Market News

Philip Morris (PM)

Philip Morris Intl declared a regular quarterly dividend in the amount of $.58 per share payable January 11, 2010 to shareholders of record on December 28, 2009, ex-dividend date December 23, 2009.
At today's $48.88 stock price the dividend yield is 4.75%.

Dec 9 · 1:06:00 PM
Track · email · face · Twitter · digg · COMMENTS
by Rich Pike

Procter & Gamble (PG)

Proctor & Gamble announced that A.J. Lafley will step down as chairman effective Jan 1, to be replaced by his CEO successor, Bob McDonald. McDonald took over as CEO in July. Lafley, who took over amid profit warnings and diving stock prices in June 2000, helped right P&G by emphasizing innovation and a "consumer is boss" focus, which included spending more time in personal observation and interviews with consumers.
McDonald took over with P&G sales struggling in the recession, but the company turned in better-than-expected first-quarter results in October and forecast a better outlook for the full year. McDonald has pledged to aggressively win back market share from lower-priced competitors and store brands; P&G has cut prices across its broad portfolio, stepped up advertising focused on offering value, and added both cheap versions of its products and new premium-priced items.

Dec 8 · 8:33:00 PM · Source: Yahoo Finance
Track · email · face · Twitter · digg · COMMENTS
by Rich Pike

Walmart (WMT)

Walmart declared a regular quarterly dividend in the amount of $.2725 per share payable January 4, 2010 to shareholders of record on December 11, 2009, ex-dividend date December 9, 2009.
Walmart is an S&P Dividend Aristocrat. At today's $54.75 stock price the dividend yield is 1.99%.

Dec 7 · 4:39:00 PM
Track · email · face · Twitter · digg · COMMENTS
by Rich Pike

Reynolds American (RAI)

Townhall.com is reporting that Reynolds is offering buyouts to about 1,800 workers at its North Carolina factories to cut costs. Reynolds spokeswoman Jan Smith says there are other productivity improvements and cuts it could make in manufacturing, depending how many employees take the buyout, which includes severance pay.
Here is another sign that the unemployment rate is going to have trouble improving as another company announces plans to cut back. In the long run this is good for Reynolds' stock as they make sure they reduce costs as much as possible considering cigarette sales are declining.

Dec 4 · 3:45:00 PM · Source: Townhall.com
Track · email · face · Twitter · digg · COMMENTS
by Rich Pike

Reynolds American (RAI)

Shares of cigarette maker Reynolds American Inc. rose Friday after Citigroup analyst Adam Spielman upgraded the stock to a "Buy" based on projections of profit and dividend growth. The analyst raised his target price on the stock to $59.
Reynolds American, based in Winston-Salem, N.C., is the second-biggest U.S. cigarette maker after Marlboro-maker Altria Group Inc. Reynolds makes brands such as Camel, Kool, Misty, Capri and others.

Dec 4 · 3:07:00 PM · Source: Seattle Post Intelligencer
Track · email · face · Twitter · digg · COMMENTS
by Rich Pike

Kraft Foods (KFT)

Kraft Foods Inc. took its $16.3 billion hostile takeover offer for Cadbury PLC straight to shareholders of the British candy company on Friday. Under British regulations, Cadbury has two weeks to give a formal response to the offer before shareholders. "We remain confident that the unique combination of Kraft Foods and Cadbury would create a significant growth opportunity for both businesses," Kraft CEO and Chairman Irene Rosenfeld said in a statement. "That's why we believe this offer is in the best interest of both companies' shareholders."
If Kraft is successful, the deal would create a global giant with an estimated $50 billion in combined revenue. Kraft already is the world's second-largest food maker after Nestle. Cadbury is an attractive acquisition. It is one of the world's largest confectionary companies and has strong international reach, with a key presence in emerging markets.

Dec 4 · 2:25:00 PM · Source: Yahoo Finance
Track · email · face · Twitter · digg · COMMENTS
by Rich Pike

Del Monte Foods Company (DLM)

Del Monte Foods Thursday said that for the fiscal second quarter ended Nov. 1, profit from continuing operations was $62.6 million, or 31 cents a share, compared with $27.3 million, or 14 cents a share, a year earlier. Sales came in at $958.9 million -- a rise of 6.4 percent
Earnings topped analyst expectations and company raised its full-year guidance.

Dec 3 · 12:17:00 PM · Source: Company News
Track · email · face · Twitter · digg · COMMENTS
by Larry Etter

Walgreen (WAG)

Walgreens said it posted November sales of $5,360,800,000, an increase of 8.7 percent from $4,933,433,000 for the same month in 2008. Sales in comparable stores (those open at least a year) increased 3.9 percent. November pharmacy sales increased 9.7 percent, while comparable pharmacy sales increased 5.7 percent. Comparable pharmacy sales were negatively impacted by 2.4 percentage points due to generic drug introductions in the last 12 months.
Sales, however, we up less than expected.

Dec 2 · 1:49:00 PM · Source: Company News Release
Track · email · face · Twitter · digg · COMMENTS
by Larry Etter

Previous · Next