Healthy growth ahead for Campbell

Article Excerpt

CAMPBELL SOUP CO. $43 (New York symbol CPB; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 315.0 million; Market cap: $13.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.campbellsoupcompany.com) is the world’s largest maker of canned soups. It also makes Prego canned pasta and sauces, Pepperidge Farm cookies and V8 vegetable juices. Wal-Mart accounts for 19% of its sales. Diverse businesses add strength The company’s sales rose 6.1%, from $7.6 billion in 2009 to $8.1 billion in 2013 (fiscal years end July 31). That’s partly due to acquisitions of related businesses, including Bolthouse Farms, a producer of carrots, dressings and fruit juices that it bought for $1.55 billion in August 2012. Bolthouse added $756 million to Campbell’s 2013 sales. In June 2013, the company paid $249 million for Plum, a leading organic-food producer. Businesses like these cut Campbell’s reliance on canned foods. Campbell’s earnings have been more erratic than its sales. Its profits rose 9.7%, from $771…