Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What is your view on Herbalife? Thank you.

Article Excerpt

Herbalife Ltd., $57.64, symbol HLF on New York (Shares outstanding: 126.6 million; Market cap: $7.3 billion; www.herbalife.com), sells weight-management, nutritional and personal-care products worldwide. Herbalife products are sold in 76 countries through a network of about 2.3 million distributors. The company was founded in 1980. In the three months ended June 30, 2011, Herbalife’s revenue rose 27.7%, to $879.7 million from $688.8 million a year earlier. Sales were strong in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as South and Central America. The company earned $118.2 million, or $0.93 a share, up 35.3% from $82.2 million, or $0.69 a share. Herbalife holds cash of $254.5 million, or $1.41 a share. Its long-term of debt of $158.8 million is a low 2% of its market cap. The company recently raised its dividend by 60%, and now yields 1.4%. The company’s outlook is positive, especially in light of its strong growth prospects in fast-growing markets, such as China, India and Brazil. The shares trade at 20.2…