Asmus Puhl Finance Blog

Colfax (NYSE: CFX) the gas and fluid handling company reported good Q2 2017 results.

Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.43

Net sales generated were $965.8 million, rising 0.9% year over year.

Colfax thinks that it will benefit from its organic and inorganic growth initiatives as well as from improving end-market conditions. It predicts the Gas and Fluid segment to witness organic growth in the third quarter.

The company increased its adjusted earnings guidance to $1.65−$1.75 per share from the previous projection of $1.60−$1.75.

This means that Colfax shares trade at a p/e of 24. Seems rather expensive with the still limited perspective of their industry. Colfax is not a buy at this moment!

Markel (NYSE:MKL) reported very good operating results in Q2 2017.

Book value/share outstanding climbed more than 6% from the end of 2016.

The combined ratio fell to a very impressive 89%.

But even more interesting this time was the acquisition activity:

After completing the acquisition of Sure Tec Financial Corporation in April, Markel now announced the acquisition of a majority interest in Costa in Miami, Florida, the largest producer of ornamental plants in the world.

And finally in July Markel announced the acquisition of the speciality property and casualty insurance services company State National (NASDAQ:SNC)

Markel’s stock trades at 1,7 times/book value per share, not cheap but perhaps a good moment to add some shares to existing positions!