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Costco (COST)

Costco Reports Flat Earnings, $.60 Per Share

Costco reported for the 1st-quarter 2010 earnings of $266 million, or $.60 per share, on sales of $17.3 billion. That compares to the prior year earnings of $263 million, or $.60 per share, on sales of $16.92 billion.
Same-store sales rose 3 percent, which is encouraging. However, much of that increase was from overseas and was helped by the weaker dollar.

Dec 10 · 9:23:00 PM · Source: NY Times
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by Rich Pike

Philip Morris (PM)

Philip Morris Intl Declares Dividend

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
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by Rich Pike

Procter & Gamble (PG)

P&G Chairman Lafley to Retire in January

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
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by Rich Pike

Reynolds American (RAI)

Reynolds offers buyouts to manufacturing workers

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
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by Rich Pike

Reynolds American (RAI)

Reynolds American Shares Up on Analyst Upgrade

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
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by Rich Pike

Kraft Foods (KFT)

Kraft takes $16.3B offer to Cadbury shareholders

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
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by Rich Pike

Heinz (HNZ)

Heinz Earnings Fall, But Optimistic About Future

H.J. Heinz Co said Tuesday that it posted a lower fiscal second quarter profit, with the company saying it earned $231.4 million, or 73 cents a share, down from $276.7 million, or 87 cents per share, a year earlier. The previous year's results included a big gain from currency hedging. Sales rose 2.5 percent to $2.67 billion
The company said results were hampered by sales falls in North America and Europe, but said it is optimistic about sales momentum heading into the second half of its fiscal year.

Nov 24 · 12:17:00 PM · Source: Company News Release
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by Larry Etter

Campbell's Soup (CPB)

Campbell Soup's Earnings Up, Sales Down Slightly

Campbell Soup said Monday it earned $304 million, or 87 cents a share, in the fiscal first quarter that ended November 1, up from $260 million, or 70 cents a share, a year earlier. Sales fell 2.1 percent to $2.2 billion from a year ago.
Analysts had projected 81 cents per share and company's CEO said U.S. soup sales were improving and had risen 10 percent in October

Nov 23 · 2:22:00 PM · Source: Company News
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by Larry Etter

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