As outlined

Continue reading Is Johnson & Johnson Headed to $70 and Beyond?

Is Johnson & Johnson Headed to $70 and Beyond? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Boston Scientific to Pay Johnson & Johnson $1.7B Settlement

Boston Scientific to Pay Johnson & Johnson $1.7B Settlement originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Procter & Gamble (PG), whose related companies include Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB), is yet another stock close to a 52-week high. Is it too high to buy, or is it likely to be a prudent defensive holding for 2010?

P&G's price action is pretty interesting. Even though it's near a 52-week high, it's actually flat on the year-to-date frame in terms of performance. That doesn't include dividend payments, of course, but nevertheless, there have been so many other stocks that have bounced off the March lows and delivered serious price appreciation superior to what P&G has been able to accomplish. This is one argument for the stock, since you might not have to worry about it being overbought relative to other equities.

Continue reading Procter & Gamble: A Defensive Holding for 2010?

Procter & Gamble: A Defensive Holding for 2010? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The recent issue of Fortune magazine discusses how the best of the best train, guide and nurture top managers to become the leaders that will propel their corporations successfully forward. They list the top 25 companies, which I have used as the basis of a new review to see how they would fair against common metric screens.

In the past few months, many articles have posited that large-cap stocks should excel in the coming year based on their lagging the market behind smaller, more volatile stocks flying out of the March lows. I do not believe this is universally true. Plenty of large-cap stocks did well, such as Anadarko Petroleum (APC), Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG), while many small caps went nowhere. Even among the large caps included in Fortune's "Leadership 25," some have doubled.

Continue reading Serious Money: Fortune's 25 leaders among leaders

Serious Money: Fortune's 25 leaders among leaders originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The future investment stars are already with us. The NYSE Financial Future Challenge, operated by the NYSE Foundation, By Kids for Kids, K12 Inc. and the United Investors Association, is in full swing, with five finalists just identified. To reach this level, the participants had to develop a new product, idea or process that would "excite, educate and motivate their peers" to become interested in the financial marketplace. The eventual winner lurks within this subset and will receive a $2,500 prize -- a great way to get that portfolio started. And, he or she will be feted at a closing bell ceremony at the NYSE (NYX) on January 11, 2010.

The finalists presented a variety of ideas which are sure to generate some buzz. Kelsey Foss, a 12-year-old from Mountainville, NY, proposed a new television show, "Stock Market Tycoon Idol," which would harness the popularity of reality TV while amping up the content. The program would involve the journeys of 10 kids as they seek to make money or lose it, with the possibility of becoming virtual millionaires along the way. The show would be set at a mock NYSE studio on Wall Street, and exports would be brought out to mentor the contestants. The reality TV reach would help engage a younger audience.

Continue reading Tomorrow's gurus shine in NYSE Financial Future Challenge

Tomorrow's gurus shine in NYSE Financial Future Challenge originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB), a consumer products entity whose colleagues include Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), is up today on third-quarter results. At the time of this writing, my screen was showing shares of Kimberly-Clark higher by a little under 6%.

According to the corporate press release, sales declined 1.7%. Not a great start, but Kimberly-Clark highlighted a better metric: organic sales increased 3%, helped along by price increases. Luckily, sales volume didn't fare too badly; they were essentially flat.

Continue reading Kimberly-Clark high on Q3 data

Kimberly-Clark high on Q3 data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Johnson & Johnson

Continue reading Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) posts disappointing revenue numbers

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) posts disappointing revenue numbers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One of my wonderful friends, Ms. P, asked me for some guidance on how she might allocate $50,000 currently earning peanuts in a money market account. Though she is decades from becoming a grandmother, after a brief discussion about her financial parameters, it became clear to me that she was looking for a "granny fund."

In reality, my recommendations would be suitable, and perhaps desirable, for many passive investors as well.

The $50,000 is a portion of money Ms. P has set aside to purchase a home, which might happen in six months, but could also be pushed out further, depending on the economy and her situation. Basically, she wants to cover all her bases because she might need the money at any time and does not want to be caught short, while at the same time she would like to generate some revenue without taking any big risks.

Continue reading Where should granny put $50,000?

Where should granny put $50,000? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Seize the day with JNJ

Seize the day with JNJ originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Medtronic (NYSE: MDT), a manufacturer of a whole host of medical devices involved with the management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, released its Q1 data on Tuesday. Revenues increased 6%, and adjusted earnings per share came in at 79 cents (some of the adjustments were related to restructuring and litigation issues).

The company was able to grow the adjusted-per-share bottom line by 10%. In addition, according to Reuters, Medtronic beat estimates by a penny. Shareholders should keep in mind, however, that the quarter benefited from an extra week.

Continue reading Medtronic increases adjusted income, beats by a penny

Medtronic increases adjusted income, beats by a penny originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Serious Money: What to do with $25,000

Serious Money: What to do with $25,000 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Pharmaceutical company Merck (NYSE: MRK), whose colleagues include Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), issued its Q2 numbers earlier in the week. Quite frankly, I found them to be boring. Of course, maybe boring isn't too bad these days, right? It's a lot better than an exciting ride on a profit-decline express.

Well, actually, Merck did see a decline in its bottom-line profit, but it wasn't an outrageously awful drop or anything like that. Merck made an adjusted 83 cents per share compared to an adjusted 86 cents per share in the comparable period. Three less pennies isn't the worst thing in the world on a relative basis. Plus, revenues increased 3% if you exclude currency effects (including them gives a decrease of 3%).

Continue reading Not much going on with Merck's Q2

Not much going on with Merck's Q2 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX), an expert in medical devices and a colleague of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), reported earnings for the second quarter on Monday after the closing bell. Wall Street liked the results. Shares of the company were bid higher by 5.8% in the after-hours session.

Net sales increased 7%. On an adjusted basis, Boston Scientific made 20 cents per share. According to Earnings.com, the business was supposed to bring in only 13 cents per share. Thus, management did a superb job of beating the analysts at their precious game. Unfortunately, Boston Scientific made the same amount of adjusted profit in the year-ago period, so there wasn't any growth on the bottom line.

Continue reading Boston Scientific tops estimates and guides higher

Boston Scientific tops estimates and guides higher originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), a company that counts Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) as colleagues, will report results for the second quarter on Tuesday, July 14. JNJ is expected to post a bit of a profit decline. Last year's Q2, according to Earnings.com, saw the health-care business earn $1.18 per share. This time around, analysts are thinking that JNJ will do somewhere around $1.11 per share.

Will JNJ beat the analysts? It's quite possible, since the company has a good record on this count. As a matter of fact, JNJ beat predictions by four cents back in April. Sales, however, came in a little weak. Interestingly enough, the market didn't really care too much about the earnings performance on that day. Shares had rallied a bit in pre-market trading, but they closed slightly down by the end of the regular session. I found a similar situation back in January.

Continue reading Earnings preview: Johnson & Johnson could surprise Wall Street

Earnings preview: Johnson & Johnson could surprise Wall Street originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) might not have the best growth rates going these days, but truth be told, I thought the company's Q3 report was acceptable given everything that is going on.

Yes, sales declined by 8%, driven by currency effects. Organic sales, however, increased 1%. Earnings per share increased 2% to 84 cents. This beat Wall Street forecasts by four pennies according to this source.

Continue reading Procter & Gamble beats in Q3, had a passable quarter

Procter & Gamble beats in Q3, had a passable quarter originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 May 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), a pharmaceutical entity whose colleagues include Merck (NYSE: MRK), Novartis (NYSE: NVS), and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), will be reporting first-quarter earnings Tuesday. As one has come to expect, the market believes that the company will be experiencing a decline in bottom-line income. The call is for 49 cents per share versus 61 cents per share in the year-ago period.

That's a drop of 20%. That might not sound so hot, but the good news is that Pfizer has a solid recent track record when it comes to beating earnings expectations. So shareholders might be justified in feeling confident about that aspect of the game.

Continue reading Earnings preview: Will Pfizer beat in Q1?

Earnings preview: Will Pfizer beat in Q1? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Should Buffett & Roubini "Face the Nation"?

Should Buffett & Roubini "Face the Nation"? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Stocks level despite stimulus package passing; MCD, GM, JNJ, GE

Closing Bell: Stocks level despite stimulus package passing; MCD, GM, JNJ, GE originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Late last year my colleague Joseph Lazzaro posted a story about NYU's 'Dr. Doom' Roubini: Stocks may fall another 20% during recession. That has to make one take pause when considering an investment in the stock market today, even after a major drop retesting November lows this week. On the other hand, Warren Buffett went out of his way to encourage the investing public and money managers alike that it was safe to go back into the market.

However, today it has been widely reported that Buffett sold off half of his holdings in Johnson & Johnson and trimmed his stake in Procter & Gamble.

Continue reading Buffett says buy, then sells, Roubini says wait -- what's an investor to do?

Buffett says buy, then sells, Roubini says wait -- what's an investor to do? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Has BNI become 'Berkshire' Northern Santa Fe

Chasing Value: Has BNI become 'Berkshire' Northern Santa Fe originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.