| Click on column headings to re-sort » | Last updated Mar 28 12:00 |
Company
(Ticker symbol) |
Current
share
price |
52-wk
high |
52-wk
low |
P/E
(TTM) |
Proj.
5-year
growth |
PEG
ratio |
Comments |
| Aetna (AET) |
$49.70 |
$52.48 |
$33.70 |
18 |
15.0% |
0.5 |
Health insurer recovering from business lost because of corporate layoffs |
| Boston Scientific (BSX) |
$23.50 |
$31.32 |
$20.57 |
31 |
20.0% |
0.7 |
Maker of less-invasive medical devices for heart and digestive tract |
| UnitedHealth Group (UNH) |
$54.68 |
$64.61 |
$44.30 |
22 |
17.0% |
0.8 |
Health insurer's acquisition of Mid-Atlantic allows for cost cutting |
| General Dynamics (GD) |
$64.68 |
$65.95 |
$50.36 |
17 |
12.0% |
0.9 |
Higher defense spending should help General Dynamics, which makes tanks and troop carriers. |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) |
$64.54 |
$71.48 |
$47.55 |
6 |
6.5% |
1.0 |
No. 3 U.S. oil company is an inflation hedge and is adding to its oil & gas reserves at a very high rate. |
| Pfizer (PFE) |
$25.47 |
$29.21 |
$20.27 |
23 |
12.3% |
1.0 |
The world's largest pharmaceutical company needs new products to replace those coming off patent. |
| Citigroup (C) |
$47.57 |
$49.76 |
$42.91 |
12 |
12.0% |
1.0 |
Largest and best-diversified U.S. financial services company |
| CVS Corp (CVS) |
$29.48 |
$31.60 |
$23.89 |
20 |
13.0% |
1.1 |
Improving growth prospects could boost P/E for largest drug retailer |
| United Technologies (UTX) |
$59.25 |
$59.94 |
$48.43 |
18 |
10.0% |
1.1 |
Conglomerate looking for upturn in its aerospace markets |
| Tyco International (TYC) |
$27.36 |
$34.48 |
$24.65 |
17 |
14.0% |
1.2 |
Plans to realize hidden value by breaking up the company haven't offset Tyco's soft earnings outlook. |
| Intel (INTC) |
$19.74 |
$28.84 |
$19.31 |
14 |
15.0% |
1.2 |
The leading semiconductor maker is investing heavily in new chips to outpace its rival AMD. |
| Limited Brands (LTD) |
$24.41 |
$25.50 |
$18.81 |
18 |
15.0% |
1.2 |
Retailer owns chains such as Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works |
| Applied Materials (AMAT) |
$17.67 |
$21.06 |
$14.33 |
27 |
17.5% |
1.2 |
The biggest semiconductor-equipment maker is volatile but may be seeing an upturn in new orders. |
| Gannett (GCI) |
$58.91 |
$80.02 |
$58.07 |
11 |
9.8% |
1.2 |
Publisher of USA Today and 100 other newspapers tracks advertising |
| Clear Channel Comm (CCU) |
$29.38 |
$34.81 |
$27.82 |
25 |
17.0% |
1.2 |
Leading radio-station operator still awaiting advertising upturn |
| Harley-Davidson (HDI) |
$52.37 |
$59.40 |
$44.40 |
15 |
15.0% |
1.2 |
Leading U.S. maker of motorcycles with fantastically loyal customers |
| Staples (SPLS) |
$25.40 |
$25.67 |
$18.64 |
22 |
15.5% |
1.2 |
This leading chain of office-supply superstores has long been cranking out steady earnings gains. |
| Bank of America (BAC) |
$46.67 |
$47.44 |
$41.13 |
11 |
10.0% |
1.3 |
Acquisition of FleetBoston helps consumer business, and stock is cheap |
| Best Buy (BBY) |
$55.65 |
$57.69 |
$31.93 |
27 |
15.0% |
1.3 |
Consumer-electronics retailer to profit from new digital technology |
| Aflac (AFL) |
$46.25 |
$49.65 |
$35.50 |
15 |
15.0% |
1.3 |
Life insurer suffering from recession-induced sluggishness in sales |
| J.P. Morgan Chase (JPM) |
$41.94 |
$42.43 |
$32.92 |
17 |
10.0% |
1.3 |
Second-largest U.S. bank now that Bank One merger has been completed |
| Dell (DELL) |
$30.01 |
$41.99 |
$28.60 |
20 |
17.0% |
1.4 |
PC sales have been weak, but Dell is benefiting from sales of servers and from overseas business. |
| Johnson Controls (JCI) |
$76.49 |
$77.60 |
$52.57 |
19 |
13.5% |
1.4 |
Control systems and auto parts largely reflect state of auto business |
| Lowe's (LOW) |
$65.89 |
$69.70 |
$50.72 |
19 |
17.5% |
1.4 |
Smaller, cheaper rival of Home Depot looks to state of housing market |
| Sysco (SYY) |
$32.14 |
$38.04 |
$29.11 |
22 |
15.0% |
1.4 |
Largest U.S. distributor of food to restaurants and institutions |
| Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) |
$48.08 |
$51.27 |
$42.31 |
17 |
14.0% |
1.4 |
Despite labor troubles, Wal-Mart can maintain profitability by adjusting its product mix and expanding. |
| Lilly (LLY) |
$56.62 |
$60.98 |
$49.47 |
30 |
14.1% |
1.4 |
Top drugmaker is ready to launch several promising new products |
| Anheuser-Busch (BUD) |
$42.79 |
$48.49 |
$40.15 |
18 |
11.0% |
1.4 |
World's largest brewer produces half of the beer consumed in the U.S. |
| Alcoa (AA) |
$30.57 |
$32.20 |
$22.28 |
21 |
12.0% |
1.5 |
Biggest U.S. aluminum producer, with growth-stock earnings potential |
| Amgen (AMGN) |
$73.47 |
$86.92 |
$56.19 |
25 |
20.0% |
1.5 |
Former biotech diversifying beyond two blockbuster products |
| Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) |
$59.59 |
$69.99 |
$56.65 |
17 |
12.9% |
1.5 |
The best-diversified health-care company needs new products to replace those coming off patent. |
| Merrill Lynch (MER) |
$78.83 |
$79.16 |
$52.00 |
15 |
12.0% |
1.5 |
Leading full-service brokerage is benefiting from market upturn |
| American Express (AXP) |
$53.06 |
$55.00 |
$43.34 |
20 |
13.3% |
1.5 |
Record billings and membership growth hinge on consumer spending |
| Home Depot (HD) |
$42.98 |
$43.98 |
$34.56 |
15 |
13.0% |
1.5 |
Do-it-yourselfers encouraged by strong housing sales |
| Washington Mutual (WM) |
$43.09 |
$45.60 |
$36.64 |
11 |
9.0% |
1.5 |
Seattle-based lender hurt by slowdown in mortgage refinancing |
| First Data (FDC) |
$47.50 |
$48.45 |
$36.50 |
23 |
15.0% |
1.5 |
Provider of services for money-transfer and credit-card transactions |
| Fortune Brands (FO) |
$81.82 |
$90.48 |
$73.50 |
21 |
12.0% |
1.5 |
A superb set of consumer brands, including Jim Beam bourbon, Moen faucets and Titleist golf balls. |
| Texas Instruments (TXN) |
$31.63 |
$34.95 |
$22.51 |
22 |
20.0% |
1.6 |
Top maker of digital signal processors used in communications |
| Target (TGT) |
$53.30 |
$60.00 |
$45.55 |
19 |
15.0% |
1.6 |
The upscale discounter's sales are running a bit below expectations |
| Nike B (NKE) |
$85.59 |
$91.54 |
$75.10 |
16 |
13.4% |
1.6 |
World's largest footwear maker feels the swoosh of recovery |
| Cisco Systems (CSCO) |
$21.72 |
$21.85 |
$16.83 |
24 |
15.0% |
1.6 |
Leading maker of routers for the Internet is posting very strong sales |
| Abbott Laboratories (ABT) |
$42.93 |
$50.00 |
$37.50 |
19 |
12.0% |
1.6 |
Diverse health-care products and a promising pipeline of new drugs |
| FedEx (FDX) |
$112.78 |
$116.00 |
$76.81 |
20 |
15.0% |
1.6 |
Booming air express service is making up for any weakness in ground shipping or at Kinko's. |
| InterActiveCorp (IACI) |
$30.50 |
$31.50 |
$23.25 |
18 |
20.0% |
1.7 |
Barry Diller's collection of Internet businesses that turn in consistent profits |
| Disney (DIS) |
$27.43 |
$29.00 |
$22.89 |
21 |
15.0% |
1.7 |
Valuable entertainment assets weighed down by management infighting |
| Illinois Tool Works (ITW) |
$97.41 |
$98.75 |
$78.50 |
18 |
13.5% |
1.7 |
Maker of fasteners and construction items benefiting from recovery |
| IBM (IBM) |
$82.98 |
$91.76 |
$71.85 |
16 |
10.0% |
1.7 |
Diverse computer giant looks for upturn in corporate IT spending |
| Anadarko Petroleum (APC) |
$101.89 |
$110.15 |
$67.71 |
9 |
9.0% |
1.8 |
Leading exploration and production company for natural gas |
| 3M (MMM) |
$76.91 |
$86.59 |
$69.71 |
18 |
11.5% |
1.8 |
The maker of Scotch Tape and Post-its needs to boost sales growth across its diverse product lines. |
| Microsoft (MSFT) |
$27.01 |
$28.38 |
$23.82 |
22 |
11.8% |
1.8 |
Still the premier software company for PCs, with $50 billion in cash |
| Northrop Grumman (NOC) |
$68.37 |
$70.04 |
$52.17 |
17 |
12.0% |
1.9 |
Higher defense spending should help Northrop, which makes aircraft carriers, ships and subs. |
| Time Warner (TWX) |
$16.85 |
$19.00 |
$16.10 |
27 |
13.8% |
1.9 |
A collection of undervalued media assets that needs to start showing some earnings momentum. |
| Danaher Corp (DHR) |
$64.00 |
$65.42 |
$48.32 |
23 |
15.0% |
1.9 |
Valuation for well-managed conglomerate is depressed despite strong growth |
| DuPont (DD) |
$42.63 |
$51.88 |
$37.60 |
20 |
9.5% |
1.9 |
Largest U.S. chemical company offering above-average dividend yield |
| Omnicom Group (OMC) |
$83.77 |
$89.00 |
$75.75 |
19 |
11.3% |
1.9 |
World's largest ad company posts earnings gains on better ad market |
| Colgate-Palmolive (CL) |
$57.54 |
$58.29 |
$48.25 |
23 |
11.0% |
2.0 |
Maker of toothpaste, soap and laundry detergent cheaper than P&G |
| Wyeth (WYE) |
$48.81 |
$50.49 |
$40.54 |
18 |
9.0% |
2.0 |
Strong pharmaceutical pipeline still eclipsed by liabilities from diet drugs |
| Procter & Gamble (PG) |
$57.99 |
$62.50 |
$51.86 |
21 |
11.0% |
2.0 |
Superb collection of widely recognized consumer brands |
| General Electric (GE) |
$33.67 |
$37.34 |
$32.21 |
19 |
10.0% |
2.1 |
Earnings growth has slowed at America's top conglomerate but should pick up over the coming year. |
| Coca-Cola (KO) |
$42.38 |
$45.26 |
$39.36 |
20 |
10.0% |
2.1 |
Still one of the best brands in the world, but soda sales have been lackluster in the U.S. and Europe. |
| PepsiCo (PEP) |
$58.65 |
$60.55 |
$52.01 |
24 |
11.5% |
2.2 |
Smart diversification away from cola and into snack foods has enabled PepsiCo to outperform Coke. |
| ExxonMobil (XOM) |
$61.68 |
$65.96 |
$52.78 |
10 |
8.5% |
2.2 |
The largest U.S. oil company can help protect your portfolio against rising energy costs and inflation. |
| Walgreen (WAG) |
$44.30 |
$49.01 |
$40.98 |
28 |
15.0% |
2.3 |
leading drugstore chain posting exceptional gains in same-store sales |
| Hershey Foods (HSY) |
$53.02 |
$67.37 |
$50.62 |
26 |
10.0% |
2.6 |
Brand extensions and cost cutting wring higher profits from chocolate |
| Boeing (BA) |
$78.55 |
$79.20 |
$56.22 |
24 |
12.0% |
2.7 |
Largest U.S. maker of commercial airplanes is benefiting from industry upturn |
| Burlington Northern (BNI) |
$81.29 |
$82.97 |
$45.98 |
20 |
10.0% |
3.2 |
One of the largest and best-managed U.S. railroads has been benefiting from stronger demand. |
| Schlumberger (SLB) |
$125.33 |
$131.75 |
$64.62 |
34 |
18.0% |
3.4 |
Oil service company especially sensitive to new oil exploration |
| Genentech (DNA) |
$84.33 |
$100.20 |
$54.68 |
71 |
29.0% |
3.6 |
Original biotech company now boasts 11 successful products |
| Comcast (CMCSA) |
$26.66 |
$34.50 |
$25.35 |
63 |
15.0% |
4.7 |
New services will drive growth for No. 1 cable company |
| Viacom B (VIA.B) |
$38.47 |
$44.90 |
$37.67 |
N/A |
N/A% |
N/A |
Viacom's decision to split the company in two could eventually realize hidden value, but hasn't yet. |
