pharmaceutical products, such as vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, and health related consumer products worldwide. According to the Peter Lynch Earnings Line, the stock is near its fair value of $48.10. The stock is held by 27 gurus we follow with Dodge & Cox having the largest holding of 60.4 million shares, representing 2.49 percent of the shares outstanding.

Market Cap: 116.57 billion, P/E: 14.60

Business Predictability: 2/5, Financial Strength: 7/10, Profitability & Growth: 6/10

03May20171409481493838588.png

Loews Corp (L) closed at $42.30 on 8/4/2014, near its 52-week low of $41.85. The stock is down 14.44 percent from its 52-week high of $49.43 on 10/22/2013. Loews is a conglomerate of companies and is run by the Tisch Family in New York. Its subsidiaries include CNA Financial, Diamond Offshore, Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, HighMount, and Loews Hotels & Resorts. The stock is a bargain due to it being priced at 18.4 percent below its book value. A discount to book value is not warranted since book value per share is still growing. The stock is held by 21 gurus we follow with Mason Hawkins of Southeastern Asset Management having the largest holding of 36.8 million shares, representing 9.53 percent of the shares outstanding.

Market Cap: 16.38 billion, P/E: 40.10

Business Predictability: 1/5, Financial Strength: 6/10, Profitability & Growth: 7/10

03May20171409481493838588.png

Aflac Inc (AFL) closed at $59.04 on 8/4/2014, near its 52 week low of $57.36. The stock is down 12.7 percent from its 52-week high of $67.62 on 12/30/2013. Aflac is a supplemental health and life insurance company servicing customers in Japan and the United States. The company makes so, “If you’re hurt and miss work, it won’t hurt to miss work.” The stock is trading at only a P/E of 9.1 and only needs to grow at a rate of 1.75 percent to justify its current price according the GuruFocus DCF Calculator. The stock is held by 14 gurus we follow with Bill Nygren of the Oakmark Fund having the largest holding of 3.21 million shares, representing 0.71 percent of the shares outstanding.

Market Cap: 26.81 billion, P/E: 9.10

Business Predictability: 1/5, Financial Strength: 7/10, Profitability & Growth: 8/10

03May20171409481493838588.png

The Hershey Company (HSY) closed at $89.40, near its 52-week low of $87.88. The stock is down 17.73 percent from its 52-week high of 108.69. Hershey is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionary. Its well-known brands include Hershey’s, Reese’s, Twizzlers, Breath Savers, as well as many others. The stock has had a large run in the past few years, and its price has gotten ahead of its earnings. The fair value of the stock with its 5-year EPS growth rate of 16.8 percent is $83.17 using the GuruFocus DCF Calculator. The stock is held by 11 gurus we follow with Jim Simons of Renaissance Technologies having the largest holding of 4.50 million shares, representing 2.02 percent of the shares outstanding.

Market Cap: 19.92 billion, P/E: 24.10

Business Predictability: 1/5, Financial Strength: 7/10, Profitability & Growth: 8/10

03May20171409491493838589.png

For the complete list of Guru owned stocks that have reached their 52-week lows, go to: GuruFocus list of 52-week lows. Following the gurus is a great way to get investing ideas. Get the latest guru stock picks here: Latest Guru Stock Picks.