Updating Our Conservative Stocks Weyerhaeuser Corp., Verizon Communications Inc. and Pepsico Inc.

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WEYERHAEUSER CORP. $60 has raised its quarterly dividend for the second time since April 2005, from $0.50 a share to $0.60. It now yields 4.0%. Earnings have improved and the company is still the world’s biggest holder of softwood timberlands. Buy. VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. $33 plans to discontinue its Airfone service, which lets airline passengers make phone calls from special units built into the back of seats. Verizon prefers to invest in its ground-based wireless networks, rather than upgrade its aging Airfones to compete with new services that offer air travellers high-speed Internet access. Buy. PEPSICO INC. $59 plans to build a new facility in Oklahoma that will specialize in sport drinks, particularly its top-selling Gatorade brand, and flavored waters. Demand for these products is growing strongly, and this plant will help expand PepsiCo’s sales in several southeastern states which are major markets for it. We now see PepsiCo as a buy for long-term gains. gains…