In a difficult economic environment, it is often wise for investors to consider stocks in more defensive and relatively recession-resistant sectors. And one such area is food and beverage stocks.

As the long-standing market maxim goes, consumers can pull back on spending for vacations, remodeling, and new cars, but they still need to eat and drink.

In that light, I turned to nine leading newsletter advisors who serve up their current favorite ideas in the food and beverage sector:

Continue reading Food for thought: Best buys in food & beverage

Food for thought: Best buys in food & beverage originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a seven article report -- Food for thought: Best bets in food & beverage stocks..

"If you're buying stocks to meet long-term investment goals, now is an excellent time to do some bargain hunting," says Alexander Green. In The Oxford Communique he looks to Diageo (NYSE: DEO).

"One good place to start is with Diageo. We like the outlook for company, which is the world's largest spirit maker. In good times or bad, people drink. According to some studies, even more during the bad times.

"With eight of the top 20 brands, and unparalleled marketing and distribution operations, Diageo is the best way to tap into the globe's steady demand for high-quality spirits.

Continue reading Diageo (DEO): In good spirits

Diageo (DEO): In good spirits originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Diageo (NYSE: DEO) is the world's biggest spirits company with operations in over 180 countries," notes Alexander Green. The contributing editor to The Money Map Report explains, "Diageo is a non-cyclical, recession-proof
stock we can count on to deliver solid results no matter which way the global economy heads."

The advisor explains, "The company's brands are some of the oldest and most successful: Smirnoff vodka, Guinness stout, Bailey's Original Irish Cream, J&B and Johnnie Walker Scotch whiskies, Jose Cuervo tequila, Captain Morgan rum and Tanqueray gin - among others.

"For the first six months of fiscal year 2008, the company beat expectations. Sales rose by 5.7%. Earnings advanced almost twice as fast, hitting $2 billion. And dissecting the results further reveals continued strength in international and emerging markets, with operating profits up 20%.

Continue reading Diageo (DEO): Toast to spirits

Diageo (DEO): Toast to spirits originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Diageo (DEO) is the toast of the town... on four continents

Diageo (DEO) is the toast of the town... on four continents originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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.

"The market is looking increasingly fragile -- and our top pick for 2008 is a stellar investment that has all the makings of a bear-market killer: The Vice Fund (VICEX)," says Eric Roseman, editor of Commodity Trend Alert.

"This fund will do well as long as people continue to drink, smoke and gamble. The fund might not be the most wholesome investment in your portfolio, but it sure earns a big score for making bundles of dough from many industries currently shunned by investors and portfolio managers.

"And best of all, as the economy contracts, stocks in its highly concentrated and aggressive portfolio usually grow their corporate earnings while the broader market corrects. Bull or bear, it doesn't matter. The Vice Fund can generate profits in any economic environment -- provided people continue to gamble, drink and smoke.

"Launched in 2002, the Vice Fund is advised by Mutual Advisors, Inc, a small outfit with $177 million under management. But its size is actually highly advantageous to investors because of its ability to quickly enter and close trades and buy some companies that might be thinly traded.

Continue reading Best Stocks for 2008: Bad habits lead to good gains for Vice Fund (VICEX)

Best Stocks for 2008: Bad habits lead to good gains for Vice Fund (VICEX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"In the current volatile market, you can't go wrong by making your portfolio more defensive," says Glenn Rogers, who notes he has been "on the hunt for stocks that are fairly bulletproof."

One such stock, according to the analyst with Internet Wealth Builder, is Diageo PLC (NYSE: DEO). He says, ""London-based Diageo is the largest international manufacturer and distributor in the beverage alcohol industry, which is virtually recession-proof."

Many of its brands, he notes, will be immediately recognizable: Smirnoff, Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Bushmills, J&B Scotch, and our own Crown Royal. In fact, he observes, 17 of the company's brands are among the top 100 premium spirit brands in the world.

Rogers explains, "Its strategy is to drive organic growth by taking leadership positions in every category in which it competes. The company also looks to exploit opportunities for growth in such key emerging markets as China, India, Russia, and Brazil."

Continue reading Diageo (DEO) and Dentsply (XRAY): 'Bulletproof' buys

Diageo (DEO) and Dentsply (XRAY): 'Bulletproof' buys originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

Britain's Diageo (NYSE: DEO), the largest alcoholic drinks manufacturer in the world, is the top conservative pick for 2007, from Paul Tracy. The editor of StreetAuthority Market Advisor observes, "The company owns either the best-selling or second-best-selling brand of drink in every major category.

"While DEO garners most of its income from spirits, it's also a major wine and beer producer. Top-selling brands include Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, and Guinness. Diageo owns one fifth of the world's 100 top-selling liquor brands.

"DEO has benefited from two major growth sources in recent years. In the U.S., consumers continue to shift their spending in favor of premium spirits brands. Meanwhile, consumers are also moving away from beer in favor of spirits. Both trends benefit Diageo, as it owns most of the top-selling U.S. liquor brands and most of its liquors are positioned at the premium end of the market.

Continue reading Top Picks 2007: Paul Tracy toasts to Diageo

Top Picks 2007: Paul Tracy toasts to Diageo originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.