Go global with Diageo

Article Excerpt

DIAGEO PLC ADRs $80 (New York symbol DEO; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; ADRs outstanding: 624.5 million; Market cap: $50.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.3; Dividend yield: 3.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.diageo.com) is the world’s largest premium alcoholic beverage company. Like Yum Brands, U.K.-based Diageo is another Consumer stock that gives investors a less-risky way to profit from overseas markets. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, Diageo’s sales rose 1.6%, to 9.9 billion pounds from 9.8 billion pounds (1 British pound = $1.63 Canadian). Sales in markets such as Latin America and Africa rose 13%, while sales in Asia Pacific grew 9%. These gains offset slower sales in North America (up 3%) and Europe (down 3%). Diageo earned 2.1 million pounds, or 3.34 pounds per ADR (each American Depositary Receipt represents four Diageo common shares). That’s up 16.3% from 1.8 billion pounds, or 2.88 pounds per ADR, in fiscal 2010. These figures exclude costs related to a new restructuring plan, which…