High U.S. dollar hurts two picks

Article Excerpt

These two former Stocks of the Year continue to lead their markets. But each has moved down lately, mainly because the high U.S. dollar is hurting the contribution of their overseas businesses. However, their underlying sales remain strong, and both are doing a good job controlling their costs. That should spur their long-term earnings growth, and give them more cash for dividends. NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. $38 (New York symbol NWL; Aggressive Growth and Income Portfolios, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 267.1 million; Market cap: $10.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; Dividend yield: 2.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.newellrubbermaid.com) makes plastic storage bins, tools, pens and many other household goods. Its main brands include Sharpie markers, Parker and Paper Mate pens, Calphalon cookware, Irwin tools and Graco car seats and strollers. Newell is up 26.7% since we named it our Stock of the Year for 2014 at $30. That’s mainly because of its successful multi-year cost-cutting plan, which included closing plants and merging distribution…