Most Americans have gone through a bit of an emotional roller coaster the last two days, as the news cycle around the Osama Bin Laden death wound itself down. First, there was elation and/or relief, as the news broke that American special forces troops had hunted down and killed Osama.
Then came a bit of interest, as folks who lack an internal filter started cracking jokes at the bearded one's expense, as well as details of the assault came to light. Finally, nearly 48 hours later, many people are over-saturated with Osama news, jokes, innuendo, rumors and (unfortunately not) illicit videos.
With that in mind, here are five stocks that don't have a thing to do with Bin Laden, the Middle East, guns, or shooting jagoff terrorists in the head.
Las Vegas Sands LVS Do you feel the need to get away from the television and hole u p somewhere for a few days? Does relaxing in nice weather while sipping drinks and playing poker sound like a pleasant alternative to another 300 facebook status updates about dead terrorists? If so, maybe hop a plane or bus to Las Vegas and get a room on the Strip.
Sales and profits are expected to rise at LVS, and will be announced after-market on Tuesday. The stock itself is on a nice rebound from a low in mid-March. Certainly watch for the earnings report Tuesday evening and maybe consider betting on the gambling giant.
If you can't afford to travel while dropping $4.25 a gallon on gasoline, there are other ways to relax and ignore world news for a day. Some of the folks at benzinga are big fans of slightly-cooked-dead-cow. In other words...have a steak! Fire up the grill and take a look at Brasil Foods BRFS, one of the largest meat producing stocks on the market.
Brasil Foods has more than double the market cap of any other meat stock, placing it in position to dominate. The stock is trading much closer to its 52-week high than its low, so it may be worthwhile to chart the trends before jumping in and buying the stock. Another thing to consider is how the high price of corn will affect the profitability of meat stocks like Brasil Foods, as corn comprises a large portion of animal feed. Whether or not those higher prices can be passed on to consumers might drive the profitability of meat stocks in 2011 and beyond.
That steak got you thirsty? With news that Bin Laden liked Coke and Pepsi, maybe throw life a curveball and try a different brand. How does a Dr Pepper sound? You don't have to tell the kids whether or not yours is mixed with an adult enhancer and placed over crushed ice. They'll figure it out when they're older. Dr Pepper Snapple Group DPS carries very little debt, with a debt-to-free-cash ratio under one. The stock also has an EPS of $2.34 and even paid out a dividend of $1.00 (2.60% yield).
OK, so you're either back from your vacation, or you've had a nice steak and soda. What's left to do with the family? If your kids are old enough to run around, or your spouse/friends are up for some ridiculous fun, you could have a nerf war! The toys, made by Hasbro HAS, are available at your major retailers and offer a relatively cheap way to relive your childhood.
Hasbro is a nice stock to consider if you're willing to bet big on the toy market growing in the next few years. Hasbro's CEO just bought another 10,000 shares of the company, bringing his total to almost a quarter-million. Maybe he knows something about the coming year that we don't?
Finally, with the sun setting and the kids in bed, what's left to do to forget this whole Osama nonsense? Fire up the computer, channel your inner nerd, and then play a little World of Warcraft. The hit game, made by Activision Blizzard ATVI, lets users level characters from little noobs to extreme, dragon-slaying mighty warriors (or, in the case of the writer, paladins).
Activision Blizzard is one of those interesting companies that carries no long-term debt, despite heavy investments in long-term gaming projects. Its World of Warcraft franchise set an MMORPG record 12 million subscribers, a number that grows every time it is reported.
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