Date updated:03-19-2007
Springhouse Capital is a hedge fund focused on undervalued small cap stocks. It is led by manager Brian Gaines, a protégé of legendary value investor Joel Greenblatt. Springhouse Capital has generated an average net return of 29.6% per year since its launch, versus a 13.9% annual for the S&P 500, according to Value Investor Insight.
Value Investor Insight interviewed Gaines about his investment in online survey company, Greenfield Online (SRVY) which is up almost 100% now from its lows this year. In the interview, we get a glimpse into how Gaines values positions:
“We also look here at valuing the parts of the business – the U.S. survey business, the European survey business and a comparison- shopping business in Europe, called Ciao, which they acquired when they expanded in Europe.
The North American survey business did $2.6 million of EBITDA minus capex in the first quarter of this year. The business isn’t particularly seasonal, so we think they can do $10 million for the full year. Given that the returns on invested capital are fantastic, there’s little reinvestment needed, they are the market leader in a business unlikely to see further entrants and pricing has gotten sane, we think this business deserves at least a 10x multiple. That makes it worth $100 million, or $4 per share.
The European business earned $1.5 million in the first quarter, so we believe $6 million for the full year is very achievable. The competitive dynamics are similar, so we think it’s also worth a 10x multiple, which comes to $2.40 per share.
The comparison shopping business, Ciao, is a hidden gem. It did $1.5 million in EBITDA less maintenance capex in the first quarter. Revenue grew 80% in 2005, margins are 40-50% and they have the #1 position in Germany. If you straight-line the first quarter and say they earn $6 million for the year and then apply an appropriate 15x multiple to it, that’s worth $3.60 per share. We think Ciao will earn $8-9 million in 2007, so that valuation is conservative."
As of 12/31/06

-
SWIM
- $0.00
- 0.00%
- $N/A
No Analysis added

-
SRVY
Greenfield Online - $0.00
- 0.00%
- $N/A
No Analysis added

-
IMOS
Chipmos Technolog - $0.71
- 0.00%
- $N/A
No Analysis added

-
LEA
- $63.75
- +0.39%
- $63.75
No Analysis added

-
ESRX
Express Scripts - $84.04
- -2.43%
- $85.67
No Analysis added

-
LEV
Lev - $0.00
- N/A
- $N/A
No Analysis added

-
CHCI
Comstock Homebuil - $0.81
- +3.85%
- $0.80
No Analysis added

-
EEEE
Eeee - $0.00
- N/A
- $N/A
No Analysis added
- Top Professional Portfolios
- 1. Fidelity Contrafund - ...
- 2. Navellier & Associ...
- 3. Calamos Advisors
- 4. Argus Management
- 5. Bernard L. Madoff Inve...
- show all
- Top Do-It-Yourself Portfolios
- » Joseph Russell Portfolio 1
- » Albo's First Portfolio
- » Darrell Werth Portfolio 1
- » Echo5Joker's Portfolio
- » jgroov Portfolio 1
- show all
- Most Viewed Portfolios
- » Warren Buffett
- » George Soros
- » T. Boone Pickens - BP Cap...
- » Carl Icahn
- » Renaissance Technologies
- show all
Not a Stockpickr member? Join the community today -- for free.Regardless of why a stock is in the news, it never hurts to hear what a professional investor has to say about...
By Roberto Pedone Posted on Nov. 20, 2009 According to Jim Cramer, options expiration is driving the current market selloff. He pointed out that the only stocks that we...
By Roberto Pedone Posted on Nov. 19, 2009 According to CNBC’s “Fast Money” traders, the stock market is showing no signs of stopping its current bull run. Joe Ter...
By Jonas Elmerraji Posted on Nov. 18, 2009 There are plenty of reasons for stocks to have the attention of short-sellers. Waning financials, a deteriorating business mo...
A. Long term investment considerations: 20%
in OIH ETF; 10% in GDX ETF and 10% in
GDXJ (Van Eck Jr Gold Mining) ETF . . .
If your grandparents were thoughtful
enough to provide you with funds to
become actively involved in the
trading/investing world, communicate
with them on a regular basis in order to
compare their point of view/insight with
other reliable sources . . . including
those reflected on Online School @
http://www.onlineschools.org/2009/10/22/
100-best-blogs-for-future-investors/
and ValueWiki @
http://blog.valuewiki.com/2007/02/26/top
-100-finance-blogs/
Be open/flexible, resourceful, and
pursue due diligence (research). Best of
luck.
A. The only one I own : SLX,
too hard pick a winner out all of them
Here are some of the biggest stocks that made the 52-week high list on Nov. 20, 2009. more
Here are some of the largest % gainers from Nov. 20, 2009. more
Unusually active options can often indicate that a major event in a stock is about to take place, or that unsophisticated investors (using options in lieu of leverage) are ... more













Comments not available