Updating Our Conservative Stocks General Mills Inc., Tupperware Brands Corp. and Canon Inc. ADRs

Article Excerpt

GENERAL MILLS INC. $61 (New York symbol GIS) has raised its quarterly dividend 9.6%, from $0.3925 a share to $0.43. The new annual rate of $1.72 yields 2.8%. Buy. TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORP. $36 (New York symbol TUP) uses resin from oil to make its plastic food containers. So far, the company’s low-cost direct marketing force has helped it offset rising oil prices. As well, strong demand for beauty products continues to fuel earnings. However, Tupperware’s large overseas operations (85% of sales) make it vulnerable to any rise in the U.S. dollar. Hold. CANON INC. ADRs $51 (New York symbol CAJ) earned $0.85 per ADR in the three months ended March 31, 2008, down 15% from $1.00 a year earlier. Most of the drop was due to a change in accounting policy, unfavorable foreign currency rates and higher raw material costs. However, demand for Canon’s core products such as digital cameras and printers is still strong. Buy. Buy…