Social media buy a great fit for D&B

DUN & BRADSTREET CORP. $107 (New York symbol DNB; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 37.6 million; Market cap: $4.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.5; Dividend yield: 1.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.dnb.com) has paid an undisclosed sum for the social media operations of Fliptop, whose… Read More

Market dominance adds to their appeal

These three firms provide vital information to lenders and other financial companies. They are also leaders in their niche markets. That cuts their risk and makes it hard for new competitors to challenge them. DUN & BRADSTREET CORP. $100 (New York symbol DNB; Conservative Growth… Read More

Credit rating firm offers value and growth

DUN & BRADSTREET CORP. $82 (New York symbol DNB; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 40.9 million; Market cap: $3.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.0; Dividend yield: 2.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.dnb.com) began operating in 1841 and is now the world’s largest provider of credit… Read More

Dun & Bradstreet puts off sale

DUN & BRADSTREET CORP. $76 (New York symbol DNB; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 44.6 million; Market cap: $3.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.0; Dividend yield: 2.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.dnb.com) shot up to around $84 in August 2012 on speculation that the company… Read More

D&B soars on possible sale

DUN & BRADSTREET CORP. $80 (New York symbol DNB; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 44.9 million; Market cap: $3.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.1; Dividend yield: 1.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.dnb.com) shot up from around $70 in late July 2012 on reports that the… Read More

Breakups will help unlock their value

The three companies below aim to complete corporate breakups in 2012. Breakups generally help unlock hidden value and lead to above-average results in the years after the split. (See two good examples of strong post-split performance — Moody’s and Dun & Bradstreet — also in… Read More