Updating C.R. BARD INC., ALCOA INC. and WELLS FARGO & CO.

Article Excerpt

C.R. BARD INC. $80 has raised its quarterly dividend by 5.9%, to $0.18 a share from $0.17. The new annual rate of $0.72 yields 0.9%. The medical-device maker also plans to buy back up to $500 million of its shares. There is no time limit to this plan. The company still has $107 million remaining under a $500-million buyback authorization from April 2009. Together, these two plans are equal to 8% of Bard’s $7.6-billion market cap. Buy. ALCOA INC. $11 has signed a deal with Russia’s state-owned JSC United Shipbuilding Corp. Under this agreement, JSC will use more aluminum in the ships it builds. Alcoa has two plants in Russia. This deal enhances their long-term prospects. Buy. WELLS FARGO & CO. $27 is closing all 120 of its Canadian offices because competition from Canada’s big domestic banks continues to hurt their profitability. As well, new regulations aimed at preventing another credit crisis could increase its costs. Hold. Hold…