These Two Look Overseas For Growth

Article Excerpt

Rising prices for plastic and other raw materials costs are a threat to profit growth at Tupperware and Newell Rubbermaid. But both are doing a good job controlling costs, and expanding sales at home and overseas. That will let them keep reporting higher profits and keep paying above-average dividends. TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORP. $32 (New York symbol TUP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 61.8 million; Market cap: $2.0 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) makes plastic containers for food and other items. It also makes beauty and personal care products. The company sells its products through independent dealers instead of traditional stores. In the second quarter of 2007, Tupperware’s earnings grew 36.6%, to $0.56 a share from $0.41 a year earlier. Sales grew 12.4%, to $492.9 million from $438.6 million, mainly due to strong growth in North America and Asia. If you exclude the positive impact of foreign exchange rates, per-share earnings rose 18.4%, and sales grew 8%. Tupperware is now targeting international…