Del Monte puts savings to good use

Article Excerpt

DEL MONTE FOODS CO. $13 (New York symbol DLM; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 193.7 million; Market cap: $2.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 2.8%; WSSF Rating: Average) makes canned fruits, vegetables, sauces and soups. Its leading brands include Del Monte, Contadina, S&W and College Inn. In 2006, the company bought the Meow Mix line of cat foods and the Milk-Bone dog-biscuit business. These operations complemented its existing pet-food brands, including 9Lives and Kibbles ’n Bits. As well, Del Monte earns higher profits on pet foods than consumer foods like fruits and vegetables. The pet-food division supplied 47% of the company’s sales in the latest fiscal year, and 61% of its earnings. Pet foods fuelled big earnings rise These new businesses were the main reason why Del Monte’s sales rose 53.7%, from $2.4 billion in 2006 to $3.7 billion in 2010 (Del Monte’s fiscal year ends April 30). Earnings jumped 153.2%, from $0.47 a share (or a total of $95.3 million)…