Happy July 4! As you sit back in a lawn chair or turn on the grill, take a look at which companies have also attended your Independence Day celebration. Perhaps one or two of them will be portfolio winners.
The Car
While only the second-largest automaker in the country, Ford
Looking abroad, Ford's small European division has suffered less than General Motors' European unit, and Ford is poised for a rapid recovery. Ford has announced plans to continue its major investment -- $5 billion and counting -- in the Asia-Pacific and Africa regions. While growing investments and other costs are keeping profits low, rising sales should lead to future profitability as the company streamlines operations. Moreover, part of the automaker's successful recovery plan was to create a single, unified product line for worldwide distribution, which will keep costs lower in the future.
And as Ford partners with burgeoning rule breaker Westport Innovations
The Beer
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Anheuser-Busch has also occupied the rare position of a fast-growing stock that also sports a dividend -- in this case a 1.7% yield. However, it's questionable whether the share price can keep rising at its current clip, as the rise was mostly driven by the recent acquisition. With the company's price at an all-time high, be aware that Anheuser-Busch might not be worth the high valuation right now.
The Lawnmower
You probably mowed the lawn before the guests showed up today, and perhaps you got the job done with a classic ride-on mower from Deere
Deere has only limited exposure to the faltering European continent, with 60% of sales coming from the United States. The industrial company has a yield of 2.3%, a low P/E of 11.25, and a five-year earnings growth estimate that beats the broad market. As the world's population expands and moves into the middle class, more people will need more food, and Deere will be there, ready to harvest some profits.
As fellow Fool Rex Moore noted in an article on Tuesday, Deere's balance sheet is loaded with $1.1 billion of goodwill and other intangibles, a potential warning sign. While excessive intangible assets can lead to a plummeting share price if the assets don't amount to their stated value, Deere seems to be avoiding this risk. As the company continues to invest in U.S. manufacturing, expect this company to continue to grow and reward shareholders accordingly.
The Hamburger
Although plenty of us prefer it were not so, many people around the world associate the United States with the golden arches of McDonald's
After being the best-performing stock on the Dow in 2011, the extension of the economic crisis to all corners of the globe has certainly slowed McDonald's rise. Still, I expect that the fast-food giant will continue to expand internationally, potentially offering investors future profits. As shares now trade below $90 after topping $100 in January, Fool Andrew Tonner recently decided to pick up some for his Real Money Portfolio. Moreover, with an ever-increasing yield of 3.2%, this looks like a solid value addition to any income investor's portfolio.
To stay up to date on your favorite companies, American classics or not, be sure to take advantage of the free My Watchlist feature:
- Add Westport Innovations to My Watchlist.
- Add McDonald's to My Watchlist.
- Add Ford to My Watchlist.
- Add Deere to My Watchlist.
- Add Anheuser-Busch Inbev to My Watchlist.