According to
GuruFocus list of 52-week highs
, these Guru stocks have reached their 52-Week Highs: Lorillard
Inc. (
LO
), Merck & Co. Inc. (
MRK
), The Hershey Company (
HSY
), Colgate-Palmolive Company (
CL
) and American Electric Power (
AEP
).
Lorillard Inc. (
LO
) Reached the 52-Week High of $137.73
Lorillard Inc. is the third largest manufacturer of cigarettes in
the U.S. Lorillard Inc. has a market cap of $18.1 billion; its
shares were traded at around $137.73 with a P/E ratio of 17.5 and
P/S ratio of 2.8. The dividend yield of Lorillard Inc. stocks is
4.5%.
On April 25, Lorillard Inc. announced results for the quarter
ended March 31, 2012. First quarter reported (GAAP) diluted
earnings per share decreased 0.6% versus last year to $1.70.
First quarter adjusted (Non-GAAP) diluted earnings per share
increased 1.8% versus last year to$1.74. Lorillard domestic
wholesale shipments decreased 2.5% in the first quarter versus
last year compared to an estimated 4.0% decline in industry
domestic wholesale shipments.
In June, Vice President and Treasurer
Houghton Lewis
, Director
Blixt Dianne Neal
, and Director
Robert C. Almon
bought shares of June. Executive Vice President Charles E.
Hennighausen and Director Kit D Dietz sold shares in May.
Executive VP and CFO David H. Taylor sold 2,900 shares in March.
Merck & Co. Inc. (
MRK
) Reached the 52-Week High of $43.41
Merck & Co. Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical
company dedicated to putting patients first. Merck & Co. Inc.
has a market cap of $132.26 billion; its shares were traded at
around $43.41 with a P/E ratio of 11.3 and P/S ratio of 2.8. The
dividend yield of Merck & Co. Inc. stocks is 3.9%. Merck
& Co. Inc. had an annual average earnings growth of 8.5% over
the past five years.
On April 27, Merck announced financial results for the first
quarter of 2012. Worldwide sales were $11.7 billion for the first
quarter of 2012, an increase of 1 percent compared with the first
quarter of 2011. First-quarter pharmaceutical sales grew 3
percent to $10.1 billion.
In May, Executive Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance
Office Richard S. Bowles III sold 27,377 shares of MRK stock.
Executive Vice President and President MMD Willie A. Deese sold
42,466 shares in February.
The Hershey Company (
HSY
) Reached the 52-Week High of $71.26
The Hershey Company is a snack food company and the largest North
American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate
confectionery products. The Hershey Company has a market cap of
$16.22 billion; its shares were traded at around $71.26 with a
P/E ratio of 23.7 and P/S ratio of 2.7. The dividend yield of The
Hershey Company stocks is 2.1%. The Hershey Company had an annual
average earnings growth of 5.2% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus
rated The Hershey Company the business predictability rank of
3-star.
On April 24, The Hershey Company announced sales and earnings for
the first quarter ended April 1, 2012. Consolidated net sales
were $1,732,064,000 compared with $1,564,223,000 for the first
quarter of 2011. Reported net income for the first quarter of
2012 was $198,651,000 or $0.87 per share-diluted, compared with
$160,115,000 or $0.70 per share-diluted for the comparable period
of 2011.
In February, Director James M. Mead bought 500 shares of HSY
stock. This month, Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer
Kevin R. Walling sold 4,000 shares of HSY stock. President and
CEO John P. Bilbrey sold 2,205 shares in June. Vice President CAO
David W. Tacka, Senior Vice President, Global Operations Terence
L. O'Day, and Executive Vice President, CFO and Chief Admin
Officer Humberto P. Alfonso sold shares in May.
Colgate-Palmolive Company (
CL
) Reached the 52-Week High of $103.9
Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company,
tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Household Surface
Care, Fabric Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate-Palmolive Company
has a market cap of $50.33 billion; its shares were traded at
around $103.9 with a P/E ratio of 20.6 and P/S ratio of 3. The
dividend yield of Colgate-Palmolive Company stocks is 2.4%.
Colgate-Palmolive Company had an annual average earnings growth
of 8.4% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Colgate-Palmolive
Company the business predictability rank of 4.5-star.
On April 26, Colgate-Palmolive Company reported worldwide Net
sales of $4,200 million in first quarter 2012, an increase of
5.0% versus first quarter 2011. Global unit volume grew 3.5%,
pricing increased 3.5% and foreign exchange was negative 2.0%.
Net income and diluted earnings per share in first quarter 2012
were $593 million and $1.23, respectively.
This month, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary Andrew D. Hendry,
Senior Vice President Global Human Resources Daniel B. Marsili,
COO Emerging Markets and South Pacific Franck J. Moison,
President Colgate Latin America Justin Skala, and President
Colgate North America Noel R. Wallace sold shares of CL stock.
Chairman, President and CEO Ian M. Cook, CFO Dennis J. Hickey,
and President and CEO Hill's Pet Nutrition Neil Thompson sold
shares in February.
American Electric Power (
AEP
) Reached the 52-Week High of $41.93
American Electric Power is a public utility holding company which
owns, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding common stock
of its domestic electric utility subsidiaries and varying
percentages of other subsidiaries. American Electric Power has a
market cap of $20.2 billion; its shares were traded at around
$41.93 with a P/E ratio of 13.5 and P/S ratio of 1.3. The
dividend yield of American Electric Power stocks is 4.5%.
On July 20, American Electric Power reported 2012 second-quarter
earnings, prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles (GAAP), of $362 million or $0.75 per share,
compared with $352 million or $0.73 per share for second-quarter
2011. Operating earnings (excluding special items) for
second-quarter 2012 were $370 million or $0.77 per share, $8
million or $0.02 per share higher than GAAP earnings.
In May, Executive Vice President and COO Robert P. Powers and
Executive Vice President Dennis E. Welch sold shares of AEP
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