LVMH (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton)

This is a brand that is going to be around for many years. Products are very high end. They are doing a good job at selling things online. A global brand and a sock that is going to do very well in the long run.

(A Top Pick April 20, 2017. Up 19.98%). This is a well run company. Bernard Arnault is a fantastic manager; he moves people around in the company to broaden their experience, and shakes things up. Grammer sees this as the world’s leading company and as a company he could own forever.

BMW or Louis Vuitton as a 1^st time purchase into Europe? He would recommend you be conservative first and get aggressive later. This one is cyclical and in retail, which is struggling. It would be better go into a bank or an insurance company first, and after having made some money, look at other things.

They are well positioned for the improving global economy. It is strong in the US. The reduced corruption push in China means more spending on luxury goods. One of the best managed in that whole space. (Analysts’ target: €225.00).

Has owned this in the past. His fear is because the luxury goods space in general is suffering because of the corruption clamp down in China, has left people not wanting to carry around those luxury goods like they used to. However, this is probably the best of the luxury goods companies. If there is one luxury goods company that can navigate through this, it would be this one. At the right price he would be interested, but he doesn’t think we are there right now. Would like it in the $130s before getting interested.

Besides handbags, this also has a co-ownership in champagne and a watch subsidiary. Luxury stocks have struggled over the last 13 months, because historically they are one of the more straightforward ways to participate in Chinese growth. If you are thinking about stocks that would benefit from a lower euro, this would be at the top of the list. There are more direct ways if you want to play in the Chinese consumer story.

(A Top Pick Dec 17/13. Down 5.02%.) The idea was that with the high-end consumer, the company would be able to name their price on articles, our European recovery. Didn’t make any money on this.

(A Top Pick April 9/13. Up 11.89%.) Likes their portfolio of brands. They are all in the major categories, wine/spirits, fragrances, watches and they also do the airport duty-free shops. They really target the upper end consumer, which is pretty recession resilient. Yield of about 5.3%.

(Top Pick Mar 14/13, Up 6.04%) Hoped for more growth. Hurt by slow down in emerging markets. In China they really like the high end brands. They are transitioning to soft leather without their logo. Yield close to 3%. As global economy recovers we will see a return of the high end consumers.

After years of fantastic stock performance, this had a sort of sideways 2013. This stand from fears that gift giving in China will be materially lower as the new leadership seeks to crack down on corruption. The other concern is that their core brand is beginning to become a bit too ubiquitous so it is struggling to carve out its niche. Its watch brands are decent but really aren’t the same peer nor as scalable on margin profitability as some of its competition.

(US Over the Counter.) Has over 60 very identifiable brands. It is hard to believe, but Louis Vuitton is going even more upscale and targeting the ultra wealthy. Feels that the global recovery and the over wealthy are continuing to spend a lot of money.