SPECIAL REPORT FOR INNER CIRCLE MEMBERS

China Life Insurance (ADR), $64.27, symbol LFC on New York, (Shares outstanding: 496.1 million; Market cap: $31.9 billion) sells annuity products and life insurance to individuals and groups in China. It offers individual and group life insurance, accident, and health insurance. China Life is China’s… Read More

La-Z-Boy Inc. $0.97 – New York symbol LZB

LA-Z-BOY INC. $0.97 (New York symbol LZB; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 51.5 million; Market cap: $50 million; Priceto- sales ratio: 0.05; WSSF Rating: Speculative) makes reclining chairs and other furniture.

The sharp decline in housing prices and consumer confidence continues to… Read More

Waiting for a Housing Recovery

The bleak outlook for the U.S. housing industry continues to weigh on Sherwin-Williams and La-Z-Boy. Their cost-control plans and industry-leading brands should help them cope, but both will probably make little progress in the next few months.

SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CO. $46 (New York symbol SHW; Conservative Growth… Read More

Microsoft Seeks New Growth Opportunities

MICROSOFT CORP. $20 (Nasdaq symbol MSFT; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 8.9 billion; Market cap: $178.0 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) is the world’s largest software company. Its Windows operating system runs roughly 90% of the world’s computers. Microsoft’s Office suite… Read More

Kraft Foods Inc. $36 – New York symbol KFT

KRAFT FOODS INC. $36 (New York symbol KFT; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.6 billion; Market cap: $57.6 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) is the world’s second-largest food company, after Nestle. It owns some of the industry’s top brands, including Kraft (cheese), Maxwell… Read More