PROCTER & GAMBLE CO. $65 - New York symbol PG

PROCTER & GAMBLE CO. $65 (New York symbol PG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 2.8 billion; Market cap: $182.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.1; Dividend yield: 3.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.pg.com) plans to appeal a $305-million fine by French anti-trust regulators, which accused the company of collaborating with rival firms to set the price of laundry detergent between 1997 and 2004.

The company is appealing because it has already agreed to pay $275 million to settle a similar case with the European Commission. To put these figures in context, Procter earned $3.0 billion, or $1.03 a share, in the three months ended September 30, 2011.

Procter & Gamble is still 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.