Dow Chemical

(A Top Pick Dec 13/16. Up 7%.) This has merged and is going to split into 3 pieces. The underlying metrics of the 3 different businesses are all generally improving. Generates a lot of cash.

One of the themes that is starting to play out is materials, and chemicals would be included in this. This company has lots of opportunity. The economy is growing nicely and their business is improving. You get a very nice 3% dividend. If the US economy continues to perform, the stock is going to do well. It recently pulled back to $63, which is a great opportunity to buy it.

This is a good company that is getting better. They are merging into DuPont (DD-N), and will wind up splitting into 3 pieces. The US has the lowest cost natural gas globally. In chemical companies, natural gas is the biggest cost. There are very persistent low natural gas prices because of what has happened with fracing in the US. The merging companies will likely unlock some value. They generated about a 20% dividend growth over the last 5 years. Dividend yield of 3.01%. (Analysts’ price target is $67.06.)

Going through a merger with DuPont, which should be approved sometime in 2017. There will be a spin out at 3 different businesses. They have grown their dividend at about 20% a year over the last 5 years. There is tremendous cost savings to be had. He likes the industrials group. Also, the feed stock that goes into the materials they produce, are at the lowest costs. Dividend yield of 3.16%. (Analysts’ price target is $61.44.)

One of his newest names, one of the highest quality companies in the world. Going through a merger with DD-N (Dupont). Once completed, they will spin off the business into 3 components. It has a rich dividend and growth. A recession would be the biggest risk, but he doesn’t see one on the horizon. He feels comfortable going forward in rate of dividend growth.

This has a planned merger with DuPont (DD-N), probably later this year or early next. These are both trading as if they are already a merged entity. He is of mixed feelings. There will be a bunch of cost cutting, which should boost earnings in the short term. Integrating these behemoth companies is never an easy task.

DuPont (DD-N) and Dow (DOW-N) merger? Generally, when you put 2 big businesses together, there is going to be plenty of opportunity to cut costs and there are going to be synergies. Ultimately it is going to be a pretty good deal for shareholders. You could own either.

DuPont (DFT-N) or Dow (DOW-N)? This is going to merge with DuPont, and then split into 3 companies. It is hard to figure out what you are going to get in these 3 companies. There is not enough information yet.

Merging with DuPont (DD-N). This will be one of the great industrial companies of the world. They make products that everybody needs in the manufacturing business. Assumes there will be synergies because of cost cutting, and that there will be more pricing power than what they currently have. In the chemical industry much is dependent on the price of feedstock, which is oil and natural gas. This is one that people are going to want to own.

The chemical sector over the last few years has been the best place in basic materials. The low price of natural gas has helped. When the markets corrected, all chemical stocks sold off, found lows and tested them twice. This one is behaving quite well. The market is voting that this is one of the places you could see a good recovery.

(Top Pick Nov 7/14, Up 4.65%) He decided there were other things he liked better. It is recovering and the volume is coming back into the stock.