Signs Of Summer: 5 Stocks For Memorial Day

Memorial Day is upon us, and it's the unofficial start of summer. The beaches will be packed, barbecues will be going, people will be partying, and enjoying the time off we have from work. While you are cooking up hot dogs, hamburgers, and eating some potato salad, chew on some of these stock picks to help you relax and enjoy the summer, and make it potentially a very profitable one as well. Before you start relaxing and enjoying your friends, maybe you want to spruce up your home a little bit, with a new grill, some patio furniture, or some new landscaping. What better stock than Home Depot HD for this? Shares trade at 13.5 times 2012 earnings, and sport a 2.7% dividend yield as well. What's more American on Memorial Day than opening a few iced cold beers, and enjoying some hot dogs and hamburgers? Not much I suppose, which is why names like Molson Coors Brewing Company TAP, Anheuser-Busch InBev NVBUD, H.J. Heinz Company HNZ, Pool Corp POOL and Home Depot HD should be names for you to consider. Coors, which makes brands such as Coors, Coors Light, Blue Moon, Molson, and others, recently raised its dividend by 14%. The stock has been mentioned as a potential target for activist investors in the past, as shares have not done much over the past year. The Denver-based company is small enough, at under $9 billion in market cap, that a large investor could buy up shares and force some changes that could be beneficial for shareholders. At 11.5 times 2012 earnings, and currently yielding 2.4% without the dividend hike, cracking open shares of Molson Coors might be a potentially profitable idea. The thesis is the same for Anheuser-Busch InBev, which is the leading beer distributor in the world. Famous for its Budweiser namesake brand, the company also makes Stella Artois, Michelob, Bud Light and others. Trading at 13.4 times 2012 earnings and sporting a 1.7% dividend yield, this $92 billion market cap company goes down smooth in your portfolio. Now what goes better with some iced cold beer? Hot dogs and hamburgers. To top off those burgers and dogs, you need some ketchup and some mustard. Heinz, the maker of assorted condiments, is the leader in this space. Shares have performed reasonably well this year, gaining almost 9% this year. The consumer staple name has seen an influx recently, as the market has cooled off, and we are currently amidst a correction. Shares trade at 16 times 2012 earnings, and sport a 3.4% dividend yield, better than a 10 year U.S. Treasury. The company recently reported 6% earnings growth in its latest quarterly report, reporting 69 cents per share on $2.89 billion in revenues. The stock was also mentioned positively in Barron's recently. After you're done drinking and eating, it's time to take a dip in the pool, and you can even dip into shares of Pool Corp,, the $1.4 billion publicly traded supplier of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related leisure products. Shares trade at 17 times 2012 earnings. While you are enjoying the time off with family and friends, and remembering the brave who gave their lives to defend this great country, consider taking a sip and a bit from these five names.