Updating Archer Daniels Midland Co., Adobe Systems Inc. and Newmont Mining Corp.

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ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO. $45 (New York symbol ADM; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 587.6 million; Market cap: $26.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.4; Dividend yield: 2.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.adm.com) processes corn, wheat, soybeans, canola, flax seed, peanuts and other crops to make a variety of food ingredients such as flour, oils and sweeteners. It’s also the largest producer of ethanol from corn in the U.S. To cut its exposure to volatile crop prices, Archer Daniels continues to expand in to value-added products. For example, it recently agreed to acquire Crosswind Industries, a pet food maker based in Kansas. The company has yet to reveal how much it will pay for Crosswind. However, that business seems to fit well with Archer Daniels’ Animal Nutrition operations. It currently supplies over 50 different ingredients to pet food makers in North America. Archer Daniels Midland is a buy. ADOBE SYSTEMS INC. $114 (Nasdaq symbol ADBE; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector;…