I'll consider MGDDY again. I like it for its apparent low p/e. I don't like that it's in a very competitive business with other well-regarded competitors, e.g. Pirelli and Conti.
I don't understand tires that well -- tires seem to me like they're fungible within any segment of the market (low price segment, high performance market, off-road, truck) - there's no real difference that's apparent to me among the brands, and maybe not much brand loyalty from customers in the emerging markets or here in the USA market, I am guessing. Whether the customers are auto manufacturers or it's the replacement market. (I suspect though the Koreans are very loyal to their home-country brand, the French to Michelin, etc.)
These tire companies may all have the same strategy of targeting emerging markets for their growth. Net result is nobody get any advantage over anybody else. And maybe that's okay if the market just grows, Michelin gets it share, and the stock maybe at some point gets viewed more favorably (p/e increases).
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I am seeking out French-based multinationals that have a large presence outside of France, especially with business ops in emerging countries. Michelin fits in that category of stock, and so it's another reason why I'll look at it. (Aside: I am passing on France's SNY, am holding on to TOT, am holding on to losing position in PRGAF, and I am buying everything else I've found, Pernod being one example.) |
