Updating Diageo PLC ADR, Idexx Laboratories Inc. and Philips Electronics N.V. ADRs

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DIAGEO PLC ADR $164 (New York symbol DEO; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; ADRs outstanding: 629.0 million; Market cap: $103.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 5.3; Dividend yield: 2.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.diageo.com) is a leading maker of premium alcoholic beverages. Its main brands include Guinness beer, Smirnoff vodka, Johnnie Walker scotch and Bailey’s liqueur. In the six months ended December 31, 2018, Diageo’s sales rose 5.8%, to 6.91 billion British pounds ($9.1 billion U.S.) from 6.53 billion pounds a year earlier. Unfavourable exchange rates offset higher volumes and selling prices. Earnings per ADR rose 13.6% to $3.08 from $5.51. (One American Depositary Receipt equals four Diageo common shares.) The profit gain is largely because the company continues to shift its focus to more-profitable premium brands. Diageo will probably earn $6.75 per ADR for all of fiscal 2019, and the stock trades at a high 24.3 times that forecast. The $3.37 dividend yields 2.1%. Diageo is still a hold. IDEXX LABORATORIES INC. $225 (Nasdaq symbol IDXX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio,…