Spicemaker adds capacity

MCCORMICK & CO. INC. $86 remains a hold. The company (New York symbol MKC; Income Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 267.0 million; Market cap: $23.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.9; Dividend yield: 1.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.mccormick.com) continues to benefit from strong consumer sales of its… Read More

What is Pat’s commentary for the week of May 4, 2021

International Flavors & Fragrances recently completed its merger with the nutrition and biosciences business of DuPont. This follows another major purchase—the company’s 2018 acquisition of Frutarom, an Israel-based maker of flavourings.

As we often remind investors, using acquisitions to expand adds risk. However, these two purchases… Read More

McCormick vulnerable to next wave

MCCORMICK & CO. INC. $172 remains a hold. The stock (New York symbol MKC; Income Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 123.6 million; Market cap: $21.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.3; Dividend yield: 1.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.mccormick.com) fell to $112 in March 2020 during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns. However,… Read More

Their recent dividend hikes seem secure

THOMSON REUTERS CORP. $101 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol TRI; Conservative Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 500.0 million; Market cap: $50.5 billion; Dividend yield: 2.1%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.thomsonreuters.com) last raised its quarterly dividend with the March 2020 payment. Investors now receive $0.38… Read More