"The silver lining to the market decline is that it has created tremendous buying opportunities," says Gregory Dorsey.

The contributing editor to Stephen Leeb's Income Performance Report adds, "Consumer staples are set to sail through a tough economy." Here, he takes a look at PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) and Heinz (NYSE: HNZ).

"From Gatorade and Tropicana to Frito-Lay and Quaker Foods, PepsiCo has built a $42 billion global empire marketing drinks and snacks that consumers are likely to buy through thick and thin making PepsiCo the classic consumer staples company.

"Over the next several years, we expect PepsiCo's earnings to grow at an average annual rate of 10% or more. The stock currently pays a 3.0% yield, and management has raised the dividend for more than 30 years in a row.

"The company has a strong balance sheet with low long-term debt. Best of all, Pepsi stock now trades at its lowest valuation (about 13 times next year's expected earnings) since 1990, making it a compelling buy now.

Continue reading PepsiCo (PEP) & Heinz (HNZ): Time for comfort food?

PepsiCo (PEP) & Heinz (HNZ): Time for comfort food? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Investors should be well rewarded in the coming years by buying with major U.S. defense companies at current prices," says Gregory Dorsey.

The contributing editor to Stephen Leeb's Income Performance Letter explains, "The U.S. has more than doubled our sales of armaments to foreign nations over the past three years. And regardless of who wins the election, we expect this to continue."

"We're adding one for growth and income to our portfolio now. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a premier defense contractor. It's best known for its fighter jets.

"For example, Lockheed is now developing the F-35, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, the replacement for the current generation of front-line fighters.

"But the company is actually engaged in four broad business areas, each of which should enjoy strong growth for years to come.

Continue reading Bet on defense: Leeb's look at Lockheed (LMT)

Bet on defense: Leeb's look at Lockheed (LMT) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Recent valuations in financial stocks suggest either 'the world is coming to an end' or there are some great values," says Gregory Dorsey.

Here, the contributing editor to the top-notch Leeb's Income Performance Letter takes a look at one such "bargain" in the sector: U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB).

"So far, the financial sector has written off more than $300 million in assets. By some accounts the damage will rise to $1 trillion or more before all is said and done.

"The selloff, which at its nadir was marked by a 55% year-over-year decline in the KBW Index, pushed the constituent members down to a collective 0.64 times book value and a dividend yield of 9%.

"At those levels, either the world is coming to an end or there are tremendous bargains for investors with the courage of their convictions. Looking hard at the data, we can only conclude the latter is the case, provided you're careful with your investment choices.

Continue reading Insiders bank on US Bancorp (USB)

Insiders bank on US Bancorp (USB) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"As far as safety goes, Automatic Data Processing (NYSE: ADP) is hard to beat," says Gregory Dorsey in Leeb's Income Performance Report. Here's the advisor's review.

"In our search for stocks that can not only grow in good times, but will also hold up well when the going gets rough, we find ADP. Its steady cash generation means the company has a number of options at its disposal when it comes to maximizing shareholder value.

"ADP offers services including payroll processing, human resource benefits administration products and other outsourcing services. The stock's P/E, using expected year-ahead earnings, doesn't seem so cheap at 18. But relative to the company's long-term growth rate, it's quite reasonable. In fact, the stock is trading at its lowest valuations in more than a decade.

"And ADP's balance sheet has never been stronger. Management's confidence in the company's future recently prompted them to up the stock's payout by 26%. We see good things ahead for ADP as well.

"ADP has demonstrated a record of maximizing shareholder value. For instance, the company has a history of using part of its cash flow generation to repurchase its own stock. In the first quarter the company repurchased approximately 5.8 million shares, and it's likely to continue to buy back shares in the future."

Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers the latest market commentary and favorite investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

Automated gains from ADP originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Our portfolio has been notably light on pharmaceuticals and consumer products; we're rectifying that by buying Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)," says Gregory Dorsey in Leeb's Income Performance Letter.

"Getting a handle on exactly what the 122 year-old company markets is no easy task, given the broad scope of its product line-up. And to say that J&J has been a resounding success on the corporate
stage would be an understatement.

"Through its more than 250 operating businesses, the parent company lays claim to being, among other things: the world's premier consumer health company, the largest medical devices and diagnostics company, the third-largest biologics company and the sixth-largest pharmaceuticals company.

"While acquisitions have played an important role in making the company what it is today, J&J has also achieved these milestones through internal growth. It boasts 75 consecutive years of rising sales.

Continue reading Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A 'triple-A' rated play

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A 'triple-A' rated play originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"One essential commodity that is often overlooked by investors is water," says Gregory Dorsey, contributing editor to Stephen Leeb's Income Performance Letter.

He explains, "It's absolutely vital and is in growing demand for many reasons. And we've found an excellent way for income investors to ride this trend -- Paris-based Veolia Environnement (NYSE: VE). Here is his review.

"Veolia is not your typical utility, but it's still a utility that every income investor should consider. Veolia is the world leader in the management of water and wastewater services for local governments, industrial and service sector clients.

"It's also a world leader in the design, construction and operation of facilities for water and wastewater systems. With a focus on managing the complete water cycle from extraction to treatment to waste, Veolia stands ahead of its competitors.

"But although water is the chief attraction for us, Veolia generates steady revenue and income from other businesses as well.

"Its Veolia Environmental Services covers the entire solid waste cycle, including urban cleaning services, soil and site remediation, collection, sorting, transfer, treatment and recycling/recovery and is the world's largest waste management company.

Continue reading Water: An underrecognized commodity for Veolia (VE)

Water: An underrecognized commodity for Veolia (VE) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 30 May 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Almost untouched by the subprime scandal and the subsequent credit fallout, Canada's banks are strong and their risk of writeoffs are consider by most analysts as minor," notes Genia Turanova and Gregory Dorsey in Leeb's Income Performance Letter.

Here, they look at two favorites in the Canadian banking sector: Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE: TD) and Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE: RY).

"Toronto-Dominion and its subsidiaries, collectively known as TD Bank Financial Group, serve more than 14 million customers. The group offers a full range of financial products and services including wholesale banking securities, personal and business banking, wealth management and U.S. personal and commercial banking.

"TD Bank is looking to expand its US presence by acquiring New Jersey-based Commerce Bancorp. After the acquisition is completed, TD's US banking operations will double. As for the hot topic of all financials these days - its subprime exposure - Commerce Bancorp's $16 billion loan portfolio has no subprime exposure.

Continue reading Income expert banks on Canada

Income expert banks on Canada originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.