Seeking Alpha: Barely Followed, Crown Crafts Worth A Closer Look

It hasn't been a universally great time for companies dependent on the infant and juvenile products market. Mattel (MAT) has done pretty well, and Summer Infant (SUMR) is still up by double-digits, but companies like Dorel and Kid Brands (KID) have found this to be a more challenging environment as a low birth rate and a shift from many major retailers towards their own private label brands have impacted sales.

Crown Crafts (CRWS), though, has enjoyed a good run this year. Up more than 35% over the past year, the company has recently gotten a sales growth boost from new product launches, while a change in product mix has boost operating margins nicely. While the small float, low volume, and minimal sell-side coverage all mean that investors may have to exercise some patience in waiting for this idea to develop, the model and valuation look compelling today.

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Barely Followed, Crown Crafts Worth A Closer Look

Seeking Alpha: Summer Infant An Early Stage Growth Story

Although investment writers often seem to hate growth-by-acquisition roll-up stories, there's a reason that they keep popping up in the market – when executed properly, they can work very well. Investors can look at stories as varied as Danaher, BB&T, or Helen Of Troy (Nasdaq: HELE) and see a similar theme of success through repeated M&A activity.

It may be unfair to suggest that Summer Infant (Nasdaq: SUMR) has only grown by virtue of folding in smaller makers of kid-oriented products, but the fact remains that the company is what it is today because of deals. Looking out a few years, though, it's not too hard to see how Summer Infant can grow itself into a real contender next to Mattel's (NYSE: MAT) Fisher-Price or Newell Rubbermaid's (NYSE: NWL) Graco business. Consequently, the company's downward revision in Q4 results is upsetting, but not the end of the story.

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Summer Infant: An Early Stage Growth Story