Sid Riggs
Buy, Sell or Hold: Despite Challenges, Innovation Will Provide Long-Term Boost to Software Leader Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT)
Thanks to some shrewd maneuvering with its first major software contract in the early 1980s, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) built itself into a tech giant and software powerhouse. But the global financial crisis and increasing competition are eroding that longstanding dominance.
There's no doubt the company has made successful strategic decisions for decades.
Founder and Chairman William H. Gates III established Microsoft in 1975 and made it the worldwide leader in software products and services, including operating systems for servers, personal computers and intelligent devices, server applications, business solutions applications, software development tools and video games. It offers product support and consulting services on its impressive array of products, including its widely used Windows operating systems and Microsoft Office software suite.
Hot Stocks: General Electric is Being Powered by China Growth, but Held Back by its Financial Arm
General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) has more than a century of history behind it and it's seen worse times than we're going through right now. It's a global juggernaut, and its foothold in emerging markets – particularly China – makes the company worth looking at.
But at the end of the day, its financial unit is holding GE back, and that isn't likely to change any time soon.
Let me explain.
Buy, Sell or Hold: Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) – The 'Sin Stock' You Have to Own
[Editor's Note: Having previously examined Caterpillar Inc. and Pfizer Inc., Money Morning's Sid Riggs now turns his attention to the ultimate "sin stock:" Altria Group Inc.]
With more than 1 billion smokers worldwide, it is hard to conceive that companies selling cigarettes would not be extremely profitable. In addition, the majority of people who are smokers also tend to be alcohol consumers. One company that services both of these vices is Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO).
Altria Group is a holding company; its wholly owned subsidiaries consist of Phillip Morris USA Inc., U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. (prior to 2001 it was known as United States Tobacco Inc.), John Middleton Co. and Phillip Morris Capital Corp.
On Jan. 6 2009, Altria Group purchased UST Inc. in a $10 billion deal that gave the maker of Marlboro cigarettes an entrée into the "smokeless tobacco" market, thanks to UST's ownership of the Skoal and Copenhagen brands.
Buy, Sell or Hold: Is Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) the Right Prescription for Your Portfolio?
In 2008, the journal Health Affairs reported that 25% of China's adult population – about 375 million people – was "overweight" or "obese."
That number is expected to double by 2028, and obesity is just one health issue in a densely polluted nation that finds itself battling a growing list of ailments.
So it's no surprise that China's pharmaceutical market has been surging at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 16% — the fastest pace in the world, according to research by market-intelligence leader IMS Health Inc. (NYSE: RX). IMS Health estimates that by 2020 the Chinese market for pharmaceuticals will be $110 billion, second only to the United States.
The Year of the Tiger is the Perfect Time for Caterpillar Inc.
In China, the tiger is commonly thought of as lazy, merely appearing to be strong and ferocious.
But that's truly not the case. The tiger does not waste his energy showing his strength. Instead, it sees the future and knows precisely when to pounce on its prey. Those who can see past the great wall of today and look into the future – much like our wise friend, the tiger – understand just what it takes to be successful.
If we were to analyze the growth potential for the worldwide construction industry, we would find that Japan's Komatsu Ltd. (OTC ADR: KMTUY) and the U.S.-based Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) are best-positioned for global success.
How China is Torpedoing the U.S. Dollar…
The Federal Reserve isn't the only player driving down the value of the dollar. The Red Dragon is launching an attack of its own. China's recent deal with Argentina is just the beginning. Find out China's plan in this special report.
7 Reasons China Will Lead the Global Economic Recovery
It's not too late to profit from China's booming markets. In fact, a recent sell-off has actually created one of the biggest buying opportunities of a lifetime. Here's why China is poised to take off – and how to cash in as China leads the global economic recovery.
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