Newell Rubbermaid Inc. $28 - New York symbol NWL

NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. $28 (New York symbol NWL; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 279.3 million; Market cap; $7.8 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) makes a wide variety of household goods, including plastic storage containers, tools, window blinds and writing instruments. The company is currently in the middle of a threeyear restructuring aimed at cutting its annual expenses by $150 million. This involves selling less profitable operations, and shifting production overseas. In the three months ended June 30, 2007, Newell’s profits before restructuring costs rose 19.6%, to $0.55 a share (total $154.6 million) from $0.46 a share ($131.6 million) a year earlier. Sales grew 3.7%, to $1.69 billion from $1.63 billion. Newell plans to invest some of the savings in marketing and new product development. These outlays will hurt earnings, but should spur long-term sales growth. The company also continues to restructure and expand its international operations, which currently provide just 30% of its sales. Newell trades at 15.9 times its likely 2007 profit of $1.76 a share. The $0.84 dividend yields 3.0%. Newell Rubbermaid is a buy.

A professional investment analyst for more than 30 years, Pat has developed a stock-selection technique that has proven reliable in both bull and bear markets. His proprietary ValuVesting System™ focuses on stocks that provide exceptional quality at relatively low prices. Many savvy investors and industry leaders consider it the most powerful stock-picking method ever created.