The Checkup

Long Haul. In September 2010, Matthew Fahey, portfolio manager of Marshall Mid-Cap Value (MRVIX), offered investors three companies well positioned to weather a slow-growth economy.

Mattel (NSDQ: MAT) is one of the world’s largest toymakers with well-known brands such as Barbie, Fisher Price and Matchbox. Profits have been robust for the company over the past two years.

The company’s 2011 second-quarter earnings jumped 56 percent to $80.5 million from $51.6 million in 2010. Shares of Mattel have returned 27.2 percent since recommendation.

The world leader in money transfers and payment services, Western Union (NYSE: WU) boasts a network of 470,000 agents in more than 200 countries. The company reported a modest 2 percent growth in sales during 2010. Early estimates show slight growth during 2011.

Shares of Western Union hit a 52-week low on Sept. 22, bottoming at $15. The company’s shares have shed 5.5 percent since last year.

Credit-card issuer Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) saw net income skyrocket to $649 million in its fiscal third quarter ended Aug. 31 from $261 million the previous year. The company expects a triple-digit spike in profits for the full fiscal year. The company’s earnings have been on a tear since 2010, when Discover’s profit soared 663 percent.

Management attributes these results to an improvement in credit performance, record sales from increased spending by new and existing customers as well as higher gas prices. The delinquency rate slipped to a 25-year low of 2.4 percent. Shares of Discover have returned 49.5 percent since recommendation.