Winter 2015

Issue 23 · analyzed

44 ideas

pitch short worked
-377.2%
FSLR First Solar, Inc.
Amici Capital Prize Competition

First Solar is facing significant headwinds due to increasing competition in the solar industry and potential regulatory changes that could impact its profitability. The company's reliance on government incentives and it…

pitch long failed
-62.2%
JBLU JetBlue Airways Corporation
Amici Capital Prize Competition

JetBlue Airways is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for air travel, with a strong brand and customer loyalty. The company has a solid balance sheet and is expanding its routes, which should drive reven…

pitch long
SCH Schibsted Media Group
Amici Capital Prize Competition

Schibsted Media Group is undervalued due to its strong digital transformation and growth in online classifieds. The company's diversified revenue streams and leadership in the Nordic market position it well for future gr…

pitch long inconclusive
CDK CDK Global, Inc.
Amici Capital Prize Competition

CDK Global is a leader in providing technology solutions for the automotive retail industry. With a strong customer base and recurring revenue model, the company is poised for growth as it continues to innovate and expan…

position long
SHAW The Shaw Group

The Shaw Group has a strong balance sheet with over $1 billion in unencumbered cash and a solid management team that has demonstrated success in building the business. Despite positive developments, the stock price has d…

position long inconclusive
SIX Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

Investing in Six Flags was driven by the management of Jim Reid-Anderson, who has a proven track record of success in turning around companies. His plans for Six Flags post-bankruptcy were reasonable and achievable, lead…

position long
COTT Cott Corporation

Cott Corporation was initially considered for purchase at $18 per share despite its rapid rise from $3, as the potential for future growth was recognized. The stock eventually appreciated significantly, demonstrating the…

position long inconclusive
CBI Chicago Bridge & Iron Company

Chicago Bridge & Iron's acquisition of Shaw Group at a premium indicates the value of Shaw's business and the effectiveness of its management team, reinforcing the investment thesis for Shaw.

pitch long
BIN Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd.
2nd Place — Ross Investment Competition (University of Michigan)

Buy Progressive Waste Solutions equity with a three-year base case share price of $46, representing ~55% upside from the current share price. The investment thesis is supported by a new management team focused on enhanci…

pitch short failed
+34.5%
HLF Herbalife Ltd.
null

Bill Ackman believes that Herbalife is a pyramid scheme and that the quality of work done by those who own the stock is poor. He asserts that if investors continue to hold the stock, they will ultimately lose 100% of the…

position null inconclusive
MHFI McGraw Hill Financial, Inc.
null

Ackman considered McGraw-Hill due to its valuable assets like the S&P franchise but ultimately decided against investing due to concerns over potential liabilities associated with the bond rating business and the risks o…

position null inconclusive
VRX Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.
null

Ackman is open to hearing contrary views on Valeant, indicating that he is aware of the significant debate surrounding the stock and is willing to consider opposing perspectives.

position long inconclusive
ZTS Zoetis Inc.

Zoetis is the largest company in animal health, benefiting from rising income levels and increasing demand for protein in diets. The companion animal health segment is also expected to grow as more affluent cultures care…

position short inconclusive
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc.

Bill Ackman expresses a strong belief in being short Herbalife, suggesting that if the best arguments against it are not convincing, he would want to increase his short position. He highlights Amazon as a formidable comp…

position long inconclusive
VRX Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.

Ackman discusses the challenges of GAAP accounting for companies like Valeant, suggesting that while it has been acquisitive, the focus should be on understanding the economic earnings rather than just reported earnings.…

position long inconclusive
PSH Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Ackman discusses the creation of Pershing Square Holdings as a way to manage capital and pursue high-quality investments, indicating a long-term strategy focused on significant investments in companies with strong busine…

position long inconclusive
APD Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Ackman notes that Air Products was brought to them by a shareholder of Canadian Pacific, suggesting a belief in the company's potential for improvement and value creation through their involvement.

position long inconclusive
CP Canadian Pacific Railway Limited

Ackman indicates that Canadian Pacific came from an unhappy shareholder, suggesting that there is potential for value creation and improvement in the company, aligning with their investment strategy.

position long
AGN Allergan plc

Bill Ackman mentioned spending a significant amount of time on Allergan, indicating a strong focus on this investment. The context suggests that he sees potential in Allergan's business model and growth prospects.

position long inconclusive
CLW Clearwater Paper Corporation

We liked the private label tissue business and saw potential for value creation under new management. The company has been buying back shares aggressively, indicating confidence in its future earnings power.

position long inconclusive
ORA AU Orora Limited

Orora, a spin-off from Amcor, has a strong market position and a management team with a proven track record of creating shareholder value. The stock was trading at a low multiple, and we believed it had significant upsid…

position long inconclusive
RJET Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.

Despite market concerns about past management decisions and industry challenges, we see a strong core business with stable cash flow and significant cash earnings potential. The stock is undervalued, and we expect manage…

pitch long worked
+332.4%
RJET Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.
null

We believe RJET is a better buy today as earnings are quickly ramping and management has proven its ability to execute. The stock has done notably well since being a $5 stock in 2011, and we expect the market to focus on…

position long inconclusive
LYB LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
null

If natural gas prices remain low, LyondellBasell may benefit significantly from the change in the macro environment, as the company could see improved margins and profitability due to lower feedstock costs.

position long inconclusive
GT Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear Tire has appreciated 370% over six years, significantly outperforming the market. Despite this growth, it remains undervalued at 9x earnings due to the market's slow recognition of its sustainable profitability …

position long inconclusive
CAR Avis Budget Group, Inc.

Avis is considered a quality, analyzable business that benefits from industry consolidation and is trading at a significant discount to its intrinsic value.

position long inconclusive
HTZ Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.

Hertz is viewed as a quality business that benefits from consolidation in the car rental industry and is trading at a significant discount to intrinsic value.

position long inconclusive
WDC Western Digital Corporation

Western Digital is another quality business that is a beneficiary of consolidation and is trading at a significant discount to its intrinsic value.

position long worked
+5071.0%
AER AerCap Holdings N.V.

AerCap is one of the cheapest stocks in the portfolio, trading at 7.9x earnings despite having appreciated 1,200% since initial investment. It operates in the commercial airplane leasing sector, which is expected to gene…

position long failed
-75.2%
GT Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear has transformed its business by exiting the low-end tire market and focusing on high-value performance tires. Despite past struggles, the company is now positioned for strong profits with projected earnings of $…

position long inconclusive
AER AerCap Holdings N.V.

AerCap's business model is less credit-sensitive than perceived, as it can repossess airplanes and find new renters easily. The acquisition of ILFC has significantly boosted earnings, with projections of $4.95 per share …

position short inconclusive
WFM Whole Foods Market, Inc.

Whole Foods is facing increased competition in the organic foods market, which is negatively impacting its earnings. Despite being a strong brand, the stock is overvalued and has further downside potential as competitors…

position short inconclusive
KO The Coca-Cola Company

Coca-Cola is overvalued at a 20x earnings multiple given its stagnant growth of 5% per year. With changing consumer preferences and a lack of growth catalysts, the stock has significant downside potential, making it a pr…

pitch short failed
-489.1%
FSLR First Solar, Inc.

First Solar is facing significant headwinds due to declining average selling prices (ASP) and a saturated U.S. utility-scale market. The expiration of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) will further pressure pricing, and in…

pitch long failed
-58.0%
JBLU JetBlue Airways Corporation

JetBlue has significant upside potential as it implements shareholder-focused initiatives under new CEO Robin Hayes. The company is expected to improve its return on invested capital (ROIC) by over 700 basis points, driv…

pitch long failed
-74.6%
JBLU JetBlue Airways Corporation
2015 Amici Capital Prize

JetBlue is expected to exceed management's conservative guidance for additional operating income through initiatives like Fare Families and Cabin Refresh, which will significantly enhance revenue and ROIC. The implementa…

pitch long inconclusive
SCH:NO Schibsted

Schibsted is transforming into a leading online classifieds operator with significant growth potential in multiple countries. The company's strong position in Norway and Sweden, combined with its shift to monetization, i…

pitch long
SCH Schibsted Media Group
2015 Amici Capital Prize

Schibsted Media Group is undervalued due to a significant monetization gap between its Scandinavian properties and its other sites. The company's core classified properties in Norway, Sweden, France, Spain, and Italy are…

pitch long failed
-29.2%
CDK CDK Global, Inc.
2015 Amici Capital Prize

CDK is positioned for significant topline growth driven by the transition from analog to digital in the automotive retail industry, alongside substantial margin expansion and strong free cash flow generation. The company…

pitch short
SCTY SolarCity Corporation
Darden @ Virginia Investing Challenge

Despite being a market leader in solar energy installations, SCTY's valuation does not account for significant business risks, including lack of differentiation, no cost advantage over peers, and regulatory threats that …

pitch short
SCTY SolarCity Corporation
Alpha Challenge @ UNC Kenan-Flagler

We believe SolarCity's competitive advantages are eroding due to the emergence of new financing options for solar installations, which diminish their unique selling proposition. Additionally, the company's cost structure…

pitch short
CATM Cardtronics Inc.
Alpha Challenge @ UNC Kenan-Flagler

Cardtronics is facing a secular decline in ATM usage as society moves towards a cashless economy, which is negatively impacting their core business. Despite management's optimistic projections of growth, the reality is t…

pitch short
CATM Cardtronics plc
null

Cardtronics is facing significant risks due to the potential loss or reduced economics of its largest contract with 7-Eleven, which represents a substantial portion of its revenues and EBITDA. The company's acquisitions …

pitch long
BIN Progressive Waste Solutions
null

Progressive Waste Solutions is expected to generate $1 billion in free cash flow over the next three years, which is significant compared to its current market cap of $3.4 billion. The company has opportunities for accre…