The shares of Newell Rubbermaid (NWL), first discussed here on April 26, 2009 at a price of $8.08, have largely meandered this summer, and that's created an opportunity for moderate-risk investors who missed the $8 entry point. Here's why:

Look for Newell's 2010 revenue to increase 2% to 4%, with improvements registered in all business units, led by home and family, which includes food containers.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Adobe Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) posted strong Q4 and full-year results, but with flat Q4 revenues.
• Best Buy Inc. (NYSE: BBY) beat Q3 expectations though earnings tumbled, and shares rose about 18%.
• Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL) announced that it had lowered its full-year earnings and revenue guidance.
• Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) net income from continuing operations more than doubled in Q4.
• Eaton Corp. (NYSE: ETN) cut its Q4 earnings guidance on weakness in the American auto market.
• FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) Q2 earnings topped expectations and it reaffirmed its guidance.
• General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) declined to provide quarterly earnings guidance in its annual outlook.
• General Mills (NYSE: GIS) posted a higher-than-expected profit on cost cutting and increased marketing.
• Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) strong earnings growth are expected by one analyst to continue.
• Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS) swung to an anticipated Q4 loss and reported negative revenues.
• Healthcare Realty Trust Inc. (NYSE: HR) was downgraded due to its near-term earnings prospects.
• Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: HON) affirmed a lower 2009 outlook and said it expects profits to fall.

It's been said that if the U.S. state of Georgia were an independent nation, it would have the 18th largest economy in world. The "Empire State of the South" ranked tenth in U.S. in per capita personal income in 2005, and has one of the fastest growing populations in the U.S. -- about a million additional people between 2000 and 2005. Its diverse industrial output ranges from peaches and peanuts, to textiles, food processing, and aircraft manufacturing, to publishing and tourism. Georgia is home to such corporate giants as Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO); Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL); Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD); UPS (NYSE: UPS); Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NYSE: NWL), and Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX).

It's also home to Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE: AYI) and Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN), both of which represented Georgia on the Forbes 2007 list of 100 best mid cap stocks. I examine two other Peach State companies -- RPC Inc. (NYSE: RES) and Radiant Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: RADS) -- in a separate Investing in Georgia post.

Yesterday, Newell Rubbermaid Inc (NYSE: NWL) raised third quarter revenue and profit guidance. Revenue growth is expected to come in at the high end of the previously announced range of 5% to 7%, citing strength in Home & Family, Tools & Hardware segments, as well as favorable forex. Also, Newell said gross margins are expected to jump by 125 to 175 basis points, another big increase for the company, which showed good gross margin improvement earlier this year.

We blogged last week that investors should jump into Newell stock at $25 as it had gotten too cheap. Newell, which has been showing signs of beginning a sustainable turn around, has gotten hit hard in the recent stock market correction, with shares dropping from $30 to around $25, for a 17% decline.

However, we thought recent comments by Mark Ketchum, Newell's CEO, to analysts indicating it could meet its growth targets held some merit. Ketchum bought 20,000 shares of stock, according to a SEC filing a week ago Friday. Since blogging last week that investors should scoop up shares, Newell is up 12%.

Mark Ketchum, the CEO and President of Newell Rubbermaid Inc (NYSE: NWL), bought 20,000 shares of his company's stock late last month, according to a SEC filing. Newell, which has been showing signs of beginning a sustainable turnaround, got hit hard in the recent stock market correction, with shares dropping from $30 to around $25, a 17% decline.

Investors are concerned that recent revenue growth is unsustainable and will weaken as the economy slows. However, in a report released this morning by Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), management believes the growth initiatives that have been put in place are taking hold and 3% to 5% revenue growth is doable despite the slowing macro environment. However, B of A is somewhat skeptical and maintained its Neutral rating and $28 price target.

Merrill Lynch & Co. (NYSE: MER), in a report released yesterday, wrote that investors should jump on board Newell's stock, as the correction has been overdone. Newell should earn $1.78 this year, jumping to $2.00 next year, implying price-to-earnings ratios of 14x and 12.7x for 2007 and 2008, respectively. This is cheap for a company owning such well-known franchise names as Rubbermaid, Sharpie, plus a whole host of others. Merrill has a $34 price target on Newell Rubbermaid.

This morning, Newell Rubbermaid Inc (NYSE: NWL) reported strong gross margin improvement, jumping 210bps, a big move. Sales growth came in at 3%, a bit light.

Full-year guidance looks good, however, with sales expected to grow 3% to 5%. Gross margin improvement for the full year also looks solid, with a 150 to 200 bps increase.

At first glance, Newell reported solid results. However, the results are not spectacular, either. It will be hard to find news that will drive this stock higher in the near term. There needs to be more evidence of product initiatives that will get investors excited about this stock and push it higher.

As a follow up to my blog yesterday, here are a few other ideas to look at as this stock market correction continues to unfold.

Newell Rubbermaid Inc (NYSE: NWL), a stock we have blogged about the merits of repeatedly during the past year, is holding up steady. There are a couple of reasons for this -- first, Newell, as a consumer staple company, attracts money during volatile markets, and second, the belief that its turnaround is for real.

Dynegy Inc (NYSE: DYN) is also holding up well. Similar to the IP transport companies blogged about yesterday, this stock typically got hit hard during these market corrections during the past few years. However, in this selloff, it has declined little. With private equity firms eyeing TXU, investors are beginning to believe in the merchant power business again.

Use this correction and current bout with fear to pick up some good stocks. Newell and Dynegy are companies to throw into your portfolio.

Newell Rubbermaid Inc (NYSE: NWL) held it analyst day with the investment community on Tuesday. Yesterday, Newell was getting upgraded across the board.

We began blogging about the merits of Newell's turnaround back in April when the stock was trading at $26, today the stock is around $31, up 19%. Merrill, Smith Barney and Oppenheimer have raised its price targets to $34-to-$35 price range.

In my opinion, the analysts' price targets are too low. Estimates are for Newell to earn $1.95 per share, but Newell will most likely earn over $2.00. Also, as the company exceeds earnings expectations, the P/E investors are willing to pay will go from 18x to 20x. I see Newell's stock price approaching $40 by the end of 2007.

Newell Rubbermaid Inc (NYSE: NWL) reported another very solid quarter under the reign of CEO Mark Ketchum. Newell grew organic revenue 4.7% before the impact of the DYMO acquisition. Including the DYMO acquisition, revenue grew 8.5% -- very solid numbers for a company that has struggled with revenue growth for a long time.

Guidance Highlights:

• Ketchum expects organic growth to continue
• Resin costs, a big expense for Newell, should continue to moderate and begin benefiting the company
• Costs savings to continue which should lead to gross margin expansion
• Expects lower double digit operating income growth

Newell, who has been in the investors' doghouse for years, is beginning to perform well, both in terms of operating performance and share price. The stock has had a good run increasing from $22 to $30 during the past year. The stock might pull back due to Newell re-investing in its business at the SG&A line which might impact 1Q07 results. I would use any of this price weakness to get into this stock.

Graco Children's Products, a division of Newell Rubbermaid (NYSE:NWL) has announced a voluntary recall involving Graco Contempo Highchairs. On January 18, 2007 after receiving just 18 reports domestically and another two reports from outside the United States, Graco announced that it is recalling approximately 100,000 baby highchairs which pose a potential for collapse if not properly locked into the open position when taken from the storage position. Of the 20 reported chair mishaps that led to this recall only one incident resulted in what was reported to be a bruise on the foot of an 18-month-old baby boy.

Graco assures its customers that the highchairs are safe and fully functional if the user is certain that the "hub" is locked into place when the chair is opened fully. Graco states that when the highchairs are fully opened, the user should hear a "click" signaling that the hub is locked into place. Graco is voluntarily recalling the highchairs to make consumers aware that a free repair kit is available to further protect against any problems with the highchairs.

For full information involving this recall, including all affected model numbers, please use this Consumer Products Safety Commission link. You will find everything you need there to make sure that your Graco Contempo highchair is in top notch working order. If you wish to contact Graco directly, here's the link to the Graco website.

Thanks to Graco, Newell Rubbermaid and the Consumer Products Safety Commission for addressing this matter so quickly and responsibly.

I've seen this one too many times -- in the zealous quest for rapid growth and possible riches, a small company gives *too much* of its business to one vendor, partner or supplier. That's all well and good for the initial contract, but what happens when that one partner no longer decides to order anything from you?

One of the most popular cases in this vein is the infamous Rubbermaid/Wal-mart debacle that almost cost Rubbermaid its entire business. There are huge risks when a company "puts all its eggs in one basket" -- for the sake of initial clamoring sales. Personally, I would never sell more than 20% of my product to just one company - because then that company has very influential control over the pricing you supply, among other things.

March Networks -- a purveyor of video-surveillance software and equipment -- is feeling that pinch right now, as the world's largest retailer ordered much less of March's product than March had planned for. Conclusion? Shares in March Networks fell almost 44 percent (nearly half!) on that news alone. Ouch. Whammy. Yikes.