International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) is a global paper company that pays a dividend yielding 3.3%. Although it trades near the high end of the paper industry at 19x earnings, its forward P/E of 11x makes the company very attractive from a valuation standpoint. After a 500% share ownership increase, International Paper is now the 12th largest 13F holding for Vinik. Compared to other top paper company Domtar, International trades well above its peer’s 13x P/E, but International Paper’s dividend yield is more than one full percentage point higher than Domtar’s. Steven Cohen, another hedge fund billionaire, was bullish on International Paper in 3Q, increasing his stake over 200% (see Steven Cohen’s newest picks here).
Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ) is a new pick that now sits at Vinik’s 10th largest 13F holding. The company is a developer, producer and seller of uranium for use in nuclear reactors. Cameco trades at 15x trailing earnings and only 13x forward earnings, making it an interesting play in the mining industry. The uranium company also pays a 2.2% dividend yield. Cameco expects an improvement in the average realized uranium price due to the advantageous mix of its contracts, which should help counter an industry-wide slowing in nuclear reactor construction. Sell-side analysts expect Cameco to grow its earnings at a 10% CAGR over the next half-decade.
SK Telecom Co., Ltd. (NYSE:SKM) is a Korean wireless telecom provider that pays a robust dividend yield of 5.8%. SK was also a new pick for Vinik in 3Q, and is the 24th largest holding in Vinik’s 13F portfolio. SK trades the cheapest amongst its telecom peers at 13x trailing earnings and trades at only 8x forward earnings. After 2% revenue growth in 2011, SK is forecasted to increase revenues by 2.2% this year, and a whopping 4.9% in 2013. This top line expansion will be driven by continued growth of Long Term Evolution (LTE) subscribers, with SK having 6 million LTE customers at the end of October. The company expects to break the 7 million-mark by the end of this year. Beyond its Korean operations, SK has plans to diversify with investments in Greater Asia and North America.
Packaging Corp of America (NYSE:PKG) is a producer of containerboard and corrugated products. Vinik made an almost 300% share increase in the stock last quarter, to put Packaging Corp as the 29th largest position in his 13F portfolio. An ongoing economic recovery should help boost demand for corrugated packaging and drive high single-digit revenue growth over the next two years. Growth of 7.5% is expected by the end of 2012, followed by growth of 7.2% next year. Although Packaging Corp trades near the high end of the container packaging industry at 25x earnings, its forward P/E of 13x makes it a solid value investment, not to mention the food safety company’s 2.7% dividend yield.
Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE:FL) is one of the largest shoe retailers in the U.S., and pays a 2% dividend yield. After a 200% share increase last quarter, Foot Locker now holds the 18th spot in Vinik’s 3Q 13F. The shoe company trades in line with its major peers at 15x earnings and has solid growth prospects that are expected to drive five-year EPS by 12% annually. Ken Griffin, the founder of Citadel Investment Group, was the top fund owner of Foot Locker in 3Q (check out Ken Griffin’s newest picks).
To recap: Cameco looks like a unique investment in a niche industry, and International Paper is a solid dividend payer, having paid a dividend since 1987. Foot Locker is executing on a solid turnaround strategy to close unproductive stores and grow internationally, and SK can take advantage of the growing demand for telecommunications and wireless mobile devices. Packaging Corp is yet another niche market play, and offers investors growth opportunities in addition to its income capabilities. On the whole, Jeffrey Vinik has proven that his stock picking strategy is great at discovering some of the market’s truly hidden dividend gems.
