Topic: How To Invest

Hello, just wondering your thoughts on Nestle SA as a purchase for long-term growth and dividends. Thanks.

Article Excerpt

A: Nestle SA (ADR), $80.81, symbol NSRGY on the U.S. over-the-counter market (ADRs outstanding: 3.1 billion; Market cap: $252.8 billion; www.nestle.com), is one of the world’s largest food and nutrition companies. It was founded in 1866 by Henri Nestle, a pharmacist, who developed infant nutrition products. The company markets a broad array of consumer and pet care brands, including Gerber (baby food), Poland Spring (bottled water), Nescafe (coffee), Purina (pet food), Dreyer’s (ice cream), Aero (chocolate bars) and Stouffer’s (frozen prepared meals). It employs about 333,000 workers in 447 factories in 86 countries. The company’s main listing is on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Nestle has just hired its first CEO from outside the company in almost a century; Ulf Mark Schneider is the former CEO of German healthcare company Fresenius. The reason for going outside the organization is that Nestle’s traditional food business is growing very slowly. The company now…