price to sales ratio

C.R. BARD INC. $220 (New York symbol BCR; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 73.5 million; Market cap: $16.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.5; Dividend yield: 0.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.crbard.com) makes over 15,000 medical devices in four main areas: vascular products such as stents and catheters (28% of sales); oncology products that detect and treat various types of cancer (27%); urology goods such as drainage and incontinence devices (25%); and surgical tools (17%)....

TENNANT CO. $72 (New York symbol TNC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 17.6 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion; Priceto-sales ratio: 1.6; Dividend yield: 1.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.tennantco.com) makes industrial floorcleaning equipment, including scrubbers, sweepers and polishers....

SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CO. $271 (New York symbol SHW; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 92.9 million; Market cap: $25.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.1; Dividend yield: 1.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.sherwin-williams....

These two tech firms continue to dominate their main markets. However, we feel their shares will make only limited progress over the next few months.


APPLE INC. $117 (Nasdaq symbol AAPL; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 5.3 billion; Market cap: $620.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.9; Dividend yield: 1.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.apple.com) gets about 60% of its revenue from its iPhone smartphone....

MCKESSON CORP. $142 (New York symbol MCK; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 226.1 million; Market cap: $32.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.2; Dividend yield 0.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.mckesson.com) agreed to buy the Rexall chain of 470 drug stores in Canada for $2.2 billion in March 2016.


To satisfy Canadian competition regulators, the company will sell 26 of these stores....

T. ROWE PRICE GROUP INC. $77 (Nasdaq symbol TROW; Aggressive Growth and Income Portfolios, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 243.4 million; Market cap: $18.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.5; Dividend yield: 2.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.troweprice....

STATE STREET CORP. $79 (New York symbol STT; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 385.7 million; Market cap: $30.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.0; Dividend yield: 1.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.statestreet.com) sells accounting and administrative services to the operators of mutual funds and pension plans....

In addition to Visa (see page 1), we also like the outlook for these five non-bank, Finance-sector stocks. That includes State Street and T. Rowe Price.


Each of them is a leader in its niche area. That helps cut their risk. They also have done a good job of expanding their profits with attractive acquisitions and improved efficiency....

FEDEX CORP. $192 (New York symbol FDX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 265.8 million; Market cap: $51.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.0; Dividend yield: 0.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.fedex.com) completed its $4.9 billion acquisition of Netherlands-based courier TNT Express in May 2016.


Without unusual items, the company earned $1.23 billion in its fiscal 2017 second quarter, ended November 30, 2016....

Dear client,


Visa seems expensive in relation to its earnings. However, we feel the company’s low-risk business model and strong prospects justify this multiple.


For example, as a payment processor, Visa doesn’t suffer when credit card users fall behind on their payments....