Updating Diageo PLC ADRs, Symantec Corp., and Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc.

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DIAGEO PLC ADRs $142 (New York symbol DEO; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; ADRs outstanding: 630.0 million; Market cap: $89.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 5.4; Dividend yield: 2.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.diageo.com) is the world’s largest premium alcoholic beverage company. Its major brands include Guinness stout, Smirnoff vodka, Johnnie Walker whisky and Captain Morgan rum. The company plans to buy back up to 1.5 billion pounds of its stock by March 31, 2018 (1 pound=$1.72 Canadian). That’s equal to about 2% of its market cap. Share buybacks raise earnings per share and other per-share calculations. That gives the remaining shareholders a larger stake in the company. However, Diageo’s shares have gained 37% in the past year. That limits the number of shares the company can repurchase. Diageo is a hold. SYMANTEC CORP. $28 (Nasdaq symbol SYMC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 620.0 million; Market cap: $17.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.8; Dividend yield: 1.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.symantec.com) has agreed…