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Walmart (WMT)

Paidcontent.org is reporting that Walmart is buying online/embedded movie service Vudu. The retailer describes Vudu as a “leading provider of digital technologies and services that enable the delivery of entertainment content directly to broadband high-definition TVs and Blu-ray players” and calls it “revolutionary.” The deal, expected to close in a few weeks, marks Walmart’s latest effort to make online video pay, this time without a connected computer.
Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice chairman for Walmart, explained the move in the announcement: “Combining Vudu’s unique digital technology and service with Walmart’s retail expertise and scale will provide customers with unprecedented access to home entertainment options as they migrate to a digital environment.” Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) gains access to titles from nearly every major studio and to some 16,000 titles, including, the companies claim, the largest available 1080p VOD library.

Mar 4 · 10:57:00 AM · Source: Paidcontent.org
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by Rich Pike

Sysco (SYY)

Sysco Corporation announced today that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on April 23, 2010, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on April 1, 2010.
At today's stock price of $29.12, Sysco currently yields 3.43%.

Feb 19 · 3:33:00 PM · Source: Company Press Release
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by Rich Pike

Campbell's Soup (CPB)

Campbell Soup Company today announced a comprehensive plan to boost the performance of its condensed soup portfolio in the United States, a business that generated more than $1 billion in net sales in fiscal 2009. Campbell plans to enhance more than 60 percent of its condensed line with product improvements, further sodium reduction, more contemporary packaging, improved shelving systems and new marketing aimed at the simple meals category. These upcoming plans for condensed soup build on Campbell's substantial investments in its entire U.S. Soup business over the last several years, designed to improve the quality, convenience, variety and wellness profile across its portfolio. As a result of these investments, Campbell has increased net sales of U.S. soup every year since 2003.
Campbell reiterated its full-year guidance for adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) growth of 6 to 7 percent and adjusted net earnings per share growth of 9 to 11 percent from the fiscal 2009 adjusted base of $2.21. The company revised its fiscal 2010 guidance for sales growth to 2.5 to 3.5 percent from the prior range of 4 to 5 percent.

Feb 18 · 12:45:00 PM · Source: Company Press Release
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by Rich Pike

Walmart (WMT)

Wal-Mart today reported financial results for the quarter and year ended Jan. 31, 2010. Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010 were $112.8 billion, an increase of 4.6 percent from $107.9 billion in the fourth quarter last year. Net sales for the fourth quarter included a currency exchange rate benefit of $1.9 billion. Income from continuing operations attributable to Walmart for the quarter was $4.7 billion, an increase of almost 24 percent from $3.8 billion in the fourth quarter last year. For fiscal year 2010, adjusted earnings from continuing operations attributable to Walmart were $14.2 billion, or $3.66 per share, versus $13.5 billion or $3.42 per share in the prior year, an increase of 7.0 percent per share.
The company expects diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Walmart for fiscal year 2011 to be between $3.90 and $4.00. For the first quarter of this fiscal year, the company forecasts earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Walmart to range from $0.81 to $0.85. Earnings guidance assumes that currency exchange rates will remain where they are today.

Feb 18 · 12:36:00 PM · Source: Company Press Release
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by Rich Pike

Coca-Cola (KO)

The Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company today approved the Company's 48th consecutive annual dividend increase, raising the quarterly dividend approximately 7 percent from 41 cents to 44 cents per common share. This is equivalent to an annual dividend of $1.76 per share, up from $1.64 per share in 2009. The first quarterly dividend is payable April 1, 2010, to shareowners of record as of March 15, 2010.
The increase reflects the Board's confidence in the Company's long-term cash flow. The Company returned $5.3 billion to shareowners in 2009, through $3.8 billion in dividends and $1.5 billion in share repurchases.

Feb 18 · 12:25:00 PM · Source: Company Press Release
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by Rich Pike

Walgreen (WAG)

Walgreen Co. said today it has definitively agreed to acquire Duane Reade Holdings Inc., operator of a chain of 257 New-York-area drugstores, from affiliates of Oak Hill Capital Partners. The deal price is nearly $1.08 billion, including assumption of debt.
Walgreen, which called the deal "a compelling strategic acquisition," will now have a leadership position in nation’s largest retail and drugstore market.

Feb 17 · 9:02:00 AM · Source: Company Press Release
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by Larry Etter

Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM)

The Board of Directors of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) today declared a cash dividend of 15 cents per share on the Company’s stock payable March 11, 2010, to Stockholders of record February 18, 2010. This is an increase of one cent a share.
This is ADM’s 313th consecutive quarterly payment, a record of 78 years of uninterrupted dividends.

Feb 11 · 2:37:00 PM · Source: Company Press Release
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by Rich Pike

Philip Morris (PM)

Full-year reported diluted earnings per share of $3.24 versus $3.31 in 2008. Fourth-quarter reported diluted earnings per share of $0.80 versus $0.71 in 2008. Forecasts 2010 full-year reported diluted earnings per share to be in a range of $3.75 to $3.85. Announced a new share repurchase program of $12 billion over 3 years to commence in May 2010. Net revenues of $25.0 billion were down by 2.6% for the full-year 2009, due to unfavorable currency of $2.6 billion. Excluding currency, net revenues increased by 7.5% for the full year, driven by favorable pricing of $2.0 billion across all business segments,
This report was a home run. Although sales were relatively flat for the year, earnings were up. Plus, the forecast for 2010 is impressive. And the stock repurchase program shows the company has a lot of confidence.

Feb 11 · 2:13:00 PM · Source: Company Press Release
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by Rich Pike

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