Use these updates to enhance your returns

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NEWELL BRANDS INC. $28 remains a hold. The company (Nasdaq symbol NWL; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 425.3 million; Market cap: $11.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.2; Dividend yield: 3.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.newellbrands.com) recently completed its plan to narrow its focus to the following key product lines: writing; baby; home fragrance; food; fishing; appliances and cookware; outdoor and recreation; and safety and security. The company’s turnaround plan is starting to pay off. Its operating margin (gross profits divided by sales) improved from 7.71% in 2018 to 10.1% in the first quarter of 2021. The stock has more than doubled in the past year, and now trades at 16.3 times Newell’s projected 2021 earnings of $1.72 a share. However, new variants of COVID-19 could prompt more lockdowns, which would slow the company’s overall sales and earnings. Newell is a hold. BOEING CO. $241 remains a hold. The aircraft maker (New York symbol BA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares o/s: 584.8 million; Market…