Lorne Steinberg Kenvue KVUE-N TOP PICK Oct 20, 2023

Consumer products spinoff from Johnson & Johnson.
Would not buy at current share price (19x earnings).
Growth is slow (3-4%).
Sees better opportunities elsewhere.
Assumed product liability on products - very expensive.

He owns JNJ. Lots of regard for KVUE, but hasn't initiated a position. Needs a period of seasoning to transition from IPO to reality. He's watching and waiting. Meaningful discount to CHD, but of similar quality.

A JNJ spin-off, done with a lot of debt which gives him pause. Their PE is high. Is really concerned is that JNJ also spun off the liability to the talcum powder lawsuits which KVUE now carries.

Spun off from JNJ, but shares are up only 6% this year. The activist investor is too harsh, because the entire health/beauty sector is under pressure.

An activist investor is inside the company now. Pays a 3.5% dividend. Not followed that much by Wall Street, but offers decent growth.

Consumer staples are outperforming in the last few days, and that speaks to the advantage of having a balanced portfolio. Companies like KHC, UL, KVUE, and Nestle. It's not that they won't be affected (their costs would go up), but they're far less cyclical than other businesses. Earnings will be much more stable. Earnings could fall 10%, but not 50%. Dividends will be sustained.

Companies like Unilever and Nestle are huge in NA, but huge globally as well.