A Big Upgrade for B&G Foods

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Every day, the sun rises on Wall Street, and a plethora of professional analysts wake to issue new opinions on stocks. Here at the Fool, we use our "This Just In" column to examine some of these picks -- and the track records of the companies behind them -- so individuals can make better investing decisions.

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After spending more than a year between a three- and four-star rank, enough top-performing CAPS members have finally swung to the bullish side of B&G Foods (NYSE: BGS) recently to launch it to the coveted five-star level. A total of 115 members have given their opinion on B&G Foods, with many of them offering analysis and commentary explaining the recent optimism.

While consumers have shied away from excessive spending during the recession, many continue to purchase their everyday food items consistently, benefiting the consumer staples companies that make them. B&G Foods makes a long list of food items like dry foods, sauces, and seasonings that are found almost anywhere from grocery stores like Kroger (NYSE: KR) to discount stores like Target (NYSE: TGT) and Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT). B&G recently reported a strong third quarter with 6.3% higher net sales and adjusted net income that more than doubled over last year. Reduced costs for raw items like wheat and maple syrup have helped, and the company has even seen increased sales for some of its key brands.

Many of the company's brands have been acquired from other companies when it sees a value opportunity. For example, its Cream of Wheat brand was bought from Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) and Ortega from Nestle. While many CAPS members like having recession-resistant dividend payers like H.J. Heinz (NYSE: HNZ) or Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) in their portfolios, many also like the future potential of a small cap like B&G. The company recently announced its twenty-first consecutive quarterly dividend since its initial public offering in 2004, and is currently yielding more than 8%.

Do you think B&G Foods deserves its five-star status? Add your thoughts in the comments box below on this page, or head over to CAPS to rate the company and check out all the information and opinions the community offers, absolutely free.