Merger Plans Growing In The Agricultural Sector

The high prices for agricultural commodities such as corn and wheat led companies searching for takeover targets. The food company Ralcorp (RAH) received a hostile takeover bid from competitor ConAgra (CAG) at the end of April 2011. RAH is engaged in manufacturing, distributing and marketing of private-brand food products, Post brand ready-to-eat cereal products and other regional and value-brand food products. Ralcorp had rejected the bid. The Deal would have been created a USD 16 billion sales company – the second biggest food company after Kraft Foods (KFT). Through a purchase of Ralcorp, ConAgra would be the largest manufacturer of pasta and cereals in trademark products. The CEO of ConAgra, Gary Rodkin, announced in March 2011 during the presentation of the third quarter results to be a bit more aggressive in searching for takeover candidates. In June 2010, he purchased the cake producer American Pie LLC.

Meanwhile, leading operators of the food industry are trying to use their industry know-how to expand into the asset management industry. Thus, a subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) initiated a fund vehicle with which clients could benefit from rising agricultural commodity prices. This will give the world’s largest grain processor additional revenue streams. Shares of ADM, Ralcorp, ConAgra or other food processing companies remain promising.

Who will be next in the takeover carousel? Here is a table of listed food companies with a market capitalization of more than one billion dollar:
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Related stock ticker:
UL, KFT, GIS, WBD, ADM, KFT, BRFS, HNZ, MJN, HSY, SLE, GMCR, CPB, GB, CAG, SJM, HRL, TSN, MKC, RAH, CPO, SFD, SEB, FLO, THS, UNFI, DF, DAR, LANC, HAIN, DMND, LNCE, DOLE, PPC, SAFM, GMK, TR

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When Will The Bubbles Burst?

The strong inflation in commodity prices within the recent weeks and months seems to have ended. Despite the continuing monetary easing around the world, energy and commodity markets realized significant price corrections. The price of silver fall within a few days by 28 percent, the cotton price lost in four weeks more than 30 percent and even the industrial metal and agricultural commodity markets recognized at least significant price consolidations. How is this explainable?

Futures exchanges like the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) increased their margins for several commodities due to concerns of a market overheating. As example, the margin requirements for silver investments increased by 84 percent. Now, open contracts have been ​​backed by more capital. As a result, more and more liquidity is taken away from the markets. What does it mean for the equity market?

Equities are more attractive for investors with a need of low margins. Second, the crash scared many actors. Some investors see this as a buy opportunity and believe that we are still on the way to new all time highs. Others talk about the long anticipated beginning burst of the commodity bubble. But why? Nothing has changed fundamentally. China was a main driver of the past boom. I believe in fundamentals and this implies that if China’s growth slowdown, the basic material market will be weak if no other demander will come.

The Bank of America points out that the largest 100 pension funds in American held only 37 percent of their portfolios in bonds and cash. The remaining part is invested in equities, alternative investments and commodities. Bonds are threatened by inflation. Institutional investors have no other choice as to buy commodities and equities in order to realize adequate returns.

Over the past month, the Dow Jones increased by 1.8 percent. In total, money flows into the Dow Jones increased by 6 percent to USD 4.5 billion over the recent month. Equities with engagements in the basic material sector fell by 6.8 percent for the past four weeks. Silver, oil and gas drilling and exploration stocks as well as gold are the biggest losers.

Despite the sell-off in commodities, capital markets remain stable. More and more cheap money is coming into the markets. The number of stocks bought on margin rise significantly and increases the market risk. If interest rates of the developed markets follow the rates of the emerging markets and commodity export based countries like Canada or Australia, we have to expect the next sell-off. The only question is: When it will be happen?

10 Best Yielding Mexico ADR Stocks

Here is a current sheet of the best yielding Mexico ADR (American Depositary Receipt) stocks with highest dividend yield. In total, 19 foreign stocks are listed in America of which 13 stocks have a market capitalization of more than USD 1 billion. 11 pay dividends.

The average P/E ratio of the best yielding foreign stocks is 30.66 while the average dividend yield amounts to 2.97 percent. Price to book ratio is 3.67 and price to sales ratio 2.90.

Here is the table of the best yielding Mexico stocks with some fundamentals:
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Related stock ticker symbols:
TMX, RC, OMAB, ASR, KOF, TV, PAC, FMX, IBA, AMX

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10 Dividend Contenders - Part XI

Here is a current sheet of stocks that increased their dividends from 10 to 24 consecutive years (U.S. Dividend Contenders). This article will be divided into several parts; more than 114 Dividend Contenders will be presented. The list is sorted alphabetically.

The average dividend-yield of the Dividend Contenders list amounts to 3.95 percent while the average payout ratio is 0.98. The average P/E ratio is calculated with 24.51, price to sales ratio with 4.34 and price to book ratio with 2.60. Total debt to assets ratio is 31.20 leads to a return on equity of 11.86 percent. The operating margin amounts to 23.24 percent. Companies are traded at AMEX, NYSE, NASDAQ as well as being part of the Dow Jones, S&P 500 or Nasdaq Composite.

Here is the table of 10 Dividend Contenders with some fundamentals:
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Related stock ticker symbols:
SKT, TMP, TRH, UGI, UMBF, UNS, UTX, UHT, UBA, VGR


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· 10 Dividend Contenders - Part IV

· 10 Dividend Contenders - Part III

· 10 Dividend Contenders - Part II

· 10 Dividend Contenders - Part I

9 Best Yielding Healthcare Stocks With Good Earnings Growth

Here is a current sheet of 9 best yielding healthcare stocks with a minimum dividend yield of roughly 2 percent and an expected five year earnings growth of more than 10 percent yearly.

In average, the current P/E ratio amounts to 20.28 while the average dividend yield amounts to 3.90 percent. Price to book ratio is 20.28 and price to sales ratio 2.35. The companies are working with an average operating margin of 19.83 percent. The average return on equity is 16.87 percent.

Here is the table with some fundamentals to compare:
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Related stock ticker symbols:
PDLI, SHMR, ABT, PETS, VIVO, MSA, LNCR, NHC, PPDI

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Best Yields Of Dow Jones Industrial Average May 2011

Here is a current sheet of stocks from the Dow Jones Industrial Average 30 Index that have best dividend yields. In average, stocks from the Dow have a dividend yield of 2.55 percent. The average price to earnings ratio amounts to 20.21, forward price to earnings ratio amounts to 11.80. Price to sales ratio amounts to 1.86 and price to book ratio is 3.67. The 30 Dow Jones companies have an average operating margin of 16.19 percent and a return on equity of 24.77 percent.

Here is the table with some fundamentals to compare:
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Related stock ticker symbols:
T, VZ, MRK, PFE, KFT, JNJ, INTC, MCD, PG, DD, KO, GE, WMT, CVX, HD, MSFT, TRV, MMM, BA, XOM, UTX, IBM, CAT, AXP, DIS, HPQ, AA, JPM, BAC, CSCO

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· Cheapest Large Caps With Highest Expected Growth As Of April 2011

Software Giant Microsoft Has To Solve Big Problems

Earnings of the company are still strong but the divisions suffer under ongoing headwind. Microsoft needs to reinvent itself.

A sales increase of 13 percent to USD 16.43 billion within the third quarter of fiscal year 2010/2011 and an increase in earnings per share of 31 percent to USD 0.61 should be a solid performance. Nevertheless, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has solved none of its operational business problems. The online business of the world's largest software company recognized a minus of USD 726 million. Those are still huge losses. Microsoft’s smartphone business is still on the ground and the conquest of the digital music market with the companies own player "Zune" as an iPod's rival failed. Now, Microsoft's most important division - Windows - reported a sales decline of around four percent on last year. This corresponds with the recently published figures for the personal computer market for which a decline of 3.5 percent is called.

That would not be so bad if the world had not turned further. More and more people are working on the internet with techniques that do not need Windows support. There are tablet computers, smartphone’s, and browser or app-based online services like Google Docs, drop box or Evernote. The next wave of services will come when Google’s operating system Chrome meets the laptop market, and HP launches its webOS.
Windows 8 comes in 2012 and should be run on additional processors as Intel's x86 which dominate the PC market as of today. Many of these chips do not power Tablet PCs. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has therefore no other choice to launch Windows 8. The second major cash cow of the company, the Office application, stands and falls with Windows as base system. It must be rescued quickly into the tablet world if the smartphone market is already lost.

Even optimistic forecasts of consulting group Gartner approves Microsoft by 2015 a market share of 30 percent if the cooperation with Nokia succeeds. But 30 percent would be nothing compared with 90 percent market share that Windows had in heydays within the PCs market. In Core markets will this only a fight under equals with Apple (NYSE:AAPL) and Google (NASDAQ:GOOG). No rosy prospects.

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100 Best Growth Stocks – Part VI

Here is a current sheet of the top 100 fastest growth stocks researched by Fortune Magazine. The best growing companies were screened by the following criteria’s:

- A company (domestic or foreign) traded on a major U.S. stock exchange
- Report data in U.S. dollars
- File quarterly reports with the SEC
- A minimum market capitalization of USD 250 million
- Stock price above USD 5 on June 30, 2010 and been trading continuously over the past 3 years
- Revenue and net income of at least USD 50 million and USD 10 million respectively
- Growth in revenues and earnings per share of at least 15% annually over the past 3 years

Companies that meet these criteria’s are ranked by revenue growth; earnings per share growth rate as well as three year annualized total return for the period ended June 30, 2010. The overall rank is based on the sum of the three ranks. Once the 100 companies are identified, they are then re-ranked within the 100, using the three equally weighted variables. If there is a tie, the company with the larger four-quarter revenue receives the higher rank. This article is divided into several parts and sorted by the fortune rank.
In average, the price to earnings ratio amounts to 27.42, price to book ratio 8.78 and price to sales ratio 3.46. Earnings per share grew by 47 percent over the past three years, revenues by 25 percent yearly. The average total debt to assets ratio is 19.91. The companies realized an operating margin of 22.74.

Here is the table of the best growth stocks:
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Related stock ticker symbols:
NFLX, VPRT, CACC, FFBC, PRGO, ESLT, SYNA, BKE, ITC, CMG

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14 Cheap Dividend Stocks Close to 52-Week Lows

Here is a current sheet of 14 stocks with a dividend yield of more than 3, a forward price to earnings ratio of less than 15 and finally being traded close to 52 week lows.

In average, the current P/E ratio amounts to 13.01 while the average forward price to earnings ratio decreases to 10.90. The average dividend yield amounts to 5.64 percent. Price to book ratio is 2.17 and price to sales ratio 2.32. The companies are working with an average operating margin of 16.29 percent. The average return on equity is 17.13 percent.

Here is the table with some fundamentals to compare:
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Related stock ticker symbols:
MNI, LPHI, BALT, CXS, WIBC, ETR, CHL, FMER, SYY, HFBC, GSBC, CPB, TIS, HCBK

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Best Dividend Paying Stock List As Of May 2011

Here is a current dividend list (from low-yield to high-yield paying stocks) of 29 stocks that have interesting performance and valuation figures. Stocks from that list are mid- and large caps (market capitalization of more than USD 1 billion) with double digit long-term earnings growth rates. Companies traded at AMEX, NYSE, NASDAQ and part of the Dow Jones, S&P 500 as well as Nasdaq Composite. Date is 2011-05-01.

The list is selected by the following criteria’s and sorted by dividend yield:
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Market capitalization:                    > 1 Billion

Price/Earnings Ratio:                      > 0 < 100

Dividend Yield:                               > 2 < 20

Return on investment:                    > 10 < 100

Operating Margin:                          > 10 < 100

10 Year Revenue Growth:              > 8 < 200

10 Year EPS Growth:                     > 10 < 100

(Click on the sheet to zoom)

The average dividend yield amounts to 3.48 percent while the average price to earnings ratio is 14.67. Stocks grew with 17.51 percent in revenues and 19.97 percent in earnings per share over the past decade. The average operating margin is 29.50 percent.


Related Stock Ticker Symbols:
YPF, HEP, SPIL, SCCO, ABV, ARLP, RIG, CHL, TKC, PAYX, TLK, PBR, TSM, STRA, PEP, SSL, VALE, GD, LNCR, WSH, MICC, ESV, CEO, ELP, YZC, AMX, BBL, MDT, PKX

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