How To Take Advantage Of Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ:BRKR) In A Bear Market

When stocks are plummeting in price, it's hard to start buying into all the uncertainty. But a disciplined long term investor knows there's no better time to buy than right now. And I'm not talking about buying into speculative, high-risk stocks. I'm talking about the well-proven, robust track record Bruker Corporation. Why? Size. Financial health. Proven performance.

Check out our latest analysis for Bruker

Bruker Corporation manufactures and distributes scientific instruments, and analytical and diagnostic solutions in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. Started in 1991, and led by CEO Frank Laukien, the company employs 6.87k people and with the stock's market cap sitting at US$7.7b, it comes under the mid-cap category. Bear market volatility can have a short-term impact on large, well-established companies, but in the long-run, these businesses are likely to prevail. This is because fundamentally, nothing has changed. A fall in share price is hardly detrimental to its financial health and business operations. So, large-cap stocks are a safe bet to buy more of when the stock market is selling off.

Currently Bruker has US$335m on its balance sheet, which requires regular interest payments. This requires the business to have enough cash to meet these upcoming interest expenses. With an interest coverage ratio of 25.14x, Bruker produces sufficient earnings (EBIT) to cover its interest payments. Anything above 3x is considered safe practice. Moreover, its operating cash flows amply covers its total debt by 63%, above the safe minimum of 20%. Not to mention, it meets the basic liquidity requirement with current assets exceeding liabilities, which further builds on its financial strength in the face of a volatile market.

BRKR’s year-on-year earnings growth has been positive over the past five years, with an average annual growth rate of 16%, outpacing the industry growth rate of 14%. It has also returned an ROE of 20% recently, above the industry return of 12%. This consistent market outperformance illustrates a robust track record of delivering strong returns over a number of years, increasing my conviction in Bruker as an investment over the long run.

Next Steps:

Bruker makes for a robust long-term investment based on its scale, financial health and track record. Remember, in bear markets, sell-offs can be unjustified. Ask yourself, has anything really changed with Bruker? If not, then why not scoop it up at a discount? Lining your portfolio with a few well-established companies can reduce your risk and help you scale your wealth in the long run. One thing you should remember though, is to do your homework. Do your own research, come up with your point of view. Below is a list I've put together of other things you should consider before you buy:

1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for BRKR’s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for BRKR’s outlook.
2. Valuation: What is BRKR worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether BRKR is currently mispriced by the market.
3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.