Updating Campbell Soup Co., Verizon Communication Inc. and Chevron Corp.

Article Excerpt

CAMPBELL SOUP CO. $43 (www.campbellsoupcompany.com) reported that its sales rose 2.7% in the fiscal year ended August 3, 2014, to $8.3 billion from $8.05 billion in fiscal 2013. That’s mainly due to acquisitions and price increases, which offset weaker sales of canned soup in the U.S. Earnings per share fell 1.2%, to $2.45 from $2.48. However, the company plans to launch 200 new products in fiscal 2015, which should help raise its annual sales to $10 billion within the next five years. Buy. VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. $50 (www.verizon.com) has increased its quarterly dividend by 3.8%, to $0.55 a share from $0.53. The new annual rate of $2.20 yields 4.4%. Best Buy. CHEVRON CORP. $124 (www.chevron.com) plans to sell $10 billion worth of less-important assets over the next three years. That’s equal to 4% of its $235.2-billion market cap. It will invest the cash in bigger projects, like two offshore gas projects in Australia. Best Buy. Buy…