Purchase raises UTX’s clout

UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP. $123 (New York symbol UTX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 801.0 million; Market cap: $98.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.5; Dividend yield: 2.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.utc.com) has completed its acquisition of Rockwell Collins Inc. (New York symbol COL) now… Read More

Mondelez has an overlooked asset

One key to our success is that we look for stocks with hidden or under- appreciated assets. In Mondelez’s case, it recently turned its minority stake in a European coffee maker into a significant holding in Keurig Dr Pepper. It’s the seventh-largest food and beverage… Read More

Updating JPMorgan Chase & Co.

J.P. MORGAN CHASE & CO. $111 (New York symbol JPM; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 3.4 billion; Market cap: $377.4 billion; Dividend yield: 2.9%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.jpmorganchase.com) is the largest banking firm in the U.S., with total assets of $2.6 trillion as of… Read More

Cisco prospers with acquisitions and research

CISCO SYSTEMS INC. $47 (Nasdaq symbol CSCO; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 4.5 billion; Market cap: $211.5 billion; Dividend yield: 2.8%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.cisco.com) makes hardware and software that links and manages computer networks.
The company paid its first quarterly dividend of $0.06… Read More

Dividend increase: Telus

TELUS CORP. $47 (Toronto symbol T; Income-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 599.0 million; Market cap: $28.2 billion; Dividend yield: 4.6%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.telus.com) is Canada’s third-largest wireless carrier, after Rogers Communications (No. 1) and Bell Mobility (No. 2), with 9.15 million subscribers. It… Read More

Updating Symantec Corp., Snap-on Inc., and North West Co.

SYMANTEC CORP. $23 (Nasdaq symbol SYMC; High Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 638.9 million; Market cap: $14.7 billion; Dividend yield: 1.3%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Average; www.symantec.com) sells computer-security technology, including antivirus and email-filtering software, to both businesses and consumers.
The company pays a quarterly dividend of… Read More

Two big oil companies with gains ahead

SUNCOR ENERGY INC. $43 (Toronto symbol SU; Cyclical-Growth Payer Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 1.6 billion; Market cap: $68.8 billion; Dividend yield: 3.3%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.suncor.com) is Canada’s largest integrated oil company, with major projects in the Alberta oil sands. It also owns four refineries… Read More

These two insurers just raised their dividends

MANULIFE FINANCIAL CORP. $22 (Toronto symbol MFC; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio; Finance sector; Shares o/s: 2.0 billion; Market cap: $44.0 billion; Dividend yield: 4.5%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.manulife.ca) is Canada’s largest life insurance provider. It also sells other forms of insurance, including health, dental and travel plans… Read More

Campbell settles with activist

CAMPBELL SOUP CO. $40 (New York symbol CPB; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares o/s: 300.7 million; Market cap: $12.0 billion; Dividend yield: 3.5%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.campbellsoupcompany.com) has agreed to expand its board of directors from 12 members to 14, and will place two of… Read More

Keep holding these giant U.S. foodmakers

GENERAL MILLS INC. $42 (New York symbol GIS; Income-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 596.1 million; Market cap: $25.0 billion; Dividend yield: 4.7%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.generalmills.com) is one of the world’s largest foodmakers. Its top brands include Big G (cereal), Green Giant (canned… Read More