Top-quality brands give them an edge

Article Excerpt

Rising incomes in developing countries are fuelling demand for high-quality alcoholic beverages. That’s good news for Diageo and Molson Coors. Both companies are using their well-known brands to increase their sales outside North America and Europe. DIAGEO PLC ADRs $69 (New York symbol DEO; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; ADRs outstanding: 626.4 million; Market cap: $43.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.8; Dividend yield: 3.4%; WSSF Rating: Above Average) is the world’s largest premium alcoholic beverage company. Its top brands include Guinness stout, Smirnoff vodka, Johnnie Walker scotch whisky and Captain Morgan rum. In its latest fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2010, Diageo’s sales rose 5.0%, to 9.8 billion pounds from 9.3 billion pounds in the prior year (1 British pound = $1.61 Canadian). Overall sales volumes rose 2%. Volumes fell 2% in North America, but that was more than offset by a 1% gain in Europe, a 2% rise in the Asia-Pacific region and an 8% jump in other markets. Earnings per American…