This article is a reprint of my August 19 2008 RealMoney column.

Can a market leader in clothespins hang short-sellers out to dry? Investors in Jarden (JAH) may soon find out. The company has acquired a portfolio of leading brands in outdoor and consumer products that includes Sunbeam, Oster, Coleman, Rawlings and Mr. Coffee. I think these market leaders, sold in a wide range of stores, are generating more than enough cash flow to service debt and fuel additional growth, making life uncomfortable for their considerable short float.

According to its latest 10K, Jarden is now a leader in a variety of categories, including (deep breath) alpine skis and bindings, snowboarding and snowshoeing, baseballs, bats, softballs and gloves, camping gear, cordage, firelogs and firestarters, soft baits, rods, reels and combos, home canning, home vacuum packaging, matches and toothpicks, personal flotation devices, playing cards, boxed plastic cutlery, selected small kitchen appliances,