Cameras & weak yen lift Canon’s earnings

Article Excerpt

CANON INC. ADRs $46 (New York symbol CAJ; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 1.2 billion; Market cap: $55.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.6; Dividend yield: 2.5%; WSSF Rating: Above Average) earned $610.9 million, or $0.49 per ADR, in the three months ended March 31, 2010 (each American Depositary Receipt represents one common share). That’s up 237.4% from $181.1 million, or $0.15 per ADR, a year earlier. Sales rose 15.9%, to $8.1 billion from $7.0 billion. Strong digital-camera sales were the main reason for the gain. As well, the weaker Japanese yen makes Canon’s products more affordable in North America and other major markets. Demand for Canon’s copiers and printers should also rise as the global economy recovers. Canon is a buy. buy…