merger
MONSANTO CORP., $99.94, New York symbol MON, develops and sells technology-based agricultural products, such as genetically modified seeds, to farmers, grain processors and food companies. It also sells weed- and pest-control products. The stock jumped 11% this week on speculation that German chemical and pharmaceutical maker Bayer AG may launch a takeover bid for the company. A merger would help both firms compete with rivals Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont Co, which plan to merge later this year. As well, China National Chemical Corp. agreed in February 2016 to acquire Switzerland-based Syngenta AG....
Orange SA (ADR), $17.06, symbol ORAN on New York (ADRs outstanding: 2.6 billion; Market cap: $45.1 billion, www.orange.com), is a telecommunications company controlled by the French government. It was formerly called France Telecom SA. Now operating in 28 countries—including Poland—Orange has a total client base of over 263 million customers worldwide. This includes 200 million mobile customers and 18 million fixed broadband subscribers. In early April 2016, Orange dropped from $17.40 to as low as $16. The decline came after the company failed to conclude a merger with its smaller rival Bouygues Telecom. The deal would have reduced the number of major French telecom operators from four to three. Orange is number one in the market....
APPLE INC., $93.74, Nasdaq symbol AAPL, gets about two-thirds of its revenue from its iPhone smartphone. The remaining third comes from sales of its Mac computers, iPad tablets, iPod music players and Apple watches as well as the software, movies and music sold through its iTunes online store. The company sold 51.2 million iPhones in its fiscal 2016 second quarter, which ended March 26, 2016. That’s down 16.3% from 61.2 million a year earlier. However, the year-earlier quarter benefited from strong demand for the recently released iPhone 6 model. iPhone sales will likely remain weak until Apple launches the iPhone 7 later this year. Sales of Mac computers and iPads also fell during the quarter. As a result, Apple’s overall sales declined 12.8%, to $50.6 billion from $58.0 billion a year earlier. That missed the consensus forecast of $51.9 billion....
PROCTER & GAMBLE CO. $80 (New York symbol PG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 2.7 billion; Market cap: $216.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.0; Dividend yield: 3.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.pg.com) is one of the world’s largest makers of household and personal care goods. It began operating in the U.S. in 1837, and now sells its products in over 180 countries. Overseas markets account for 60% of its total sales. The company has five main business lines: fabric and home care products such as Tide laundry detergent (29% of fiscal 2015 sales, 24% of earnings); baby and family care goods, including Pampers diapers (27%, 26%); beauty items such as Olay cosmetics (24%, 23%); grooming products, including Gillette razors (10%, 16%); and health care items such as Crest toothpaste (10%, 11%). Wal-Mart accounts for 14% of the company’s sales. In response to rising competition from generic products, Procter is narrowing its focus from 166 different brands to 65. Of those remaining brands, 21 have annual sales of over $1 billion. Another 11 have annual sales of between $500 million and $1 billion....
KRAFT HEINZ CO. $79 (Nasdaq symbol KHC; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.2 billion; Market cap: $94.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 5.2; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.kraftheinzcompany.com) makes condiments and sauces (such as Heinz Ketchup) as well as other packaged foods. These include Velveeta and Philadelphia Cream Cheese, processed meats (such as Oscar Meyer hot dogs) and beverages (such as Maxwell House coffee). Kraft Heinz took its current form on July 2, 2015, through the merger of Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz. The combined firm is the fifth-largest food and beverage producer globally. The new company’s sales fell 5.8%, to $27.5 billion in 2015 from $29.1 billion in 2014. Adjusting for currency exchange rates and businesses it sold, sales for 2015 fell just 1.6%....
In 2012, Procter & Gamble began a major restructuring that included selling dozens of its less-important brands, closing plants and cutting jobs. The company expects to finish the plan in the next few months. Those efforts will greatly improve Procter’s long-term profitability, and spur its stock price. Higher earnings will also give it more room to buy back shares and hike dividends. PROCTER & GAMBLE CO. $80 (New York symbol PG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 2.7 billion; Market cap: $216.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.0; Dividend yield: 3.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.pg.com) is one of the world’s largest makers of household and personal care goods. It began operating in the U.S. in 1837, and now sells its products in over 180 countries. Overseas markets account for 60% of its total sales....
Increasingly health-conscious consumers are switching away from processed foods. In response, these top food producers are developing healthier products. But they are also restructuring to cut their costs. That should continue to expand their earnings. KRAFT HEINZ CO. $79 (Nasdaq symbol KHC; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.2 billion; Market cap: $94.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 5.2; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.kraftheinzcompany.com) makes condiments and sauces (such as Heinz Ketchup) as well as other packaged foods. These include Velveeta and Philadelphia Cream Cheese, processed meats (such as Oscar Meyer hot dogs) and beverages (such as Maxwell House coffee). Kraft Heinz took its current form on July 2, 2015, through the merger of Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz. The combined firm is the fifth-largest food and beverage producer globally....
MITEL NETWORKS $8.78 (Toronto symbol MNW; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (613-592-2122; www.mitel.ca; Shares outstanding: 120.8 million; Market cap: $1.1 billion; No dividends paid) develops products for business telephone systems. It will buy another industry company—Polycom (symbol PLCM on Nasdaq)—for $1.96 billion U.S. in a friendly takeover. Activist investor Elliott Management Corp. has pushed Mitel to join with Polycom. Elliott first acquired stakes in the two companies in October 2015. It now holds 6.6% of Polycom and 9.6% of Mitel. Mitel will pay $3.13 U.S. in cash plus 1.31 Mitel shares for each Polycom share....
MITEL NETWORKS $8.78 (Toronto symbol MNW; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (613-592-2122; www.mitel.ca; Shares outstanding: 120.8 million; Market cap: $1.1 billion; No dividends paid) develops products for business telephone systems. It will buy another industry company—Polycom (symbol PLCM on Nasdaq)—for $1.96 billion U.S. in a friendly takeover. Activist investor Elliott Management Corp. has pushed Mitel to join with Polycom. Elliott first acquired stakes in the two companies in October 2015. It now holds 6.6% of Polycom and 9.6% of Mitel. Mitel will pay $3.13 U.S. in cash plus 1.31 Mitel shares for each Polycom share....
A: Broadcom Ltd., $153.72, symbol AVGO on Nasdaq (Shares outstanding: 390.3 million; Market cap: $60.9 billion; www.broadcom.com), took its current form on February 1, 2016. That’s when Singapore-based Avago Technologies Ltd. acquired Broadcom for $37 billion in cash and shares. As a result, Broadcom shareholders now own about 32% of the combined company. Following the merger, Avago changed its name to Broadcom. However, it continues to use the AVGO trading symbol. The new company specializes in chips for use in wired networks, wireless communications, enterprise storage and industrial applications. Its products go into devices such as TV set-top boxes, cable modems, high-speed networks, mobile phones and GPS devices....