These two deserve their high p/e’s

Article Excerpt

Both of these companies, which make ingredients for foods and other goods, now seem expensive in relation to their earnings. However, their high p/e ratios reflect their strong growth prospects, particularly in emerging markets. They’re also doing a good job of controlling costs, which helps them deal with unpredictable currency exchange rates and raw material prices. MCCORMICK & CO. INC. $71 (New York symbol MKC; Income Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 119.0 million; Market cap: $8.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.3; Dividend yield: 2.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.mccormick.com) makes spices, herbs, seasonings and flavours. It sells these products to consumers and industrial clients. In its fiscal 2014 second quarter, which ended May 31, 2014, McCormick’s sales rose 3.1%, to $1.03 billion from $1.00 billion a year earlier. That’s mainly because McCormick bought a Chinese bouillon maker for $144.8 million in May 2013. This purchase offset lower sales in the Americas. Earnings gained 7.5%, to $84.5 million, or $0.64 a share, from $78.6 million, or $0.59,…