Monday, December 4, 2006

Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) - Buy @ $24.80 & Other Updates

Today's big story in the stock market was the 11% decline of Pfizer (NYSE: PFE). On Saturday, PFE announced that it was ceasing development of its new cholesterol drug. This was a huge development because it has been said that this new drug was going to be a huge homerun for PFE and was going to be key in replacing lost revenue from Lipitor once the patent protection expires in 2010. So, with all of this being said, let the panic begin.

In the company's press release, the CEO of PFE was cognizant of the impact of the lost revenues that this event would have on PFE and the stock price. The CEO emphasized strong revenue growth to return in 2009, returning shareholder value through raising dividend & repurchasing shares, and noted the deep product line that is in the PFE pipeline (though admittedly, none had the alleged potential that the new PFE cholesterol drug would have). So, despite this set back, things do not look too bad, right?

Well, the media jumped all over this story all weekend - analysts and stock brokers were hyping the 'end of Pfizer' and the potential for an up to 25% fall in the stock price today. The stock did open low - yes - down 15% at around $23.50, but at that price, the buyers were ready in mass. Funny how EVERYONE says the stock is finished and going to collapse on the heels of this news, yet the buying at the open was huge. In fact, despite a couple of blips down to this price of $23+, you would have to go back to 1997 or thereabouts to when PFE actually first hit this price.
I think PFE is a long-term buy at these levels, but probably best through its direct stock purchase plan as there are absolutely no fees and the key to this one is long term focus. Close to a 4% dividend yield, less than 11x next year's earnings, $1.75/cash on hand (some say to more aggressively purchase shares and to potentially raise the dividend), and over $17B in operating free cash flow.

Of course, with this, I feel even better about my decision to buy MRK over PFE, although the experts said PFE was the better buy. You can see my blog on this from October 13, 2006 (when I went up 1-0) and the original blog on September 5, 2006 (when the article came out and my discussion points).

Regardless, I see this dip as an opportunity to enter into PFE and start accumulating a stake for myself and my daughters. This is certainly a long term one that you want to put a chunk of money in every month or even once a year (Dogs of the Dow Theory), re-invest the dividends, and then just commit to fund your position every year.

Regardless, look for PFE to return to $28 within 6 months - on to other updates.

INFT - At Last We Will Reveal Ourselves to the Jedi
Well, I can see nobody jumped on the announcement and bought any INFT before I bought today. I know this because my trade was the first of the day. I picked some up at $3.69 and $3.70 and it closed at $3.72. I suppose it didn't really bounce up all that much as I thought it had the chance to, but that is a good thing. This provides more time to acquire shares at these levels. In all honesty, it probably will not move up much until 2007 sometime - we may even seen it decline some as we plow through the usual December tax selling. I will strategically and incrementally add to my position during this time.

SEB - Breaking $1,700 - We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat
Another banner day for SEB - closing at $1,715, up 2.7%. Of course, I wish I bought more at $1,290 when I first blogged on it and I really wish I first bought when it was at $1,200 when I first started looking at it - but, better to wish you bought more than wish you bought less. So, with that being said, I grabbed the sack and picked up a little more today at $1,703.89. The fundamentals for SEB are making it look outrageously cheap from a long term standpoint and there continues to be heavy buying of shares out in the marketplace. Of course, there are shares for sale, but someone is buying them away. Rumor has it that it is the company that is doing so or value investors. I still think SEB is a $2,000+ stock by the end of 2007 and possibly as much as $3,000-$3,500 per share over the next 3-5 years. So, if it gets there, I'll wish I bought more, of course, but I'll feel better knowing I could have had even less than if I didn't pull the trigger at these levels. It probably was not the wisest move to buy near the upper end of the day's range on a very strong day, but I think in the end, I'll be glad I bought some more.

NBG - More Value at $9.20 - BORK! BORK! BORK!
NBG had a tough day down 1.8% to $9.15. I purchased some more last week between $9.26-$9.32, which was well off from its $9.60 highs. The pull back was not at all unexpected following the earnings announcement (buy on rumors, sell on news) and a welcome one. I might look to pick up a little more tomorrow. From a present day value, with the stock at $9.60, analysts said it was 'inline' with its peer group. So, that fact alone should make it a screaming buy at $9.15. Plus, NBG is assembling a massive growth strategy like no other bank in their region. It will be a couple of years before we see the real value from their acquisitions take hold - perhaps even longer - but this is still a $15-$20 stock or has a very viable chance to be within the next 12-24 months.

No comments: