Stocks Worth Buying Again

 

It's always fascinating to read stories about average, everyday people who built fortunes by regularly investing small amounts over long periods of time in companies such as Merck (NYSE: MRK), 3M (NYSE: MMM), and Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY).

If you worked for these companies and/or regularly "trickled" money into them over the years, this is quite feasible -- Merck, 3M, and Bristol-Myers Squibb have returned roughly 13.1%, 11.9%, and 12.3% annually over the past three decades or so, respectively, even after taking into account the losses each stock has seen in the past 18 months.

But you can also get market-beating returns by buying into great companies at more opportune times -- whenever the stock goes on sale. Rather than regularly investing small, fixed amounts, investors can use the simple method of buying a stock in portions to manage risk and boost returns. And now would definitely count as one of those opportune times to buy cheap stocks.

First, find a solid business
Of course, every situation is different, but big returns on investments always come on the backs of fundamentally strong businesses. And if you're confident that you've purchased shares in a great company, why wouldn't you consider buying again, particularly if the stock price is significantly below intrinsic value? Especially in pessimistic markets (like today's), fundamentally strong businesses can be bought for good prices -- or even downright outrageously cheap.

For large, stable companies, buying more shares when the outlook for them is bleak can be rewarding. For instance, buying more Altria back at the peak of investors' pessimism over tobacco lawsuits would have juiced your returns considerably -- investors have gained more than 530% from the stock's low in 2000 with the benefits gained by spin-offs of Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) and Philip Morris International.

For younger, riskier companies, a strategy of acquiring shares in portions is a smart play. It limits your initial outlay and reduces your exposure to significant drops should the company falter or broader economic conditions change.

For example, look at Mobile Mini. You've probably seen the company's portable storage units around construction sites and parks -- the company converts shipping containers into storage lockers and then leases them for use in commercial and residential markets. From 1997 to the beginning of 2002, Mobile Mini's stock soared nearly tenfold as the company capitalized on rising demand for storage units. Then, in an abrupt six-month period afterward, the stock shed roughly 70% of its value.

When demand for portable units dropped with the slowing economy, margins began to shrink, and investors poured out of Mobile Mini stock. But the fundamental business operations remained intact. Investors who bought at the peak but continued to hold the stock have still matched the broader market return.

But money invested when the outlook was bleak is now up more than 200%.The larger economic conditions had only a temporary impact on Mobile Mini's solid business model.

Buy again
Other companies, such as Celgene (Nasdaq: CELG), Boeing (NYSE: BA), andOracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) have experienced big drops in share price at some point, only to come roaring back. Investors who focused on the underlying businesses rather than the stock prices were more likely to turn the event into an opportunity.