Updating INVACARE CORP., UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP. and VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

Article Excerpt

INVACARE CORP. $23 earned $0.30 a share in the second quarter of 2009, up 36.4% from $0.22 a year earlier. Much of the gain came from the company’s ongoing restructuring plan, which started in July 2005. Under the plan, Invacare is shifting production of wheelchairs, motorized scooters and other mobility and homecare products to low-cost countries and simplifying its product lines. Revenue fell 7.7%, to $412.5 million from $447.2 million, mostly due to unfavourable foreign-exchange rates. Buy. UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP. $63 still expects to earn about $4.08 a share this year, despite slow demand for its aerospace and construction-related products. As well, it expects its 2010 earnings to rise, mainly due to cost cuts. Buy. VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. $30 has raised its quarterly dividend by 3.3%, to $0.475 a share from $0.46. The new annual rate of $1.90 yields 6.3%. Best Buy. Buy…