Beginning today, The Examiner follows the top 10 publicly held companies in the region.
The 10 companies were chosen based on revenue, with the companies listed earning more than any other public companies in the state. The Examiner Top 10 portfolio began Jan. 3, the first trading day of the year, with the hypothetical purchase of one share in each company. Stock markets are closed today because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
The Examiner?s Top 10 portfolio contains Black & Decker, Constellation Energy, Foundation Coal Holding, Laureate Education, Legg Mason, McCormick & Co., Mercantile Bankshare, Sinclair Broadcast Group, T. Rowe Price Group and W.R. Grace.
“It?s a very broad-based portfolio,” said Buddy Buzzerd, senior vice president and branch manager of Ferris Baker Watts Inc. in Towson. “Just by virtue of the running revenue stream, you get a diverse portfolio.”
While Buzzerd said it would be difficult to separate the strength of companies based on location, he said he expects 2007 to be a good year for the equity market.
“A rising tide brings up all ships,” Buzzerd said. “Energy prices are low, interest rates are stable, and as long as inflation stays in check and there are no big geopolitical surprises, we could expect historical returns in the low double digits or the high single digits.”
He said he expects a strong year for asset managers including T. Rowe Price and Legg Mason, as well as for specialty chemical manufacturer W.R. Grace.
Ann Gilpin, an equity analyst with the financial research firm Morningstar, pointed to McCormick as a source of strength in the Examiner Top 10.
“It?s not a super hot growth stock,” Gilpin said. “It?s a stable one though and we think they will experience strong growth in the years to come.”
The Examiner Top 10
Friday?s closings:
» Black & Decker: $82.19, up 53 cents
» Constellation Energy: $70.14, down 20 cents
» Foundation Coal: $30.87, up 50 cents
» Laureate Education: $50.94, up 15 cents
» Legg Mason: $103.20, down 19 cents
» McCormick & Co.: $37.98, down 16 cents
» Mercantile Bankshare: $47.55, up 6 cents
» Sinclair Broadcast: $11.23, up 7 cents
» T. Rowe Price Group: $48.60, up 27 cents
» W.R. Grace: $20, down 31 cents
