"Our goal is helping investors grow their capital and income base from which to derive cash for their current and future needs," notes dividend expert Kelley Wright.

The editor of Investment Quality Trends explains, "To that end we believe that high-quality stocks purchased at historically low-price-to-high-yield offers the best potential for downside protection and upside appreciation. Our Timely Ten list represents our current top ideas.

Continue reading The Timely Ten: Blue Chip Dividends

The Timely Ten: Blue Chip Dividends originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I first wrote about PepsiCo (PEP) on March 13, 2009, at a price of $48.62. The stock continued to meander near $65 during the winter, but I still like the business model at this stage. Here's why:

In 2011, Pepsi's revenue will likely increase about 4% to 6%, aided by the acquisition of bottlers Pepsi Bottling Co. and PepsiAmericas. PEP should register a 5% to 8% revenue gain for 2011.

Continue reading Pepsi Continues to Meander

Pepsi Continues to Meander originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"What's safe and cheap in today's market? Food stocks top our buy list this month," suggests leading value advisor Richard Band.

The editor of Profitable Investing explains, "Here are two of my favorite buys, each with the potential to rack up a total return (price gain plus dividends) of at least 15% in the coming year: Nestle (NSRGY) and PepsiCo (PEP).

Continue reading Nestle and PepsiCo: 'Cheap and Safe'

Nestle and PepsiCo: 'Cheap and Safe' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Kraft Foods (KFT) has done well to sustain demand in the face of higher coffee prices brought on by rising commodity prices. Kraft is the world's second largest food and beverage company after competitor Nestlé. It also competes with PepsiCo (PEP), General Mills (GIS) and Kellogg (K).

Kraft manufactures both food and beverages, with beverages accounting for nearly 14% of our $32.58 price estimate for Kraft's stock, which reflects a small premium to market price. Chocolate, candy and gum constitute around 31% of our price estimate, with snacks adding 19% and grocery products representing another 14%.

Continue reading Coffee Prices Heat Up; Kraft Can Cool the Fire with Flavored Water

Coffee Prices Heat Up; Kraft Can Cool the Fire with Flavored Water originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Dividend Aristrocrats: Four Income Favorites

Dividend Aristrocrats: Four Income Favorites originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

PepsiCo (PEP) is the world's second largest carbonated soft drink manufacturer and the largest packaged foods product manufacturer. PepsiCo's beverage division competes with Coca-Cola (KO) in virtually all subsegments of the beverage market. PepsiCo is best known for its namesake soft drink brand as well as its Frito Lay products (including Doritos and Cheetos).

We estimate that Pepsi brand operations constitute about 7% of the company's stock value, while Frito Lay products generate a more substantial 42%. Our price estimate for PepsiCo stock is $67.28, which is slightly ahead of the current market price. The company's healthy food products or its nutrition business, which includes our Gatorade, Tropicana, and Quaker Foods divisions together constitute around 31% of our price estimate.

Continue reading Pepsi Expands Focus on Healthier Beverages with Russian Dairy and Juice Maker

Pepsi Expands Focus on Healthier Beverages with Russian Dairy and Juice Maker originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

PepsicCo (PEP) is in the red at the time of this writing. Investors weren't dazzled by the beverage entity's latest earnings report, I guess. I see a quote of $63.16 on my screen; this means that the shares are off by about 2%. Volume is heavy.

According to the Associated Press, fourth-quarter profit on a reported basis went down five pennies to 85 cents per share. Not good to hear, but here's something that will put shareholders in a happier mood: on an adjusted basis, profit calculated out to $1.05 per share, a figure that was one penny ahead of the overall projection.

Continue reading Should You Sell PepsiCo Based on the Q4 Report?

Should You Sell PepsiCo Based on the Q4 Report? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Things look to be pretty quiet on the economic calendar this week. Here are the highlights:

• Tuesday: Weekly chain-store sales
• Wednesday: Federal budget balance for January
• Thursday: Wholesale trade data in December
• Friday: Trade balance in December and the weekly inflation survey

However, three iconic companies -- Walt Disney (DIS), Coca-Cola (KO) and Hasbro (HAS) -- highlight this week's quarterly results. Here's a look at what analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are anticipating from these and others.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Coca-Cola, Disney and Hasbro Earnings

Week in Preview: Coca-Cola, Disney and Hasbro Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Teams have been preparing their game plans and it's time to see which of the 60 teams will win. No, not the Packers or Steelers -- Go Pack! -- but PepsiCo (PEP), Anheuser-Busch (BUD), General Motors (GM) and all the other companies competing for the best spots in one of TV's most expensive marketing moments, costing an estimated $3 million dollars per 30 second spot.

For those not into football, the ads in the Super Bowl game can be more amusing than the game itself as advertising teams compete for attention, show their best efforts and even get rated by numerous online sites. Last year, Doritos (owned by PepsiCo), and E-Trade (ETFC) did well, and Anheuser-Busch seems to always have a Clydesdale horse in the running.

Continue reading Who Will Win the Super Bowl Ad Game This Year?

Who Will Win the Super Bowl Ad Game This Year? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

PepsiCo, Inc.'s (PEP) shares, first written about here on March 13, 2009, at a price of $48.62, have exhibited sideways action in the past three months, but I still like the shares at this stage.

Also, as noted earlier, if you're in near $48, feel free to consider taking some profits off the table with PEP.

Those investors can who tolerate the risk can maintain their full position and go for a larger gain, but keep in mind the journey to $80 probably will not be completed in 2011.

Continue reading PepsiCo: A Global Growth Play

PepsiCo: A Global Growth Play originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading The Timely 10: Best Blue Chip Dividend Buys

The Timely 10: Best Blue Chip Dividend Buys originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sara Lee (SLE) has rejected an offer from a group of private-equity firms that includes Bain Capital, Apollo Management and TPG Capital, the New York Post reports. Overall option implied volatility of 20 is below its 26-week average of 24, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

PepsiCo (PEP) is expected to report Q4 EPS on February 10. Overall option implied volatility of 17 is near its 26-week average, according to Track Data, suggesting nondirectional near-term price movement.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Options Update: Sara Lee Volatility Low on Uncertainty of Buyout Discussions originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Constellation Brands Down on Q3 News

Constellation Brands Down on Q3 News originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Barron's is forecasting a 10% rise in stock prices in 2011 led by big cap stocks. They argue that the big caps have lagged the market for the past decade and are now poised to take the lead, as reported by CNBC.com.

Here are their top ten picks for this year: Exxon Mobil (XOM), Walmart (WMT), Pfizer (PFE), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), General Motors (GM), Cisco Systems (CSCO), United Continental Holdings (UAL), Barrack Gold (ABX), Entergy (ETR), and PepsiCo (PEP).

Continue reading Barron's Forecasts 10% Higher Stock Market in 2011

Barron's Forecasts 10% Higher Stock Market in 2011 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Sprint (S) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at Piper Jaffray.
• Cree (CREE) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Morgan Keegan.
• Brocade (BRCD) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.
• JPMorgan upgraded WuXi PharmaTech (WX) to overweight from neutral.
• Barclays upgraded ITC Holdings (ITC) to overweight from equal weight.
• Centene (CNC) was upgraded to outperform from underperform at Oppenheimer.
• Senior Housing (SNH) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• UBS upgraded Hovnanian (HOV) to neutral from sell.
• GeoResources (GEOI) was upgraded to accumulate from neutral at Madison Williams.
• Compellent (CML) was upgraded to hold from sell at Canaccord.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BRCD, CCE, DPS, HOV, JOYG, KMB, KO, PEP, S, ...

Analyst Calls: BRCD, CCE, DPS, HOV, JOYG, KMB, KO, PEP, S, ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wells Fargo upgraded PG&E (PCG) to outperform from market perform and raised its range for shares to $50 to $52 from $44 to $46, citing the proposed settlement in the company's 2011 General Rate Case.
• Jefferies upgraded Huntsman (HUN) to buy from hold and raised its price target for shares to $17 from $12, citing valuation and the likelihood for favorable earnings revisions.
• RBC Capital upgraded Jack in the Box (JACK) to outperform from sector perform with a $28 target, citing checks showing improved fast food sales in recent months and easy comps.
• Sonic (SONC) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital and $12 price target.
• Synaptics (SYNA) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan and $40 price target.
• Excel Maritime (EXM) was upgraded to buy from hold at Cantor and raised its price target to $7 from $5.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ALTR, ANR, BJRI, COP, HUN, JACK, OSG, PCG, PEP, PM, SONC ...

Analyst Calls: ALTR, ANR, BJRI, COP, HUN, JACK, OSG, PCG, PEP, PM, SONC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The earnings season kicked off last week with better-than-expected results from Alcoa (AA) and Yum! Brands (YUM), while Marriott (MAR) and Pepsico (PEP) met consensus EPS estimates. This week, bellwether companies Intel (INTC), General Electric (GE), Google (GOOG) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) are scheduled to report their third-quarter results, and analysts polled by Thomson Reuters are looking for earnings growth from all of them.

Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel announced the acquisition of McAfee and joint ventures with General Electric and Nokia (NOK) during its third quarter. Analysts forecast earnings for that period to come to 50 cents per share, which is up 34.0% from the same period of last year. The number one semiconductor maker's revenue for the three months ended in September is expected to total $11.0 billion, or 17.1% more than a year earlier. Looking ahead to the full year, the forecast thus far is for earnings of $1.94 per share (+44.8%) and $43.3 billion in revenue (+23.4%). The per-share earnings topped analysts' expectations in the past four quarters, by as much as a dime per share.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Earnings Expectations for Intel, GE, Google and JPMorgan

Week in Preview: Earnings Expectations for Intel, GE, Google and JPMorgan originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 10 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading PepsiCo Lower After Earnings

PepsiCo Lower After Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Mixed Day Ahead of Earnings and Unemployment (ANF, BMC, NEM, MAR, PEP)

Closing Bell: Mixed Day Ahead of Earnings and Unemployment (ANF, BMC, NEM, MAR, PEP) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Low Expectations for PepsiCo's 3Q Report

Low Expectations for PepsiCo's 3Q Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.