Argus Adds Costco and Coach to Model Portfolios

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By Jon C. Ogg Published
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We have seen some key changes to the Argus Research Institutional Model Portfolio this morning. It is suggesting that investors add shares of Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) and Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST), and it is selling shares of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) and H.J. Heinz Co. (NYSE: HNZ).

Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) was started with a 2% weighting of the portfolio. Argus said that despite the problems:

Coach is the company that appears to be best positioned to capitalize on the growth of China’s status-conscious middle class. Next, Coach’s well-developed brand and emphasis on quality and innovation differentiate its products in an era when internet shopping is compressing margins on all but unique merchandise.

Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) was added as a 2% weighting and the firm said, “We believe that Costco’s financial strength and ability to deliver extreme values are key differentiators for the stock in the current market environment.” Argus has a Buy rating and said that Costco is one of its favorite merchants.

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) was being sold out as a position entirely, as the shares have underperformed the S&P 500 by 20% since it was added to the model portfolio last summer. H.J. Heinz Co. (NYSE: HNZ) is being sold out entirely due to the acquisition, so any other explanation is immaterial.

Photo of Jon C. Ogg
About the Author Jon C. Ogg →

Jon Ogg has been a financial news analyst since 1997. Mr. Ogg set up one of the first audio squawk box services for traders called TTN, which he sold in 2003. He has previously worked as a licensed broker to some of the top U.S. and E.U. financial institutions, managed capital, and has raised private capital at the seed and venture stage. He has lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as New York and Chicago, and he now lives in Houston, Texas. Jon received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance at University of Houston in 1992. www.247wallst.com.

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