Profit from the "Internet of Things"

Article Excerpt

Over 30 billion devices— including things like home thermostats and appliances— will be connected to the Internet by 2020. That means you’ll be able to control them with a smartphone, set them up to adapt to factors like outside temperatures and have them notify you if, for example, there is smoke or carbon monoxide in your home. This is known as the “Internet of Things.” The best way to profit from it is with companies like Intel and Cisco, which already power much of the Web’s infrastructure. Another option is Texas Instruments, a leading maker of chips for individual devices. INTEL CORP. $34 (Nasdaq symbol INTC; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 4.9 billion; Market cap: $166.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.2; Dividend yield: 2.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.intel.com) is the world’s leading computer chip maker. Its products power 80% of all personal computers. The company continues to benefit as businesses upgrade their computers after Microsoft (see…