Three more updates you need to know: HP, Newell Brands and Philips Electronics

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HP INC. $25 is a hold. The company (New York symbol HPQ; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 1.6 billion; Market cap: $40.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.6; Dividend yield: 3.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.hp.com) continues to see strong demand for new personal computers as more people work from home due to COVID-19. Demand from students also remains high as schools and universities shift to online classes. However, businesses have curtailed purchases of new printers due to the pandemic. As a result, HP’s overall sales in its fiscal 2020 fourth quarter, ended October 31, 2020, fell 1.0%, to $15.26 billion from $15.41 billion a year earlier. While personal computer sales (68% of the total) gained 0.1%, sales of printers, ink and related products (32%) fell 3.1%. If you disregard unusual items, HP earned $835 million in the quarter. That’s down 7.1% from $899 million a year earlier. Due to fewer shares outstanding, earnings per share rose 3.3%, to $0.62 from $0.60. HP is a..