Updating Alcoa Inc., Pepsico Inc., Liz Claiborne Inc. and Cedar Fair L.P.

Article Excerpt

ALCOA INC. $38 (New York symbol AA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 884.0 million; Market cap: $33.6 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) aims to complete construction of its new aluminum smelter in Iceland by the end of 2007. Traditional hydroelectric projects will power the new plant. But Alcoa is studying ways of tapping into Iceland’s abundant geothermal energy to heat water and power turbines. The company hopes to develop a new type of geothermal well that can produce 10 times the power of current wells. That would cut the new plant’s operating costs, and perhaps make it easier for Alcoa to build more plants in Iceland. Alcoa is a buy. PEPSICO INC. $72 (New York symbol PEP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.6 billion; Market cap: $115.2 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) hopes to capture a larger share of the fast-growing noncarbonated drink market with a lower-calorie version of its Gatorade sports drink aimed at non-athletes. The company is…