Ms. Jamar: The short answer would be on a bottom-up basis. I mean, I think about them for valuation purposes. I rank them by growth expectations and also partly by profitability or return levels. But I don't think about the companies, for purposes of stocks, in terms of whether they're quick-service or casual-dining or steak or Chinese or whatever; that doesn't really matter.
TWST: What are the characteristics that you look for?
Ms. Jamar: In terms of recommending a stock? Well, the first and most
important thing to me is the company's management, which is, very
obviously, a non-quantifiable and subjective issue. Then after sort of
assessing and making sure I'm comfortable with management (obviously a
good management team is going to have a decent concept or number of
concepts), I try to understand the growth that they're looking for and
the return levels that they're comfortable with.
Tickers included in this excerpt: APPB, AVDO, DRI, EAT, FM, MCD, MRG, OSSI, PHL, STAR, WEN, YUM
For more information call (212) 952 7433. The Wall Street Transcript does not endorse any of the comments made by interviewees, and does not make stock recommendations.