CCL Industries (B)CCL.B.TOHOLDNov 02, 2018Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 09, 2026. Market Open.
Owned it for a long time. They make labels for various sectors. They operate around the world. There's so much acquisition potential. Is showing good organic, topline growth. Is cyclical. The balance sheet has improved, buying back shares and raising the dividend. Is waiting for the next acquisition that will boost shares.
Happy that stock price has picked up. An investor needs to ask about the valuation and fundamentals. Order book is back to normal levels. Buying back stock. Anticipates $4.50-4.60 EPS this year, which will continue to grow.
Waiting for it rev up its M&A. Serial acquirer, great integrator. Perfect balance sheet, terrific management. One of the highest quality companies in Canada, should trade ~$100 and 20x earnings. He owns a big stake, loves it long term.
Good company, CEO has been there a long time. Family controlled. Capital allocation was really good for about 15 years, then started getting more hit and miss. Low organic growth industries, not much more than 3-4%. Acquisitions have let it grow faster than that.
Earnings growth has not lived up to historic record, starting to change. Back-to-back quarters of beating earnings expectations. He's starting to do some research on it.
Balance sheet is back in perfect shape for acquisitions. Buying back stock, and at this $72 range must mean there's confidence. Loves its capital allocation. Up 23% YTD. Used to be one of the top serial compounders in Canada, thinks it will return to that. Yield is 1.57%.
Guiding long-term for better-than-GDP organic growth. Acquisitions, cost control, buybacks, and dividends could provide double-digit returns for a very long time.
Worth buying for a TFSA? Yes. And he has no plans to sell it. Cyclicals will do well when the economy is doing well, but do poorly when the economy slows or the company makes a purchase and must pay for it. The latter is happening to CCL. They're growing but now as quickly as investors expect. One acquisition is holding back their bottom line. This will fall off in the next recession. Packaging success will depend on the wider economy. Their main issue is price inflation with resin prices rising, and CCL didn't pass on that increase yet.