Updating Archer Daniels Midland Co., Thomson Reuters Corp. and North West Company

Article Excerpt

ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO. $46 (New York symbol ADM; High-Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 559.3 million; Market cap: $25.7 billion; Dividend yield: 2.9%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.adm.com) processes corn, wheat, soybeans, canola, and other crops to make a variety of food ingredients such as flour, oils and sweeteners. It also makes ethanol from corn. The company last raised its quarterly dividend by 4.7% in March 2018, to $0.335 a share from $0.32. The new annual rate of $1.34 yields 2.9%. Bad weather has hurt the production of soybeans in South America. As well, a wet spring in North America delayed planting. Both of those events will probably push up crop prices. That’s good news for processors like Archer Daniels, as higher prices will prompt more farmers to sell their crops under long-term deals at fixed prices. Archer Daniels Midland is a buy. THOMSON REUTERS CORP. $54 (Toronto symbol TRI; Conservative Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares o/s: 714.7 million; Market cap:…