What makes a company an "Empire Builder"?

Empire Builders are companies led by executives who grow their businesses primarily through strategic acquisitions rather than just organic growth. These leaders have demonstrated a track record of successfully identifying acquisition targets, completing deals, and most importantly, integrating these new businesses to create added value. They're essentially skilled at buying other companies and turning those purchases into growth opportunities.

Why do companies grow through acquisitions instead of building from scratch?

Acquisitions can offer several advantages over organic growth. They can provide immediate access to new markets, technologies, talent, or customer bases that might take years to develop internally. For example, when Microsoft acquired LinkedIn, they instantly gained a professional social network with millions of users. Acquisitions can also eliminate competition, create economies of scale, and diversify revenue streams, potentially enabling faster growth than building everything from the ground up.

What risks should I be aware of with acquisition-focused companies?

Companies that grow primarily through acquisitions face several unique risks. They might overpay for acquisitions, take on too much debt, or struggle to successfully integrate new businesses (known as "integration risk"). Failed integrations can lead to culture clashes, talent exodus, or not realizing expected synergies. There's also the risk of "empire building" for the wrong reasons, where executives make acquisitions to grow their personal influence rather than create shareholder value. Finally, regulatory scrutiny can block planned mergers, especially for larger companies facing antitrust concerns.

What does "Market Cap" tell me about these companies?

Market Cap (Market Capitalization) represents the total value of a company's outstanding shares, calculated by multiplying the stock price by the number of shares. For Empire Builders, Market Cap is particularly relevant as it shows the company's current size and acquisition power—larger companies typically have more resources to make significant acquisitions. It also helps you understand whether a company is a mega-cap acquirer (like Microsoft or Berkshire Hathaway) that can make industry-changing acquisitions, or a smaller player making strategic add-on acquisitions to grow.

What does "Financial Health Overall" indicate for acquisition-focused companies?

For Empire Builders, "Financial Health Overall" is especially important because acquisitions require financial strength. This metric typically considers factors like debt levels, cash reserves, and cash flow. Companies with strong financial health can fund acquisitions without taking on excessive debt, weather integration challenges, and continue making strategic purchases even during economic downturns. Conversely, companies with weaker financial health might struggle to complete deals, become overleveraged, or face financial strain if acquisitions don't deliver expected returns as quickly as planned.

14 handpicked stocks

Empire Builders

These companies are led by visionaries who excel at growing through smart acquisitions. Our analysts have carefully selected businesses with proven ability to buy competitors, integrate them successfully, and build lasting market power.

Han Tan | Market Analyst

Published on June 17

Top Picks from This Group

Here are a few of the assets in this group. Create an account to unlock the full list.

Microsoft Corporation

MSFT

Current price

$517.43

Danaher's corporate identity is built on its repeatable system for acquiring and integrating scientific and technological companies.

Broadcom Inc.

AVGO

Current price

$341.58

Broadcom has a well-established history of growing its semiconductor and software business through large-scale, transformative acquisitions.

Salesforce Inc

CRM

Current price

$238.88

Salesforce has consistently used acquisitions of companies like Slack and Tableau to expand its cloud software dominance.

Oracle Corp.

ORCL

Current price

$289.29

The Walt Disney Company

DIS

Current price

$112.57

AT&T, Inc.

Current price

$27.00

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12 Month Growth Potential

Use the growth calculator to see how much investing in these assets could return over one year, based on aggregated analyst sentiment provided by Refinitive Ltd.

If you invested across these assets:

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In 12 months it might be worth:

$1,000.00

+1.19%

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About This Group of Stocks

Our Expert Thinking

These companies share a powerful growth strategy: they expand by acquiring other businesses. With skilled leadership at the helm, they create value by strategically consolidating their markets, gaining new capabilities, and diversifying revenue streams.

What You Need to Know

The companies in this group range from tech giants and industrial conglomerates to healthcare innovators. What unites them is their leadership's proven ability to find acquisition targets and successfully integrate them to drive long-term growth.

Why These Stocks

Each company was selected for its documented history of not just making acquisitions, but doing so in ways that create real value. In today's shifting economic landscape, these skilled dealmakers are positioned to capitalize on new opportunities.

Group Performance Snapshot

1.19%

Average 12 Month Profit

On average, analysts expect assets in this group to grow 1.19% over the next year.

13 of 14

Stocks Rated Buy by Analysts

13 of 14 assets in this group are rated Buy by professional analysts.

Source: Analyst sentiment is provided by Refinitiv Ltd, a global leader in financial market data with over 40k business clients. Refinitiv Ltd is an independent third party to Nemo. This is not advice.

Why You'll Want to Watch These Stocks

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Master Dealmakers in Action

These companies aren't just growing organically—they're strategically buying their way to dominance. Watch how their next acquisitions could reshape entire industries.

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Beyond the Obvious Benefits

Smart acquisitions create hidden value that many investors miss. These companies excel at finding synergies and cost savings that can dramatically improve profitability.

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Empire Expansion Opportunities

Current market conditions are creating unique opportunities for cash-rich acquirers. These companies are positioned to snap up valuable assets at attractive prices.

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