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Sivy on Stocks

If there is any way to beat the market over the long run, it consists of following the strongest, most secure stocks and trying to scoop them up when they are measurably undervalued.

There are surprisingly few such stocks that you need to follow on an on-going basis -- we've come up 70, which you can track in the table below.

What are the defining characteristics of these great growth stocks? Size is certainly part of it, and almost all of the stocks on the core list have market capitalizations and total revenues that top $5 billion a year.

We also looked for companies with diverse product lines and dominant positions in their industries.

As for growth, we sought companies that are capable of returning a steady 11 percent to 12 percent a year through a combination of earnings gains and yield.

For more on how we picked the stocks and guidance on when to buy, click here for my feature from the December issue of Money magazine.

In addition, I'll be regularly revisiting these stocks every Monday and Thursday in the Sivy on Stocks column on CNN/Money.

Last updated Mon May 17,2004 16:02
Company
(Ticker
symbol)
Current
share
price
52-wk
high
52-wk
low
Proj.
P/E
Proj.
5-year
growth
PEG
ratio
Comments
Limited Brands (LTD) $19.27 $21.65 $13.00 14 13.3% 1.1 Retailer owns chains such as Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works
Time Warner (TWX) $16.27 $19.30 $13.42 27 12.9% 2.1 Diverse collection of media assets still depressed by merger with AOL
Applied Materials (AMAT) $18.54 $25.94 $13.49 23 20.0% 1.2 World's dominant producer of computer chipmaking equipment
Cisco Systems (CSCO) $20.95 $29.39 $15.46 28 15.0% 1.9 Leading maker of routers for the Internet is posting very strong sales
Texas Instruments (TXN) $24.93 $33.98 $17.21 23 20.0% 1.2 Top maker of digital signal processors used in communications
Disney (DIS) $22.80 $28.41 $17.45 23 15.0% 1.6 Awaiting advertising recovery at ABC and upturn at theme parks
Staples (SPLS) $24.52 $27.87 $17.87 18 16.8% 1.1 Office-supplies retailer tracks the level of general business activity
Intel (INTC) $26.93 $34.60 $18.51 22 15.0% 1.5 Dominates production of microprocessors, with new chips on the way
MBNA (KRB) $23.44 $29.68 $18.61 11 13.3% 0.8 Leading issuer of credit cards and a beneficiary of consumer spending
Alcoa (AA) $28.68 $39.44 $21.83 14 13.6% 1.1 Biggest U.S. aluminum producer, with growth-stock earnings potential
Baxter International (BAX) $31.71 $34.70 $22.15 17 11.0% 1.6 Niche medical businesses—drug delivery, blood collection and dialysis
Boston Scientific (BSX) $39.51 $46.10 $23.51 22 20.0% 1.1 Maker of less-invasive medical devices for heart and digestive tract
Microsoft (MSFT) $25.59 $30.00 $23.59 20 10.0% 2.0 Still the premier software company for PCs, with $50 billion in cash
Genentech (DNA) $60.04 $68.25 $24.50 38 25.0% 1.5 Original biotech company now boasts 11 successful products
J.P. Morgan Chase (JPM) $35.22 $43.84 $25.26 10 10.0% 1.1 Second-largest U.S. bank is nine months into turnaround
General Electric (GE) $29.93 $34.57 $26.90 19 10.0% 1.9 Former stellar conglomerate now trading at very low price
InterActiveCorp (IACI) $28.86 $42.88 $27.46 31 24.1% 1.3 Barry Diller's extraordinary collection of Internet businesses that turn in consistent profits
Home Depot (HD) $33.36 $37.89 $27.85 15 12.5% 1.3 Do-it-yourselfers encouraged by strong housing sales and refinancings
Sysco (SYY) $37.89 $41.27 $28.54 27 15.0% 1.8 Largest U.S. distributor of food to restaurants and institutions
Boeing (BA) $42.70 $45.10 $28.55 19 10.0% 1.9 Largest U.S. maker of commercial airplanes is awaiting industry upturn
Walgreen (WAG) $33.48 $37.42 $28.80 25 15.0% 1.7 Leading drugstore chain posting exceptional gains in same-store sales
Dell (DELL) $34.20 $37.18 $29.23 27 15.0% 1.8 Low-cost PC maker diversifying into other areas of electronics
Pfizer (PFE) $35.43 $38.89 $29.43 16 13.5% 1.2 Largest drugmaker with enormously powerful R&D capabilities
Aflac (AFL) $39.16 $42.60 $29.83 17 15.0% 1.1 Life insurer suffering from recession-induced sluggishness in sales
Target (TGT) $42.41 $46.81 $32.56 18 15.0% 1.2 The upscale discounter's sales are running a bit below expectations
First Data (FDC) $41.73 $46.80 $33.26 19 15.0% 1.3 Provider of services for money-transfer and credit-card transactions
Best Buy (BBY) $49.83 $62.70 $33.81 17 15.0% 1.2 Consumer-electronics retailer anticipates a cheery holiday season
ExxonMobil (XOM) $43.08 $44.24 $34.90 15 9.0% 1.8 International integrated oil giant is key hedge against inflation
Viacom B (VIA.B) $37.66 $49.75 $35.62 N/A N/A% N/A Entertainment giant with strong franchises such as VH1 and MTV
Clear Channel Comm (CCU) $39.22 $47.76 $36.36 27 18.0% 1.5 Leading radio-station operator awaits advertising upturn
Wyeth (WYE) $37.87 $49.95 $36.62 14 10.0% 1.4 Strong pharmaceutical pipeline still eclipsed by liabilities from diet drugs
Washington Mutual (WM) $38.84 $46.85 $36.83 9 11.0% 0.8 Rapidly expanding Seattle-based lender, trading at a bargain P/E
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) $41.03 $47.25 $37.65 17 12.0% 1.5 Diverse health-care products and a promising pipeline of new drugs
Harley-Davidson (HDI) $54.63 $59.86 $38.06 19 15.5% 1.2 Leading U.S. maker of motorcycles with fantastically loyal customers
Citigroup (C) $44.93 $52.88 $38.09 11 12.0% 0.9 Largest and best-diversified U.S. financial services company
Lowe's (LOW) $49.75 $60.42 $38.20 18 17.5% 1.1 Smaller, cheaper rival of Home Depot looks to state of housing market
DuPont (DD) $41.13 $46.25 $38.60 17 10.0% 1.8 Largest U.S. chemical company offering above-average dividend yield
American Express (AXP) $48.55 $54.99 $39.15 18 13.0% 1.4 Record billings and membership growth hinge on consumer spending
Johnson Controls (JCI) $52.00 $62.32 $39.91 12 13.5% 0.9 Control systems and auto parts largely reflect state of auto business
Merrill Lynch (MER) $54.30 $64.89 $40.17 11 12.0% 1.0 After three years of job cuts, leading full-service firm is hiring brokers
Anadarko Petroleum (APC) $55.40 $57.03 $40.27 10 9.0% 1.2 Leading exploration and production company for natural gas
Coca-Cola (KO) $49.83 $53.50 $42.28 23 10.0% 2.3 One of the world's most recognized brands is still expanding globally
PepsiCo (PEP) $53.50 $55.48 $42.38 23 11.0% 2.1 Pepsi, snack foods and a lower valuation than Coca-Cola carries
Tribune (TRB) $46.53 $53.00 $44.28 19 12.0% 1.7 Newspaper publisher is a nearly pure play on an upturn in advertising
Schlumberger (SLB) $57.20 $66.75 $44.50 28 15.0% 1.9 Oil service company especially sensitive to new oil exploration
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) $62.49 $68.50 $46.85 16 17.0% 1.0 Health insurer's acquisition of Mid-Atlantic allows for cost cutting
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) $54.72 $56.39 $48.05 18 13.0% 1.4 Best-diversified health-care company with superbly consistent track record
Fortune Brands (FO) $72.39 $80.50 $48.34 16 12.0% 1.3 Superb collection of consumer brands from golf balls to bourbon
Anheuser-Busch (BUD) $51.68 $54.10 $48.51 18 11.0% 1.7 World's largest brewer produces half of the beer consumed in the U.S.
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) $56.17 $60.99 $48.56 21 11.0% 1.9 Maker of toothpaste, soap and laundry detergent appears undervalued
Nike B (NKE) $65.90 $78.56 $49.60 18 13.4% 1.4 World's largest footwear maker feels the swoosh of recovery
Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) $54.70 $61.31 $50.50 23 14.0% 1.6 World's largest retailer enjoying surprisingly strong sales gains
ConocoPhillips (COP) $73.45 $75.56 $51.29 10 8.0% 1.3 Cheaper alternative to ExxonMobil as a hedge against inflation
Aetna (AET) $79.29 $95.09 $52.60 11 15.0% 0.8 Health insurer recovering from business lost because of corporate layoffs
American Intl. Group (AIG) $69.43 $77.36 $54.20 15 15.0% 1.0 World's largest insurer is benefiting from a surge in premium rates
Amgen (AMGN) $56.39 $72.37 $55.80 23 21.0% 1.1 Former biotech diversifying beyond two blockbuster products
Union Pacific (UNP) $56.59 $69.56 $55.81 13 10.0% 1.4 Largest U.S. railroad, tied to freight traffic and trading, at a bargain P/E
Lilly (LLY) $72.76 $76.95 $56.51 25 14.0% 1.8 Top drugmaker is ready to launch several promising new products
FedEx (FDX) $70.44 $78.05 $59.01 20 15.0% 1.4 Overnight shipper by air and ground tracks overall business activity
Illinois Tool Works (ITW) $84.59 $89.40 $60.94 19 14.0% 1.4 Maker of fasteners and construction items benefiting from recovery
3M (MMM) $82.94 $88.70 $61.25 22 12.0% 1.9 The maker of Scotch tape is seeing sales gains for many products
General Dynamics (GD) $94.37 $97.00 $62.28 16 12.0% 1.4 Diversified defense company making aircraft, ships and subs
Omnicom Group (OMC) $78.61 $88.82 $63.42 20 12.5% 1.6 World's largest ad company posts earnings gains on better ad market
United Technologies (UTX) $82.04 $97.84 $64.93 15 10.0% 1.6 Conglomerate looking for upturn in its aerospace markets
Hershey Foods (HSY) $88.95 $90.37 $67.04 22 10.0% 2.2 Brand extensions and cost cutting wring higher profits from chocolate
Bank of America (BAC) $79.81 $84.90 $72.04 10 10.0% 1.1 Acquisition of FleetBoston helps consumer business, and stock is cheap
Gannett (GCI) $86.27 $91.38 $73.54 17 10.0% 1.7 Publisher of USA Today and 100 other newspapers tracks advertising
IBM (IBM) $85.35 $100.43 $78.73 17 10.0% 1.7 Diverse computer giant looks for upturn in corporate IT spending
Northrop Grumman (NOC) $98.83 $105.16 $82.92 16 10.0% 1.7 Maker of stealth bomber expects visible earnings gains in 2004
Procter & Gamble (PG) $106.21 $108.85 $86.51 22 11.0% 2.1 Superb collection of widely recognized consumer brands
Projected P/E based on earnings estimates for this fiscal year. Growth based on earnings projections for the next five years.
Source: Thomson/First Call



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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.