Nordson (NDSN), Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD) Flying Below the Radar

Nordson Corp. (Nasdaq:NDSN) and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (Nasdaq:GLDD) had a great 2010, and for the most part, fly below the radar of the majority of investors.

Even though the tin can has been around and has remained relatively unchanged for decades, the technology behind canned goods is far more advanced than most people know. The same goes for something as seemingly benign as glue and adhesives - the idea is hundreds of years old, but precision dispensing of the sticky stuff is a fine-tuned science that today's modern manufacturing processes couldn't exist without.

That's where Nordson (NDSN) comes in, a maker of dispensing and sealing equipment with applications in all sorts of industries.

It's been a terrific time to be in the business. Nordson just finished up its best year ever in 2010, earning $4.62 a share. Better still, the company is expected to post income of $6.59 a share in 2011, up 42%, which would simply be in line with its current growth trend.

Keeping the Boats Moving

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) isn't exactly a household name either, probably because most of the nation never gets a look at what the company does, nor would they desire to.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock maintains the shape and depth of beaches, docks, ports and waterways to make sure boats can continue to navigate them. It's a big job to be sure, and the company pulls in a lot of money as a result. The bottom line of the company is only expected to keep growing.

A large number needed dredging projects are long overdue. Taking into that Great Lakes Dredge & Dock is already the market share leader, its record 2010 margins and near-record per-share profits may well be topped again this year. The company's total backlog currently stands at $363 million, or over 50% of 2010's total top line.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock closed Monday at $7.88, down $0.27, or 3.37 percent. Nordson closed at $109.82, down $0.59, or 0.53 percent.




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