Middleby Corp.MIDDPAST TOP PICKMar 20, 2018Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 08, 2026. Market Open.
High-end restaurant kitchen equipment. Covid was a game-changer -- restaurants were just trying to survive, not spend on capex, so revenue growth slowed. Not a great return over that long a time. Really good track record of acquisitions. North of $10B now, so too big for him, but he's always liked management and the asset base.
Restaurant kitchen equipment manufacturer that ventured into residential brands. They own 30-40 commercial equipment brands. They are not a customer facing brand so no one knows of them. They have done 15-20% compounding growth. He thinks they will continue to compound at these rates over a multi year period. (Analysts’ target: $139.86).
Commercial kitchens. If you pull up a long term chart, it has been a great compounder of value over their long term. What they have done historically is really through acquisitions, moving into different niches in the commercial kitchen space. Has been doing a great job of articulating what’s in it for the customer. Likes to keep a new refresh cycle below 2 years pay back for the customers. (Analysts’ price target $142.)
(A Top Pick December 27, 2017. Down 4.49%). This is a player in restaurant equipment. They have done a great job deploying capital into complementary kitchen equipment businesses. They do a great sales job, explaining the value of new equipment for water savings, energy savings, etc. Their margins have been under pressure but he believes this will improve over the year.