Yahoo Finance Four clues to the quality of Meridian Bioscience Inc (NSQ:VIVO)
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 Meridian Bioscience Inc NSQ:VIVO 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 Meridian Bioscience Inc (NSQ:VIVO) 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 Meridian Bioscience 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 Meridian Bioscience Inc, the figure is an impressive 13.4%.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 Meridian Bioscience Inc, the figure is an eye-catching 19.4%.High Return on Equity (compared to peers) - the measure of a company making good profits from its assets.
- Meridian Bioscience Inc has a 5-year average ROE of 16.0%.High Operating Margins (compared to peers) - the measure of a company with pricing power
- Meridian Bioscience Inc has a 5-year average operating margin of 20.9%.
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. By analysing some key medium-term profitability and efficiency metrics, it's possible to start tracking them down. On this basis, it certainly appears that Meridian Bioscience Inc has some of the financial traits of an economic moat.
To find out more you might want to take a look at the NSQ:VIVO 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 like Meridian Bioscience Inc, 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 of the FTSE 350 - which gives you everything you need. So why not come and take a look?
