Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks For 2014

LONDON -- One of Warren Buffett's famous investing sayings is "Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful" -- or, in other words, sell when others are buying and buy when they're selling.

But we might expect Foolish investors to know that, and looking at what Fools have been buying recently might well provide us with some ideas for good investments.

So, in this series of articles, we're going to look at what customers of The Motley Fool ShareDealing Service have been buying in the past week or so and what might have made them decide to do so.

A stereotypical blue chip
Unilever� (LSE: ULVR  ) (NYSE: UL  ) is a stereotypical blue-chip company -- it has an international reputation for quality and reliability, and has proved its ability to operate profitably, despite the vicissitudes of the stock market, to deliver rewards to its shareholders over the long term.

Unilever sells brands that everyone knows and that command consumer confidence and loyalty. It counts Marmite, PG Tips, Persil, Walls, Cif, Flora, Knorr, and Colman's in its stable of more than 400 brand names worldwide. There's even Pot Noodle, a brand many people claim to hate, although the fact that it holds a 49% value share of the "instant hot snack" market suggests otherwise.

5 Best Building Product Stocks For 2015: International Business Machines Corporation(IBM)

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) provides information technology (IT) products and services worldwide. Its Global Technology Services segment provides IT infrastructure and business process services, including strategic outsourcing, process, integrated technology, and maintenance services, as well as technology-based support services. The company?s Global Business Services segment offers consulting and systems integration, and application management services. Its Software segment offers middleware and operating systems software, such as WebSphere software to integrate and manage business processes; information management software for database and enterprise content management, information integration, data warehousing, business analytics and intelligence, performance management, and predictive analytics; Tivoli software for identity management, data security, storage management, and datacenter automation; Lotus software for collaboration, messaging, and so cial networking; rational software to support software development for IT and embedded systems; business intelligence software, which provides querying and forecasting tools; SPSS predictive analytics software to predict outcomes and act on that insight; and operating systems software. Its Systems and Technology segment provides computing and storage solutions, including servers, disk and tape storage systems and software, point-of-sale retail systems, and microelectronics. The company?s Global Financing segment provides lease and loan financing to end users and internal clients; commercial financing to dealers and remarketers of IT products; and remanufacturing and remarketing services. It serves financial services, public, industrial, distribution, communications, and general business sectors. The company was formerly known as Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. and changed its name to International Business Machines Corporation in 1924. IBM was founded in 1910 and is based in Armonk, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Daniel Sparks]

    It turns out that market leaders in the tech sector like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) , Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) , IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) are better bargains than many typical cash cows, like Coca-Cola.

  • [By Kevin Chen]

    Analyzing�IBM� (NYSE: IBM  ) , Baidu� (NASDAQ: BIDU  ) , Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) ,�Google� (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) , and Nokia (NYSE: NOK  ) , Kevin calculates the return on research capital, or RORC. You can calculate this number yourself by taking this year's gross profit and dividing it by last year's R&D expenditures.

  • [By Steven Russolillo]

    Apple Inc.(AAPL), International Business Machines Corp.(IBM) and Exxon Mobil Corp.(XOM) spent the most on buybacks in the period. Apple repurchased $18 billion worth of stock, while IBM bought back $8.2 billion of its stock and Exxon repurchased $3.9 billion of stock. Five of the top 10 companies that implemented the biggest buybacks hailed from the tech sector, including Cisco Systems Inc.(CSCO), Oracle Corp.(ORCL) and Corning Inc.(GLW)

Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks For 2014: Apple Inc.(AAPL)

Apple Inc., together with subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers, mobile communication and media devices, and portable digital music players, as well as sells related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications worldwide. The company sells its products worldwide through its online stores, retail stores, direct sales force, third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value-added resellers. In addition, it sells third-party Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod compatible products, including application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, and other accessories and peripherals through its online and retail stores; and digital content and applications through the iTunes Store. The company sells its products to consumer, small and mid-sized business, education, enterprise, government, and creative markets. As of September 25, 2010, it had 317 retail stores, including 233 stores in the United States and 84 stores internationally. The company, formerly known as Apple Computer, Inc., was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Doug Ehrman]

    While investors have been clamoring for the return of a portion of Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) $145 billion of cash, it appears that the company is planning on issuing debt to fund this repayment. If you're scratching your head, wondering why the most cash-rich company on the planet would be taking out a loan, there's a good reason. U.S. tax law makes a loan the smarter play for the company and for shareholders.

  • [By John Udovich]

    With the Phil Robertson, A&E and Duck Dynasty controversy raging, Faith Driven Consumer has�created an online petition at istandwithphil.com�for those who�support Phil�� side in the controversy, but the group has also come out with a faith based rating system for major companies with publicly traded stocks like�Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE: ANF), Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE), Victoria's Secret or L Brands Inc (NYSE: LB) and Walgreen Company (NYSE: WAG) scoring�the lowest�because they lean strongly against a���iblical world view��(See my previous articles: Large Cap Stocks Leaning Toward a Biblical World View: A Good Investment? BBBY, DG, FDO, KSS & LOW; Small�Cap Stocks Leaning Toward a Biblical World View: A Good Investment? BLKIB, ARO, SMRT & ZLC). But what about the�share performance for these�stocks?

  • [By Doug Ehrman]

    Having bounced nicely off their recent low below $400 per share, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) shares have been heading higher ever since. The question that investors now want answered is whether the stock can reach $500 and beyond anytime soon. While competition for the iPhone from Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) Android devices and for the iPad from Microsoft, particularly given the recent news that Microsoft may be acquiring Nook Media from Barnes & Noble, are factors, the single biggest threat to Apple's race to $500 is the broader market. If the market can avoid a correction, Apple has a chance. If not, it's likely to put the next century mark on hold for at least a few months.

  • [By Rick Munarriz]

    This could be Tesla's defining moment. Right now, Tesla's Model S is a lot like Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) original iPhone. The consumer-tech giant's first smartphone turned heads in 2007 as the class act in a new product category. However, the $600 price tag was too much for most potential buyers. It wasn't until the iPhone was available for as little as $200 through a subsidized wireless contract a year later that it truly took off. Even that doesn't seem to be enough sometimes, and half of the iPhones selling these days are the older models that retail for $100 and even $200 less with a two-year contract. Even now there's pressure on Apple to put out an even cheaper device so it can cash in on overseas markets, where carriers can't afford to be as generous with the subsidizing.

Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks For 2014: Chevron Corporation(CVX)

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in petroleum, chemicals, mining, power generation, and energy operations worldwide. It operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment involves in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas; processing, liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as holds interest in a gas-to-liquids project. The Downstream segment engages in the refining of crude oil into petroleum products; marketing of crude oil and refined products primarily under the Chevron, Texaco, and Caltex brand names; transportation of crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment, and rail car; and manufacture and marketing of commodity petrochemicals, plastics for industrial uses, and fuel and lubricant additives. It a lso produces and markets coal and molybdenum; and holds interests in 13 power assets with a total operating capacity of approximately 3,100 megawatts, as well as involves in cash management and debt financing activities, insurance operations, real estate activities, energy services, and alternative fuels and technology business. Chevron Corporation has a joint venture agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation. The company was formerly known as ChevronTexaco Corp. and changed its name to Chevron Corporation in May 2005. Chevron Corporation was founded in 1879 and is based in San Ramon, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sue Chang]

    On Friday, Chevron Corp. (CVX) �is projected to report third-quarter earnings of $2.69 a share, according to a consensus survey by Fact Set.

  • [By Victor Reklaitis]

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) climbed 69.80 points, or nearly 0.5%, to finish at 15,615.55. Chevron Corp. (CVX) slid 1.6% and fared worst among blue chips after its earnings report. The Dow advanced 0.3% for the week.

  • [By Lee Jackson]

    Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) is the only major domestic integrated on the Credit Suisse list. The company has benefited greatly in 2013 from record oil and natural gas production in the United States. The company may be looking to expand domestic production by acquiring one of the top exploration and production stocks. Investors are paid a solid 3.4% dividend. The Credit Suisse price target is $140. The Thomson/First Call estimate is $135. Chevron closed Thursday at $123.22.

Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks For 2014: McDonald's Corporation(MCD)

McDonald?s Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a worldwide foodservice retailer. It franchises and operates McDonald?s restaurants that offer various food items, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated 32,478 restaurants in 117 countries, of which 26,216 were operated by franchisees; and 6,262 were operated by the company. McDonald?s Corporation was founded in 1948 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tom Reese]

    Shares of fast food giant McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) peaked in mid-April 2013 and have been on a steady decline since then. Let’s explore what’s in store for the company over the next 12 months, with a focus on dividends.

    McDonald’s's Current Dividend Policy

    MCD currently pays a quarterly dividend of 84 cents per share, or $3.24 on an annualized basis. Its dividend yield sits around 3.4%, which is toward the top of its historic range. Analysts expect 7% earnings growth for the company in 2014. Based on those projections, the company’s 2014 payout ratio is a healthy 54%. Thus, we see no stumbling blocks for McDonald’s to raise its dividend once again next year, likely beginning with its Q4 2014 payout.

    Dividend.com DARS Ratings for McDonald’s Overall Rating:Neutral (3.4/5) Metric Rating Explanation Relative Strength Stock is performing in-line with the market or better. Overall Yield Attractiveness Stock’s dividend yield is adequate. Dividend Reliability This rating is related to the length and consistency of a company’s dividend payouts, as well as our opinion on how likely the company is to continue payouts in the future. Dividend Uptrend Dividend payouts are consistent, but increases small. Earnings Growth Earnings estimates are uptrending.
  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Top Headline
    McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) reported a drop in its first-quarter profit. McDonald's posted its quarterly profit of $1.20 billion, or $1.21 per share, down from $1.27 billion, or $1.26 per share, in the year-ago period. Its total revenue rose to $6.70 billion versus $6.61 billion, while operating income slipped to $1.94 billion versus $1.95 billion. However, analysts were estimating earnings of $1.24 per share on revenue of $6.71 billion. McDonald's global same-store sales climbed 0.5%, while US same-store sales declined 1.7%. Equities Trading UP
    Revance Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RVNC) shares shot up 14.01 percent to $32.63 after the company reported positive results from the RT002 Phase 1/2 study in glabellar (frown) lines.

  • [By Neha Marwah]

    Yum! Brands (YUM) has been facing difficulty in its top international market China from where it earned over 50% of its revenue in 2012. Post December 2012 the operator of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell started witnessing difficult times in China after the food regulatory agency ran a search over the antibiotic levels of the chicken that these quick service restaurant chains, including McDonald�� (MCD) and Burger King (BKW) use.

  • [By Mark Morelli]

    Large companies like Wal-Mart Stores� (NYSE: WMT  ) , McDonalds (NYSE: MCD  ) , and Home Depot (NYSE: HD  ) could profit from the excess cash that oil-field workers and their families can afford to spend.�

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