Companies Benefiting From the Downturn

January 29, 2009

In our interview this week with portfolio manager Mary Lisanti of AH Lisanti Capital Growth, she pointed out to us several companies that she’s located that are, in fact, benefiting from the global financial crisis and downturn in the markets:

  1. Constant Contact (CTCT)-Constant Contact is an e-mail marketing system for small businesses, keeping them in close touch with existing customers and even adding new customers. Increasingly they are also being used by large corporations because they are incredibly cost effective. The return on investment is about a month and a half and puts an immediate payback (past performance is not indicative of future results). It’s a very effective product in the current environment.”
  2. Data Domain (DDUP)- Data Domain does virtual data storage. This means their clients don’t have to buy another server, but instead use this software product to leverage space on their existing server. Data Domain has a very good management team and we think they’ll be one of the companies that will prosper going forward.”
  3. Concur Technologies (CNQR)- Concur Technologies…provides corporate expense report management and travel procurement software which has a very quick payback return on investment of a couple of months and clients end up saving a significant amount of money. We look for the management team to really understand the challenges they are facing. We talk to them about more theoretical scenarios to get a sense of how they are running the business and we want them to balance the long term and short term. We believe they are in a good position as we come out of this to really gain some significant market share.”

For the complete Investing Strategies report, including the complete interview with Ms. Lisanti as well as interview with portfolio managers from a variety of investment styles and focuses, click here.