Updating BRIGGS & STRATTON CORP., SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CO. and GANNETT CO. INC.

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BRIGGS & STRATTON CORP. $20 and other lawn-mower engine makers have agreed to settle over 65 class-action lawsuits that accused the companies of using misleading labels on their engines. The settlement will cut Briggs’ after-tax earnings by $19 million. That’s over half of the $35.5 million, or $0.71 a share, that it earned in the year ended June 30, 2009. Still, the settlement lowers the company’s long-term risk. Buy. SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CO. $66 has now raised its dividend for 31 consecutive years. The new annual rate of $1.44 a share yields 2.2%. As well, the stock has gained 15% since February 2010, mainly because of takeover rumours. Hold. GANNETT CO. INC. $17 expects advertising revenue from its newspapers and TV stations to fall by about 10% in the first quarter of 2010 from a year earlier. However, that’s better than the 18% drop in ad sales it reported in the fourth quarter of 2009. Buy. Buy…