CSX Corp (CSX)

Hunter Harrison came in and there has been a lot propping it up. Fundamentals have not fallen flat and the chart has come back a little, so it is not looking so bad. Going forward, the expectation is for a pretty reasonable 20X PE on top of a 15%-20% earnings growth. If transports continue to roll, this is going to be hit.

(Market Call Minute.) All the rails have gotten way too cheap. You could probably be buying them all, but his favourite is Canadian National (CNR-T) followed by Canadian Pacific (CP-T).

He loves this rail, just because it has done so well this year. “Operating ratios” is the buzzword in railways and this one had the most room to move to the average. Just in one quarter, Hunter Harrison has moved it more than they have been moved for a while. Expects the stock is going to go a bit higher.

Hunter Harrison is the mastermind, the God of railroads, and he would never bet against him. CSX has to do a lot right to justify the current stock price, but the hedge fund that is involved thinks that if he gets it right, this is a $100 stock.

He likes the transports, which is one of the sectors that has lagged. There is a cloud on the group and that is an opportunity. You have to love those companies that already have the right-of-way that is so valuable. Hunter Harris has a wonderful track record, and you have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

He likes rails. It is going to be a very cyclical sector. In transportation he prefers airlines as being a better value. He also likes companies shipping all these boxes from AMZN-Q.

This has run up so much that he wouldn’t go near it. If you want to play the rails or the transports, he would look at Kansas City Southern (KSU-N) which has been held back by the fears of a wall for Mexico. You could look at maybe the truck stocks or airlines. Feels there is better value elsewhere.

(A Top Pick Jan 27/17. Up 10%.) If Hunter Harrison is able to continue his magic, this stock will have opportunities to move higher still. He would recommend viewers invest in a rail at this time.

Hunter Harris was with CN, and then went to CP. There is no question that from an operational standpoint, things improved, but he would argue from a pretty severe trough when all the rails were pretty distressed. He is a result oriented individual, but takes a short-term view using quarterly results. Prefers a longer-term individual.

Hunter Harrison did it at Canadian National, and then Canadian Pacific, so he assumes he would do it with this railway also.

CP-T vs. CSX-N. [Caller already had CNR-T] One railroad is enough to own. CSX-Q has already moved since Hunter Harrison moved companies. Just hold on to CNR-T.

This is a pretty good railroad, but it has had a heck of a move, so it is hard to be super excited about adding new money to it. Expects Hunter Harrison will get the compensation package he is asking for.

He likes the US stock market right now and the sectors that are economically sensitive. Transports are very economically sensitive. This one has been a remarkable performer in this market. Part of this is that there is some expectation that Hunter Harrison is going to get his hands on this and try to work his magic. Because of this, the stock has really responded incredibly well over the last 6 weeks, and is a bit extended now.

He likes transports generally. Hunter Harrison is rumoured to be stepping in to this company. Better economic growth is going to be good for rails. You may want to give this a little time to cool off before entering.

It is rumoured that Hunter Harrison is taking over the reins for this rail. Should he do that, even with the 20% upside we have seen in this last week or so, the operating metrics will improve, and the outlook for the stock would be significantly higher. Dividend yield of 1.5%. (Analysts’ price target is $43.41.)