Topic: How To Invest

What do you think about these two, Pat: Zurich Insurance Group and BP plc? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Zurich Insurance Group AG (ADR), $29.85, symbol ZURVY, on the U.S. over-the-counter bulletin board (ADRs outstanding: 1.5 billion; Market cap: $44.7 billion; www.zurich.com), is a Swiss-based insurance firm with worldwide operations. Its main listing is on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Zurich reported a 19.8% rise in profits in the three months ended March 31, 2014, to $1.27 billion, or $0.86 per ADR, from $1.06 billion, or $0.75 per ADR. The company profited from both lower catastrophe-related losses and its cost-cutting efforts. To further boost its profits, the company will now cut 800 jobs, or about 1.5% of its workforce. Zurich Insurance Group is okay to hold if you want to own an international insurance stock. A: BP plc (ADR), $50.81, symbol BP on New York (ADRs outstanding: 3.1 billion; Market cap: $156.6 billion; www.bp.com), is one of the world’s largest integrated oil firms. BP sold $38 billion worth of assets in 2013, to build cash reserves for lawsuits it still faces from its 2010 Gulf…