PepsiCo faces two challenges

PEPSICO INC. $168 is a hold. The company (Nasdaq symbol PEP; Conservative-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.4 billion; Market cap: $235.2 billion; Dividend yield: 3.2%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.pepsico.com) is the world’s second-largest soft-drink maker after Coca-Cola. Its other brands include Frito-Lay snacks, Gatorade… Read More

Loyal customers make Starbucks a buy

These two U.S. beverage-related stocks are taking steps to improve their long-term sales. We still like the outlook for both, as these actions should let them keep raising your dividends. However, we feel Starbucks, with its strong customer loyalty and international growth plans, is less… Read More

Five ETFs for five sectors (continued…)

This section is the second part of our discussion on ETFs that represent each of the five main economic sectors. Here we cover ETFs in the Consumer, Manufacturing and Finance sectors.
Please see the supplement section starting on page 49 for more information on our five-sectors… Read More

Let value stocks add to your investment gains

Consumer defensive companies such as Walmart, Proctor & Gamble, and Nestle provide basic goods that consumers need even during a recession. It is therefore not surprising that these companies have relatively stable revenue and profit histories and can maintain their dividends during tough economic times.
In… Read More

Consumer staples stabilize your returns

Traditionally, the price of most stocks, and the ETFs that hold them, drop in market declines. However, certain segments generally perform better than the overall market. Below, we highlight three ETFs focused on firms that produce and sell consumer staples. They should, as in past… Read More