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Bonds Are a 'Safe' Investment: A Big Lie Gets Even BiggerFor 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.
"My favorite conservative stock for 2008 is Aegon (NYSE: AEG), a large diversified life insurance and pension services company headquartered in the Netherlands," says Sy Harding, editor of Street Smart Investing.
"Aegon conducts 73% of its business in the Americas, 14% in the United Kingdom, and 11% in the Netherlands. Value Line estimates the company's revenue will grow by 10% in 2007, with earnings per share rising 8%.
"The company has been on an impressive growth track since 2005, and its goal is to double the level of its 2005 business by the year 2010. With 2007 revenues running 48% higher than 2005, the company seems well on its way to achieving that goal.
"Demand for Aegon's products and services should continue in 2008 as longer life expectancies provide a growing demand for pensions and other retirement needs. And in December 2007, Aegon finalized a joint venture agreement with Taishin Financial Holdings Co., headquartered in Taiwan.
"Meanwhile, the shares sell at compelling comparisons to the company's competitors, selling at just 10 times estimated 2008 earnings, and with a dividend yield of 4.4%."
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