There's certainly something to be said for owning the very best companies. Provided you buy them at a reasonable price – come rain, hail or shine, you can sleep easy at night knowing that you have invested in solid businesses that will ultimately survive and prosper.
Recently, global investment bank Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C) asked its worldwide team of equity analysts for their very best candidates for companies which had – global scope, leading market share, and enduring business models. Of the final selection, four Australian stocks made what was titled the 2014 Citi World Champions – The Top 50.
While the four Aussie contenders to make Citi's list may not currently be trading at levels that you want to purchase them at, they are certainly worthy of 'world champ status' and the type of stocks to keep on your watchlist to buy if you ever think the price is right.
Here are the four:
1) Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU) – As a leading provider of share registry services not only in Australia but also the USA, UK, Canada and Hong Kong, Computershare has well and truly established its global credentials. The economies of scale that the firm continues to expand, creates an impressive comparative advantage which protects its business and its margins.
2) CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) – A global leader in the production of blood-plasma based therapies with a pipeline of new therapies and a significant research-and-development spend that helps CSL remain a leader in its field.
3) ResMed Inc. (CHESS) (ASX: RMD) – Like CSL, ResMed is an Australian health care success story. The firm is at the cutting edge of sleep-apnea treatment which has allowed it to seize strong market share in a number of global markets – particularly the USA.
4) SEEK Limited (ASX: SEK) – Having cornered the domestic market in online employment classifieds, the firm is now in the process of replicating its successful business model in overseas markets. So far it has established online employment marketplaces in 12 countries and it may not be too long before its international operations contribute a greater share of earnings than its domestic business.
