Yahoo Finance Four clues to the quality of Merck amp; Co Inc (NYQ:MRK)
Warren Buffett makes it look so easy: find high-quality companies, wait for a fair price to buy, and then hold them... forever. The problem of course is that these stocks are hard to find - but there are signs that Merck & Co Inc NYQ:MRK could be one of them.
Given uncertainty in the stock market caused by Coronavirus, it is more important than ever to find high quality stocks. That means buying safe, profitable companies with strong balance sheets. They're the kind of stocks that have the ability to resist competitive threats and generate breathtaking profits year after year. To do that, they need what Buffett describes as "an economic moat".
Defensive economic moats let companies compound returns at above-average rates over long periods. Here's a rundown on what makes these stocks so special - using Merck & Co Inc (NYQ:MRK) as an example.
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Signs of strength
There are several ways that businesses can make themselves very hard to compete with, including:
Intangible Assets - Such as brands that customers love, valuable patents or regulatory approvals
Switching Costs - It might be too costly, complicated or unnecessary for customers to look elsewhere
Network Effects - When customers become part of a product it creates tremendously powerful businesses
Cost Advantages - Superior processes and unique locations and assets make it hard for others to compete
Great Scale - Large infrastructure and distribution networks are powerful barriers to entry in many industries
When it comes to finding companies with moats, some of the biggest clues actually lie in their financial statements. Here's what they are and why they are important - and how Merck & Co Inc stacks up against them:
High rates of Free Cash Flow - the measure of a thriving company.
- A high ratio of free cash flow to sales can be a very positive sign. For Merck & Co Inc, the figure is an impressive 18.6%.High Return on Capital Employed - the measure of a company growing efficiently and profitably.
- A 5-year average ROCE of more than 12 percent is a pointer to strong efficiency. For Merck & Co Inc, the figure is an eye-catching 10.8%.High Return on Equity (compared to peers) - the measure of a company making good profits from its assets.
- Merck & Co Inc has a 5-year average ROE of 18.3%.High Operating Margins (compared to peers) - the measure of a company with pricing power
- Merck & Co Inc has a 5-year average operating margin of 17.1%.
Next steps
Some of the best quality stocks in the market have defensible models that can deliver high levels of shareholder returns over the long term. But it's important to do your own research and dig into the numbers yourself...
To find out more you might want to take a look at the NYQ:MRK StockReport from the award-winning research platform, Stockopedia. StockReports contain a goldmine of information in a single page and can help to inform your investment decisions.
To find more stocks with moat-like characteristics, you'll need to equip yourself with professional-grade data and screening tools. This kind of information has traditionally been closely guarded by professional fund managers. But our team of financial analysts have carefully constructed this screen - Stockopedia’s Moats - which gives you everything you need. So why not come and take a look?
