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Coca-Cola (KO)

The main trade association representing Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo Inc., and other beverage companies plans to release a report Monday showing that sales of soda and other drinks in U.S. secondary schools have dropped sharply since 2004, in a sign that efforts to improve nutrition in schools are progressing. Sales volume of beverages shipped to schools from bottlers fell 72% between the first semester of the 2004-05 school year and the first semester of the current academic year, according to the report, which was compiled for the American Beverage Association by economic research firm Keybridge Research LLC. The report showed a 95% decline in sales volume of full-calorie soft drinks, such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola, and a 94% decline in juice drinks. Full-calorie soft drinks accounted for just 6.8% of beverage volume shipped to schools last semester, while they made up 40% of the product mix in 2004.
This is great news for the health of kids in the country. I wouldn't worry too much about the sales decline for Coke and Pepsi - over time they will figure out how to sell more healthier drinks in the schools.

Mar 8 · 1:20:00 PM · Source: Wall Street Journal
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by Rich Pike

BJ's (BJ)

BJ's today reported net income of $55.1 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended January 30, 2010. For the full year 2009, the Company reported net income of $132.1 million, or $2.42 per diluted share, compared to $2.28 per diluted share for 2008.
For the fourth quarter ended January 30, 2010, total sales increased by 9.4% to $2.74 billion, and comparable club sales increased by 4.6%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 2.3%. For the year ended January 30, 2010, total sales rose by 1.6% to $9.95 billion and comparable club sales decreased by 1.9%, including a negative impact from sales of gasoline of 5.9%. Excluding the impact of gasoline sales, merchandise comparable club sales increased by 4.0% for the full year.

Mar 4 · 11:08:00 AM · Source: Company Press Release
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by Rich Pike

Walgreen (WAG)

Walgreens is reporting February sales of $5.31 billion, an increase of 3.2 percent from $5.14 billion for the same month in 2009. Sales in comparable stores (those open at least a year) increased 0.4 percent.
February pharmacy sales increased 3.7 percent, while comparable pharmacy sales increased 0.9 percent. Comparable pharmacy sales were negatively affected by 2.4 percentage points due to generic drug introductions in the last 12 months and a lower incidence of flu compared with February 2009. Pharmacy sales accounted for 64.5 percent of total sales for the month.

Mar 4 · 11:01:00 AM · Source: Company Press Release
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by Rich Pike

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

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