1 Undervalued Stock Warren Buffett Would Want for Christmas

Gildan Activewear Inc. (TSX:GIL)(NYSE:GIL) has been underperforming the last few years, but it looks to be an attractively priced pick going into 2017.

| More on:

Gildan Activewear Inc. (TSX:GIL)(NYSE:GIL) is your typical boring stock. The company manufactures basic clothing like blank t-shirts, sweatshirts, and fleeces. Warren Buffett values simple stocks that many investors overlook because they’re just too boring or slow for them.

The general public loves their high-flying tech stocks that are hard to understand, but Buffett prefers his businesses to be easy to understand. In fact, the more boring a stock is, the better it is as a long-term investment for Buffett and his followers. For simple, boring stocks such as Gildan, the future earnings-growth trajectory is more predictable, and there won’t be as many nasty surprises as there are with speculative, fast-growing stocks.

Gildan has been in a house of pain for over a year and is now off 19% from its peak in the summer of 2015. Contrarian investors may want to pick up shares of this company now because the valuations are ridiculously cheap, and the fundamentals are as strong as ever after some interesting acquisitions it made this year.

Gildan acquired Peds Legwear for US$55 million and Alstyle Apparel for US$110 million. These companies are expected to generate US$80 million and $183 million, respectively, in annual revenues. Gildan’s management team is also top notch, and you can count on them to squeeze every last synergy they can out of these new acquisitions.

Gildan’s printwear division accounts for about 62% of its total revenues. It sells its printed activewear under the Comfort Colors and Anvil brands, both of which are very basic lines of coloured shirts which are meant to be heat pressed with a client’s customized logo.

Alstyle gives Gildan exposure to the U.S. and Latin America, both of which are expected to be very strong for the next few years. Gildan also has facilities set up in Mexico, so that Latin Americans can buy products without duty fees from shipping across borders.

Going forward, we can expect more acquisitions from Gildan as the company attempts to gain a more dominant position in the basic activewear market. The emerging markets will be a huge area for growth which will propel the stock higher over the next few years.

Gildan has a very healthy balance sheet with tons of cash to use to finance future acquisitions. There’s also enough cash to raise the dividend next year by as much as 20%. The company has the ability to do this, but I believe the management team wants to use this cash to invest in growing the business at an international level.

The stock trades at a huge discount to its intrinsic value right now. The company is growing quite fast for a simple manufacturer of generic activewear and trades at a 2.9 price-to-book multiple, which is cheaper than its five-year historical average multiple of 3.3. The dividend yield is at a modest 1.1%, but the company has grown its dividend every year since it first started paying one in 2011.

This company is a dividend-growth king and will be a very strong pick for the next few years. If you’re a value investor, now is the time to pick up shares before they soar in 2017.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Joey Frenette has no position in any stocks mentioned.

More on Investing

ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund
Investing

2 High-Yield Dividend ETFs to Buy to Generate Passive Income

Both of these Hamilton ETFs sport double-digit yields with monthly payouts.

Read more »

engineer at wind farm
Energy Stocks

1 Canadian Utility Stock to Buy for Big Total Returns

Let's dive into why Fortis (TSX:FTS) remains a top utility stock long-term investors may want to consider right now.

Read more »

man in suit looks at a computer with an anxious expression
Tech Stocks

Short-Selling on the TSX: The Stocks Investors Are Betting Against

High-risk investors engage in short-selling, betting against some TSX stocks for bigger profits.

Read more »

woman retiree on computer
Dividend Stocks

1 Reliable Dividend Stock for the Ultimate Retirement Income Stream

This TSX stock has given investors a dividend increase every year for decades.

Read more »

A glass jar resting on its side with Canadian banknotes and change inside.
Stocks for Beginners

How to Grow Your TFSA Well Past the Average

Need to catch up quick with your TFSA? Consider some regular contributions to this top bank stock, as well as…

Read more »

dividend growth for passive income
Investing

Key Canadian Stocks for a Wealth-Building 2025

These three Canadian stocks could outperform next year, given their solid underlying businesses and healthy growth prospects.

Read more »

Tractor spraying a field of wheat
Metals and Mining Stocks

Where Will Nutrien Stock Be in 1 Year?

Nutrien stock has had a rough few years, and this next year may not be easy. But long-term investors may…

Read more »

Canadian dollars in a magnifying glass
Energy Stocks

The Smartest Energy Stocks to Buy With $200 Right Now

The market is full of great growth and income stocks. Here's a look at two of the smartest energy stocks…

Read more »