Updating WAL-MART STORES INC., VISA INC. and AMEREN CORP.

Article Excerpt

WAL-MART STORES INC. $57 (New York symbol WMT; Conservative Growth Portfolio: Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 3.5 billion; Market cap: $199.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; Dividend yield: 2.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.walmart.com) had to temporarily shut down 13 of its stores in the Chinese city of Chongqing over charges that these outlets sold regular pork as higher-priced organic meat. The company entered China in 1996. It now operates 346 stores in that country. Food safety is a sensitive issue in China, and Wal-Mart is co-operating with local officials. That should prevent any permanent damage to its brand, and limit any loss of its Chinese market share. Wal-Mart is a buy. VISA INC. $90 (New York symbol V; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 816.9 million; Market cap: $73.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 8.3; Dividend yield: 1.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.visa.com) continues to profit as more consumers pay for their purchases with credit and debit cards instead of cash or cheques. The company…