Still a great pick for long-term gains

Article Excerpt

Due to rising costs for commodities and shipping, as well as the negative impact of a higher U.S. dollar, Proctor’s shares are down 15% since the start of 2022. However, that’s better than the 22% decline in the S&P 500 Index. Despite the current uncertainty, Procter’s shares remain an excellent choice for long-term investors. That’s mainly due to the strength of its brands, which makes its easier for the company to pass along rising costs. Ongoing investments in the development of new products should also drive your future returns. What’s more, Procter continues to reward investors with dividend hikes and share buybacks. PROCTER & GAMBLE CO. $138 is a buy. The stock (New York symbol PG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 2.4 billion; Market cap: $331.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.4; Dividend yield: 2.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.pg.com) gives you a stake in one of the world’s largest makers of household and personal-care goods. The company has five main business lines: fabric and home-care…