Top brands support their dividends

Article Excerpt

Foodmakers Kraft Heinz and Campbell Soup have raised the prices of their products in response to rising input costs. Despite that, their strong brands should continue to attract customers. That loyalty supports their high yields. KRAFT HEINZ CO. $39 is a buy. The company (Nasdaq symbol KHC, Conservative-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.2 billion; Market cap: $46.8 billion; Dividend yield: 4.1%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Average; www.kraftheinzcompany.com) is a leading producer of processed foods. Its top brands include Velveeta and Philadelphia cream cheeses, Oscar Mayer hot dogs, and Maxwell House coffee. The company cut its dividend with the March 2019 payment. Investors now receive $0.40 a share, down 36.0% from $0.625. The current annual rate of $1.60 yields a high 4.1%. Kraft continues to add premium brands that generate higher profits than its current products. For example, in January 2022, it paid $243 million for an 85% stake in German-based Just Spices GmbH. That firm sells pure spices, spice blends, and quick-fix meal kits, mainly…