This data merchant has special appeal

Article Excerpt

DUN & BRADSTREET CORP. $65 (New York symbol DNB; WSSF Rating: Average) provides credit reports on over 100 million companies in more than 200 countries. Customers use this information to make lending and buying decisions. The company also sells a variety of other information products. The United States accounts for 75% of its revenue, and 85% of its profit. As world trade grows, Dun & Bradstreet’s potential should grow even faster as businesses seek instant information on new customers and suppliers on the other side of the globe. The company’s revenues hovered around $1.4 billion for the past five years. However, profits before one-time items rose steadily, from $1.50 a share (total $122.8 million) in 2000 to $2.98 a share ($217.7 million) in 2004, thanks to a successful restructuring plan. Subscription selling expands profits Dun & Bradstreet is also finding new ways to squeeze more revenue out of its existing customers. It now sells most of its products in the U.S. by subscriptions, which…