price to sales ratio
KRAFT FOODS GROUP INC. $54 (Nasdaq symbol KRFT; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 595.6 million; Market cap: $32.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.8; Dividend yield: 3.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.kraftfoodsgroup.com) makes a variety of grocery products, including Kraft macaroni and cheese, Oscar Mayer meats, Philadelphia cream cheese, Maxwell House coffee, Jell-O desserts and Miracle Whip salad dressing.
North American focus brings stability
Kraft gets all of its sales from North America, which limits its risk....
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. ADRs $33 (New York symbol PHG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 913.9 million; Market cap: $30.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.9; Dividend yield: 3.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.philips.com) gets 43% of its revenue by making health care products, such as X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners. It also makes lighting (37% of revenue) and consumer electronics, such as appliances (20%).
In the quarter ended June 30, 2013, revenue rose 1.5%, to 5.65 billion euros from 5.57 billion euros a year earlier (1 euro = $1.40 Canadian). Philips earned 317 million euros, or 0.35 euros per ADR (each American Depositary Receipt represents one Philips common share). That’s up sharply from 102 million euros, or 0.11 euros per ADR, a year ago.
If you exclude restructuring costs and other unusual items, gross profits as a percentage of revenue improved to 9.4% from 7.3%.
...
In the quarter ended June 30, 2013, revenue rose 1.5%, to 5.65 billion euros from 5.57 billion euros a year earlier (1 euro = $1.40 Canadian). Philips earned 317 million euros, or 0.35 euros per ADR (each American Depositary Receipt represents one Philips common share). That’s up sharply from 102 million euros, or 0.11 euros per ADR, a year ago.
If you exclude restructuring costs and other unusual items, gross profits as a percentage of revenue improved to 9.4% from 7.3%.
...
KRAFT FOODS GROUP INC. $54 (Nasdaq symbol KRFT; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 595.6 million; Market cap: $32.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.8; Dividend yield: 3.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.kraftfoodsgroup.com) makes a variety of grocery products, including Kraft macaroni and cheese, Oscar Mayer meats, Philadelphia cream cheese, Maxwell House coffee, Jell-O desserts and Miracle Whip salad dressing.
...
...
WELLS FARGO & CO. $43 (New York symbol WFC; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 5.3 billion; Market cap: $227.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.7; Dividend yield: 2.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.wellsfargo.com) earned $5.3 billion, or $0.99 a share, in the quarter ended September 30, 2013. That’s up 12.7% from $4.7 billion, or $0.88 a share, a year ago.
These gains are largely the result of more borrowers repaying their loans on time. Loan-loss provisions fell 95.3%, to $75 million from $1.6 billion.
Revenue declined 3.5%, to $20.5 billion from $21.2 billion. Higher interest rates have hurt demand for new mortgages and refinancing of existing loans. Mortgage applications dropped 40.4%, to $87 billion from $146 billion a year earlier.
...
These gains are largely the result of more borrowers repaying their loans on time. Loan-loss provisions fell 95.3%, to $75 million from $1.6 billion.
Revenue declined 3.5%, to $20.5 billion from $21.2 billion. Higher interest rates have hurt demand for new mortgages and refinancing of existing loans. Mortgage applications dropped 40.4%, to $87 billion from $146 billion a year earlier.
...
APACHE CORP. $89 (New York symbol APA; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 389.4 million; Market cap: $34.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.1; Dividend yield: 0.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.apachecorp.com) has stopped looking for oil and gas off the coast of Kenya, because it has been unable to find enough to justify developing these fields.
The company now plans to focus on its onshore projects in North America, which should account for 55% of its production in 2013, up from 31% in 2009. That should cut Apache’s risk.
Apache is still a hold....
The company now plans to focus on its onshore projects in North America, which should account for 55% of its production in 2013, up from 31% in 2009. That should cut Apache’s risk.
Apache is still a hold....
FEDEX CORP. $130 (New York symbol FDX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 316.6 million; Market cap: $41.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.9; Dividend yield: 0.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.fedex.com) has announced a new share buyback program that lets it repurchase up to 32 million of its common shares. If you include the 7.4 million shares left under its old plan, the company can now buy back up to 39.4 million shares, or 12.4% of the total outstanding.
Share buybacks raise earnings per share and other per-share calculations and give the remaining shareholders a larger stake in the company. There are no time limits for these purchases.
The company’s customers continue to shift to slower but cheaper forms of transportation, such as trucks and ships, instead of its more expensive overnight international air service. However, more of its clients are ordering goods online, which has pushed up volumes at its ground delivery division.
...
Share buybacks raise earnings per share and other per-share calculations and give the remaining shareholders a larger stake in the company. There are no time limits for these purchases.
The company’s customers continue to shift to slower but cheaper forms of transportation, such as trucks and ships, instead of its more expensive overnight international air service. However, more of its clients are ordering goods online, which has pushed up volumes at its ground delivery division.
...
FORD MOTOR CO. $18 (New York symbol F; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 3.9 billion; Market cap: $70.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; Dividend yield: 2.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.ford.com) sold 185,146 vehicles in the U.S. in September 2013, up 5.8% from 174,976 in September 2012. That easily beat the consensus estimate of no increase.
The gain was largely due to a 13.6% jump in passenger car sales, including 62.4% higher sales of its Fusion mid-sized sedan. In addition, truck sales rose 8.3%. However, sport utility vehicle sales declined 4.1%.
Ford is a buy....
The gain was largely due to a 13.6% jump in passenger car sales, including 62.4% higher sales of its Fusion mid-sized sedan. In addition, truck sales rose 8.3%. However, sport utility vehicle sales declined 4.1%.
Ford is a buy....
SNAP-ON INC. $101 (New York symbol SNA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 58.2 million; Market cap: $5.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.0; Dividend yield: 1.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www. snapon.com) makes tools for auto mechanics and sells them through a fleet of franchised vans that visit garages. It also makes specialized tools for mining companies, electrical power generators and other industrial customers.
In the three months ended September 28, 2013, Snap-On’s revenue rose 6.1%, to $798.3 million from $752.1 million a year earlier. The latest figure includes $15.6 million from Challenger Lifts, which the company bought for $38 million in May 2013. This business makes systems that raise cars off the ground.
If you exclude Challenger’s contribution and the negative impact of foreign currency rates, revenue would have risen 4.7%.
...
In the three months ended September 28, 2013, Snap-On’s revenue rose 6.1%, to $798.3 million from $752.1 million a year earlier. The latest figure includes $15.6 million from Challenger Lifts, which the company bought for $38 million in May 2013. This business makes systems that raise cars off the ground.
If you exclude Challenger’s contribution and the negative impact of foreign currency rates, revenue would have risen 4.7%.
...
GENUINE PARTS CO. $78 (New York symbol GPC; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 154.9 million; Market cap: $12.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.9; Dividend yield: 2.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.genpt.com) gets half of its sales and earnings by selling auto parts. The company operates 1,300 of its own outlets under the NAPA banner, and its distribution business serves 4,750 independent stores across North America.
Genuine also distributes industrial parts, office furniture and electrical equipment.
In the three months ended September 30, 2013, revenue rose 9.2%, to a record $3.7 billion from $3.4 billion a year earlier. The gain is mainly because Genuine bought the 70% of an Australian auto parts distributor that it didn’t already own last April. The company paid $820 million for this additional stake. However, revenue fell 2.5% at the industrial parts division, 3.1% at office products and 5.3% at electrical materials.
...
Genuine also distributes industrial parts, office furniture and electrical equipment.
In the three months ended September 30, 2013, revenue rose 9.2%, to a record $3.7 billion from $3.4 billion a year earlier. The gain is mainly because Genuine bought the 70% of an Australian auto parts distributor that it didn’t already own last April. The company paid $820 million for this additional stake. However, revenue fell 2.5% at the industrial parts division, 3.1% at office products and 5.3% at electrical materials.
...
ALCOA INC. $9.27 (New York symbol AA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 1.1 billion; Market cap: $10.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.4; Dividend yield: 1.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.alcoa.com) owns 25.1% of a joint venture that operates a new aluminum smelter in Saudi Arabia; a state-owned mining company owns the remaining 74.9%.
This facility recently suffered problems while ramping up its production, which forced it to shut down one of its two production lines. Repairs will take about six months, but the other production line should let the plant make its initial deliveries on time.
Alcoa is a buy....
This facility recently suffered problems while ramping up its production, which forced it to shut down one of its two production lines. Repairs will take about six months, but the other production line should let the plant make its initial deliveries on time.
Alcoa is a buy....