Household Products

Well, despite all the negative news about the euro, Thailand, financial regulation, oil spills, volcanic ash, and China collapsing, apparently some companies feel secure enough in this environment to hike their dividends. Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) announced after the close today that it...

This week brought not only some new ETFs but a new family: ESG Shares. The sponsor is Pax World, one of the originators of the “socially responsible investing” niche and manager of several mutual funds. “ESG” stands for Environmental, Social and Governance – three of the key factors the firm...

Sprint-Nextel (NYSE: S) is in the midst of rolling out its next-generation 4G WiMax service which it hopes will give it advantages over larger rivals AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless. Sprint’s problem in gaining market share may be that its customer service is still sub-par.Zogby and MSN have...

Sprint-Nextel (NYSE: S) is in the midst of rolling out its next-generation 4G WiMax service which it hopes will give it advantages over larger rivals AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless. Sprint’s problem in gaining market share may be that its customer service is still sub-par.Zogby and MSN have...

Sprint-Nextel (NYSE: S) is in the midst of rolling out its next-generation 4G WiMax service which it hopes will give it advantages over larger rivals AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless. Sprint’s problem in gaining market share may be that its customer service is still sub-par.Zogby and MSN have...

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B) has announced some major portfolio changes, most described in its filings with the SEC. Here are his holding updates: Sold: Sun Trust Banks (STI )Travelers (TRV)United Health (UNH)Wellpoint (WLP) Reduced holdings:Carmax (CMX)ConocoPhillips (COP)...

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A) has cut its stake in Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) for the first time in two years. According to a regulatory filing made by the company, Buffett is selling Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) shares as well. Buffett sold 31.5 million Kraft (KFT) shares, decreasing his holding...

U.S. stocks closed with marginal gains on Monday even as Europe’s debt malaise showed no signs of easing.  The euro, meanwhile, rebounded from a four-year low against the U.S. dollar as traders picked up the battered currency.  Investors were also concerned about how Europe will manage the fiscal...

• Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRKA) cut its exposure in Kraft (NYSE:KFT) by 23% in the first quarter. Kraft shares had rallied yesterday following a Barron's article, which advised the company's Cadbury purchase could help expand revenues and lower costs, a deal which was opposed by Buffett. ...

US stocks witnessed an upside yesterday, with the consumer stocks leading the gains. However, Eurozone worries kept investors away from the energy and materials firms and the industrial stocks that are dependent on global growth. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average spent most of the yesterday’s...

Major B2B companies have posted good quarterly results. Jefferies & Co. Inc., in its weekly report, has stated that these companies have a tougher time ahead on account of rising input costs. Companies such as Church & Dwight Co. (NYSE: CHD), Fortune Brands (NYSE: FO) and Helen of Troy...

Through the first two weeks of May the major indices are taking it on the chin as investors fear more trouble is brewing in Europe and will sell first and ask questions later. However, there are two sector ETFs that have been holding up much better than the overall market: SPDRs Consumer Staples...

Markets have opened weak today. Few traders are attributing the recent period of market weakness to the hearsay that France, the new epicenter of the Eurozone, is about to face a downgrade. The rumor, if true, would severely impact the EU. The euro was flat during the day, but has since dipped 0.7...

As mentioned in yesterday's post I spoke at an investment conference about ETFs to an audience of investment professionals that we were told were not ETF users and may not know the product. I have no idea whether or not these folks have experience with the product or not but it was a timely event...

Net income of Church & Dwight Co. Inc. (NYSE: CHD), the consumer products company, increased by 28 percent, from 88 cents per share in the first quarter, a year earlier, to $1.11 per share, or $80 million, in first quarter of 2010. Increased demand of its Arm & Hammer detergent, Aim...