I’m going to attempt something a little odd today, Fools. Even though I recently bought shares of engine-maker Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI) I’m going to be giving you three reasons to consider selling Cummins stock today.
Why am I doing this?
Recently, Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman visited Fool headquarters in Virginia. While visiting, he talked about how a number of different biases can lead us to believe that we can predict the future with relative certainty. In reality, he argued, we are just deluding ourselves.
It got me to thinking about how I don’t write enough about the risks of owning the stocks I own. So, though I don’t plan on selling my Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI) stock right now, I think it’s healthy for me to practice and model this behavior.
1. Big slowdown in emerging markets
Many investors in Cummins are hoping for the company to grow its presence in Brazil, China, and India. As those countries build out their infrastructures, there will be continued demand for trucks and machinery. If a Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI) engine can find its way into those trucks or pieces of heavy machinery, it would have a significant effect on the company’s revenue.
In 2012, however, there was a noted slowdown from these emerging markets. Sales from China, Brazil, and India, were down 27%, 38%, and 12%, respectively. While it’s important to note that these three countries combined account for only 15% of total revenues in 2012 – they are an important part of many investors’ vision for Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI).
2. Customers decide to go in-house
While Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI) makes a dizzying variety of engines, it doesn’t make any of the vehicles that actually use the engines. As the company states in its annual report: “PACCAR, Volvo AB, Navistar International Corp (NYSE:NAV) Corporation and Chrysler, are truck manufacturers or OEMs that manufacture engines for some of their own products…[but] have chosen to outsource certain types of engine production to us.”
Photo courtesy of Cummins
The business from PACCAR Inc (NASDAQ:PCAR) in particular, is important to Cummins. In 2012, PACCAR Inc (NASDAQ:PCAR) accounted for 13% of Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI)’ consolidated net sales. If any of these companies were to switch to a different engine maker, or choose to make their own engines in-house, it would likely cause a noticeable decline in revenue.
3. Differing emissions standards
One of the huge advantages to investing in Cummins is that it exposes you to a company that is on the cutting edge of low-emissions engines. Cummins has worked to develop engines that comply – and go above – EPA, European Union, and California Air Resources Board specifications. It has also partnered with Westport Innovations Inc. (USA) (NASDAQ:WPRT) to offer natural gas engines, and is in the process of building its own natural gas engine in-house.
There are two threats stemming from Cummins’ significant investment in low-emissions technology. The first could be that different regulatory agencies don’t put in place or enforce new environmental standards. The second is that the standards could start to deviate significantly – with the EPA requiring one thing, and the EU something entirely different. That would cause Cummins to spend even more of its resources on tailoring the engines, instead of ramping up production to a level of scale.
What’s a Fool to do?
As it stands right now, I’m definitely holding my shares. Emerging markets may be a drag on Cummins stock for a while, but I have a decades-long timeline. While losing PACCAR Inc (NASDAQ:PCAR) would be a heavy hit, the two companies have been doing business for 68 years, and I don’t see any news to make me think that relationship is coming to an end. And while I can’t foresee how environmental regulations will play out, I’m confident with Cummins’ market position in that respect.
The article 3 Reasons to Sell Cummins Stock originally appeared on Fool.com is written by Brian Stoffel.
Fool contributor Brian Stoffel owns shares of Cummins and Westport Innovations. The Motley Fool recommends Cummins, Paccar, and Westport Innovations. The Motley Fool owns shares of Cummins, Paccar, and Westport Innovations.
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