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Tech stocks with dividends: A trio of turnarounds

"As the tech industry has matured, some technology companies are beginning to devote some of their cash flow to dividends," explains George Putnam, who notes, "This helps reduce downside volatility and offers some positive return when the stock prices lag."

In his industry-leading The Turnaround Letter, the advisor highlights some dividend-paying tech stocks; here a look at three of those picks.

"Many tech stocks have underperformed for the last couple of years as capital spending on technology products has been weak. The sector will eventually rebound, but the timing is far from certain.

"A conservative way to play the industry is to focus on technology stocks that pay dividends. That way you at least get paid something while you wait for the rebound. The following technology stocks pay decent dividends, many of them higher than the average 2.1% dividend paid by the stocks in the S&P 500 Index.

Continue reading Tech stocks with dividends: A trio of turnarounds

Corning (GLW): A history of innovation

"Now 157 years old, Corning (NYSE: GLW) has come from window making to sit at the forefront of two of the fastest-growing segments of the technology space: flat panel TVs and fiber-optic," says tech expert Mark Mowrey.

In The Prudent Speculator TechValue Report, the advisor explains his bullishness on Corning, which has shown a "long-time commitment to future-focused research and development."

"For both its TV and fiber optics markets, the company supplies glass. We're not talking dinnerware, though. Rather, the company is the leader in selling flat panel display glass and fiber-optic cabling. is testament to

"In addition Corning maintains an Environmental Technologies business, which develops emissions and pollution control products, and a Life Sciences business, where the company makes lab glass and drug testing products.

"For the past three quarters, revenue has been growing at a double-digit pace overall, hitting $1.58 billion in the final quarter of last year, as both the Display Technologies and Telecommunications businesses made up for relative weakness in Environmental Technologies.

"Yet, the stock's forward earnings multiple has trended steadily downward, we suppose, as fears increase that both those markets eventually will prove less profitable as competition increases. On the contrary, we think end-market growth will hasten, while Corning's technological lead expands.

Continue reading Corning (GLW): A history of innovation

Best Stocks for 2008: Bright picture for L.G. Philips LCD (LPL)

For 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.

"If you are looking for an excellent technology company with plenty of upside potential, I recommend L.G. Philips LCD Co, LTD (NYSE: LPL)," my favorite aggressive speculation for 2008," says Dennis Slothower, editor of Stealth Stocks.

"The company, located in South Korea, is the world's largest merchant supplier of large-size TFT-LCD panels, primarily used in high-definition televisions, notebook computers, desktop monitors, cell phones and other applications.

"Its display panels are included in products sold by LG Electronics, Philips Electronics, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba, and Apple, among others.

"LPL is at the cutting edge of technology and is benefiting from the insatiable demand for consumer electronics. It is also currently trading at low valuations based on sales and book value. At $28 a share LPL is trading only 1.4X sales and 2.4X book value.

"The company has $1.8 billion in cash on its balance sheets and sales are growing at 43% growth rate. Over the trailing 12 months, sales reached more than $14 billion. The intrinsic value on this stock is in the $50 to $60 range, which I see hitting in the next two or three years."

Corning: LCDs light up the 'King of the Glassmakers'

While many in the advisory world focus on short-term forecasts, George Gilder epitomizes the idea of long-term investing. His newsletter, The Gilder Report, identifies what he calls "paradigm plays" or stocks that are beneficiaries of secular trends that he believes will impact and change various technology markets over coming years and decades.

Because of the long-term nature of his ideas, he considers his stocks less sensitive to the general business conditions. In fact, he notes, "We look for companies that can grow fast almost regardless of the condition in the overall economy."

One such paradigm shift that he has long envisioned is the role of glass displays and LCDs as a mainstay of the technology world. Gilder, along with analyst Charlie Burger, consider Corning (NYSE: GLW) "the paradigm play" on this growth trend.

The advisors explain, "Corning is now booming even more than during the Boom. And we continue to expect new performance records for the company during the coming couple of years as sales of catalytic converters for diesel trucks begin to ramp, as fiber products rejuvenate, and as liquid crystal display (LCD) glass goes everywhere."

They note, "Free falling prices of LCD color TVs are propelling Corning's glass-substrate business faster than anticipated. Since it's the world's premier process company (see August 2006 GTR) and can manufacture LCD substrates in huge volumes, demand elasticity probably benefits Corning more than its competitors."

He reports that sales in 2006 were $5.17 billion, which were up 13% over 2005. Meanwhile, he notes, gross margin of 44.1% and and net profit of $1.78b were both company records, surpassing the telecom top in 2000. And, he adds, earnings of $1.17 per share (excluding one-time items and options expensing) rose by more than a third over the previous year. Don't say we didn't warn you.

LCD glass volume for displays surged 52% over 2005, he notes. Importantly, he observes, the firm's margins held steady even though prices for displays declined by 16%. He says that this is a "testimony to the company's processing prowess."

Glass volume also grew 52% at Corning's Samsung joint venture where equity earnings increased 36% despite a price decline of 9% and an unfavorable exchange rate. Net income for the total display business rose 30%.

Overall, he notes, sales of LCD TVs more than doubled during 2006, and now represent a third of the U.S. market. Boosting the firm's performance he adds, is the shift to larger televisions. He says, "This trend greatly benefits Corning since every 1" increase in screen size increases glass demand by 10%."

Indeed, he notes, "Jumbo sets not only consume a lot of glass, their panels must be made from the largest substrates sizes, where Corning excels."

Meanwhile, Corning is also making a move to environmental glass. Gilder explains, "Corning's unique extra green glass has been an overwhelming success; it can't produce fast enough to fill requests."

In fact, he notes, the company expects to convert all capacity to the new glass by the end of this year. As a bonus, Corning believes that this glass is improving its customers' yields.

Looking out, the analysts believe that demand for LCD television will exceed current industry expectations, as prices drop below what they call the "tipping point." They note that market research estimates that the average selling price for a 42" LCD set will drop 37% to $1,283 by year end.

Long-term, the advisors suggest, "LCD glass could well repeat the 30-plus year run of cathode ray tubes (CRTs). Corning -- the King of Glassmakers -- has few serious rivals in a market with a Himalayan barrier to entry."

As to the stock price, the advisors consider GLW a bargain, currently trading at 18 times 2006 earnings. They foresee limited downside and add, "If the company can maintain just a third of its recent earnings growth rate, it would earn $1.49 next year for a stock price $37 at a more reasonable multiple of 25 times earnings."

Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com provides a free, daily overview of the latest stock ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletters.

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Last updated: October 13, 2008: 06:33 PM

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