The Dull Stock Portfolio

As long-term readers know, I’m a big fan of dull stocks. These are companies that are highly profitable, very well-run and as dull as dirt. I never understand why but these companies are rarely discussed on TV or the Internet as good investments.

Here’s a list of 52 excellent boring companies:

Company Ticker
Middleby MIDD
Stepan SCL
Raven Industries RAVN
Illinois Tool Works ITW
Bemis BMS
International Flavors & Fragrances IFF
The Babcock & Wilcox BWC
Harris HRS
ACE Limited ACE
Colgate-Palmolive CL
Flowers Foods FLO
Seaboard Corp. SEB
Progressive PGR
Donaldson DCI
Fidelity National Financial FNF
First American Financial FAF
Vornado Realty Trust VNO
Dean Foods DF
General Mills GIS
Danaher DHR
Fastenal FAST
Eaton Corporation ETN
Safety Insurance Group SAFT
W.R. Berkley WRB
Loews L
Cincinnati Financial CINF
Selective Insurance Group SIGI
Old Republic International ORI
Markel Corp. MKL
White Mountains Insurance Group WTM
W.W. Grainger GWW
United Stationers USTR
Fair Isaac FICO
Graco GGG
FactSet Research Systems FDS
WEX Inc. WEX
Abbott Laboratories ABT
Becton, Dickinson and Company BDX
Deluxe Corp. DLX
Sysco Corporation SYY
Eaton Vance EV
Eli Lilly and Company LLY
SEI Investments SEIC
Amphenol APH
Expeditors International EXPD
Varian Medical Systems VAR
Tupperware Brands TUP
Hubbell Inc. HUB-B
Cummins CMI
Public Storage PSA
McCormick & Company MKC
Daily Journal DJCO

I’m sure you’ve heard of many, but some are barely known. Hubbell is up nearly 50 fold since 1980, yet no analysts currently follow it. Stepan has increased its dividend every year for 46 consecutive years. Seaboard has a little over one million shares outstanding and a $2,900 per share price tag.

You’ll also notice several insurance stocks. I’m often impressed by how many great long-term winners have been insurance stocks.

Please note that I’m not recommending these stocks as buys. I’m saying that they’ve had long histories of being well-run.

Posted by on August 25th, 2014 at 8:37 am


The information in this blog post represents my own opinions and does not contain a recommendation for any particular security or investment. I or my affiliates may hold positions or other interests in securities mentioned in the Blog, please see my Disclaimer page for my full disclaimer.