Security worries give Symantec the edge

Article Excerpt

These two software makers continue to invest heavily in research, which helps them dominate their niche markets. However, we prefer Symantec to Adobe(see next article) right now. That’s because its security expertise should be in high demand after recent high-profile data thefts. SYMANTEC CORP. $24 (Nasdaq symbol SYMC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 690.3 million; Market cap: $16.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.5; Dividend yield: 2.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.symantec.com) sells antivirus software and other computer security services. Home Depot (New York symbol HD) recently hired Symantec and another firm to help investigate a major data breach. Online intruders secretly installed software on Home Depot’s systems that let them steal about 56 million credit card numbers and related data, but not personal identification numbers for debit cards. Symantec has been trying to expand in the fast-growing cyber-security software/services market, and this contract will give it a lot of industry credibility. Meanwhile, the company earned $313 million in its fiscal 2015 first…