Green Mountain Isn't Dead Yet

Investors may be bailing ahead of next week's K-Cup patent expirations, but some analysts are approaching Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (NAS: GMCR) in a more favorable manner today.

Lazard Capital Markets initiated coverage of the company behind the Keurig single-cup brewing platform with a bullish buy rating this morning. Analyst Matthew DiFrisco sees favorable household penetration rates despite the incoming avalanche of third-party portion packs. He feels that Green Mountain can deliver double-digit growth on the top and bottom lines over the next "several" years.

You hear that, Green Mountain bears?

Roth Capital's Anton Brenner is also out with a note pointing out that the private-label competition won't be as troublesome for Green Mountain as the shorts think. He has a price target of $35, and that's actually even lower than DiFrisco's new $39 share price goal.

It's true that grocery stores have gone public with plans to offer their own K-Cups later this month. SUPERVALU (NYS: SVU) became the latest party pooper, announcing this week that its upcoming Java Delight Single Serve UnCup coffee pods will work with Keurig brewers.

Thankfully, no company has had more time to prepare for the expiration of its K-Cup patents on Sept. 16 than Green Mountain itself.

Last year it inked multiyear deals with Starbucks (NAS: SBUX) and Dunkin' Brands (NAS: DNKN) . It went on to acquire many of the more popular K-Cup coffee brands. It was able to put out a new brewing platform with a fresh clock on its portion packs.

There's also something to be said about the popularity of the brewers themselves. As supermarkets devote more shelf space to Keurig refills and prices likely head lower, it's easy to see a surge in demand for Keurig brewers. Green Mountain may not see the coffeemakers as profit centers, but it will give the company the perfect opportunity to establish direct relationships with java lovers through its online store.

Green Mountain was overvalued when it peaked last year. David Einhorn was right. However, as analysts begin to study the potential of the company continuing to grow in the new climate and finally delivering the positive cash flow that worrywarts have been lamenting the lack of, Green Mountain as a value play is the new brew.

Brew ha ha
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There's a premium report on Green Mountain, exploring the Keurig champ's challenges and opportunities. A free year of updates is included, so get up to speed on the java heavy.

The article Green Mountain Isn't Dead Yet originally appeared on Fool.com.

The Motley Fool owns shares of Starbucks, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and SUPERVALU.Motley Fool newsletter serviceshave recommended buying shares of Starbucks and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.Motley Fool newsletter serviceshave recommended writing covered calls on Starbucks, buying calls on SUPERVALU, creating a lurking gator position in Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and writing naked calls on Dunkin' Brands Group. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter servicesfree for 30 days.Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz calls them as he sees them. He does not own shares in any of the stocks in this story, except for Green Mountain. Rick is also part of theRule Breakersnewsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early.

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