
Market cap: $9.6 billion
P/E ratio: 9
Current ratio: 2.6
Dividend yield: 0.3%
This drilling company recently beat Wall Street earnings expectations by slashing operating costs. It has a bright future as well thanks to $10.6 billion in contracts for projects over the next three years. It is truly a global company, with 87% of its fleet deployed outside of the U.S. in oil hotspots like the Middle East, India, Mexico, the North Sea, Brazil, and West Africa.
Some of the most promising oil fields are found under the ocean, meaning that drillers that specialize in deepwater -- such as Noble -- will be in demand going forward. Jesup & Lamont senior analyst Lewis Kreps says Noble is the leading provider of offshore drilling services both domestically and internationally.
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Unilever
Last updated June 11 2009: 10:27 AM ET
Criteria include prices no more than 15 times average earnings per share over the past three years, 10 years of positive earnings, annual per-share earnings growth of 3% or more, 10 years of uninterupted dividends, and curent ratio (assets divided by liabilities) of 2 or better. All data related to stock price as of June 1, 2009. P/E ratios based on average three-year earnings.