According to The Wall Street Journal, Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB) plans on executing a nice buyback program for its stock. The company will repurchase perhaps as much as 10% of its shares over time. Also, earnings will probably come in near the top point of the previously stated range. So, should you rush in and invest in Campbell just because of this buyback?

My opinion: Probably not if you're looking to merely trade the name, but if you're looking to hold for the long term, you'll probably be all right. Although Campbell Soup's stock isn't near a 52-week low as of this writing, I notice that Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), and Kraft (NYSE: KFT) aren't too far from theirs. It's been a crazy time for the markets, and it amazes me that a stock like Coke isn't being perceived as a safe haven. I know there are some reasons out there for its weakness in terms of growth prospects and the like, but still, I've watched it drop quite a bit in very recent times (I own Coke), and I'm a bit surprised at its current price action considering the recession.

So, even though Campbell's buyback is great news for shareholders who already own the stock, I'm not sure I'd initiate a position myself. Although I am looking for stocks to buy, I just haven't been able to ignore the technical damage that's been inflicted upon the big averages by the bears and am reticent at putting new money to work in short-term trades. I think management might be doing the right thing with its buyback from a shareholder standpoint, but from a trading perspective, I would not be buying along with them.

Disclosure: I own Coke; positions can change at any time.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Talk about a tough time in the markets. Between the financial crisis and oil prices rising on an almost daily basis, with the Fed damned if it raises rates and damned if it doesn't, the floods in the Midwest are now threatening to make a trip to the supermarket much more expensive. Yes, break out the coupons and pray for sales, because, according to The Wall Street Journal [subscription], food prices are destined for one direction: higher. That's because a lot of farmland has been damaged, throwing the supply-demand dynamic into chaos.

What does this mean for investors? Look for potential pressure on the stocks of companies such as Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), Kraft (NYSE: KFT), Kellogg (NYSE: K), General Mills (NYSE: GIS), and Hershey (NYSE: HSY). I happen to own Coke, and I've heard the news reports talking about how higher corn prices will affect Coke and Pepsi because they use corn syrup as an ingredient for their sodas. It's also been pointed out by others that PepsiCo owns Frito-Lay, and since that company manufacturers salty snacks such as Doritos and Tostitos (I love them both), corn prices will also have an impact on that division.

If you're a trader, be wary. We might be in for a rough ride this summer with not only the stocks I've mentioned here, but in a general sense. Since I own Coke, I've been acutely aware of the pullback experienced in that stock as the external pressures surround it. As I write this, the stock is trading at $54.27. The shares were over $65 during their wonderful stay at the 52-week-high suite. So, yes, buyers with short-term mentalities must be wary. However, long-term investors should look upon any pullbacks as potential opportunities for some of these food-selling companies. If you don't intend to trade, then adding to a Coke or Pepsi position might make sense.

Disclosure: I own Coke; positions can change at any time.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• ADC Telecommunications Inc. (NASDAQ: ADCT) beat Q2 estimates and raised its full-year guidance.
• Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) near-term earnings prospects led to an analyst downgrade.
• Banco de Chile (NYSE: BCH) earnings prospects after an acquisition led to an analyst's upgrade.
• Benihana Inc. (NASDAQ: BNHN) posted lower Q4 profits but still beat earnings estimates.
• Bob Evans Farms Inc. (NASDAQ: BOBE) reported solid Q4 results due in part to cost management.
• Brown-Forman Corp. (NYSE: BF.B) easily beat Q4 estimates and offered full-year guidance.
• CMGI Inc. (NASDAQ: CMGI) lowered its guidance, sending shares tumbling 25%.
• Coca Cola Hellenic Bottling Co. (NYSE: CCH) warned of weaker earnings due to economic conditions.
• Conn's Inc. (NASDAQ: CONN) reported solid Q1 results and issued in-line guidance for the year.
• Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE: DKS) earnings prospects impress analysts despite recent guidance.
• Guess? Inc. (NYSE: GES) topped Q1 expectations due to strong international expansion.
• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (NYSE: KKD) swung to a Q1 profit despite falling revenues.
• Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LEH) posted a bigger-than-expected loss on further write-downs.

• National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: NSM) beat estimates on cost efficiencies and improved product mix.
• Nortel Networks Corp. (NYSE: NT) reaffirmed its revenue guidance for the full year.
• Pall Corp. (NYSE: PLL) reported strong Q3 results that beat Wall Street expectations.
• Pep Boys (NYSE: PBY) reported that Q1 earnings jumped due to real estate transactions.
• PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) plans to reiterate its full-year earnings guidance despite market conditions.
• Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) earnings prospects for the second half of 2008 impress one adviser.
• Quality Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: QSII) Q4 profits grew 32%, in line with analysts' expectations.
• Shuffle Master Inc. (NASDAQ: SHFL) topped Q2 expectations, sending shares higher.
• Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: SWHC) Q4 profits fell but still beat analysts' estimates.
• Talbots Inc. (NYSE: TLB) reaffirmed its better-than-expected 2008 earnings guidance.
• Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE: TXN) warned that weak demand for chips could hurt Q2 results.
• UBS (NYSE: UBS) warned "further write-downs may hit earnings" and some assets classes had deteriorated.

Also, Barron's likes the prospects for ethanol producers such as VeraSun Energy Corp. (NYSE: VSE). Kiplinger's includes Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) and Dick's Sporting Goods among its Father's Day stock picks. Could rancor over Vista hurt Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) bottom line?

Upcoming results to watch for include Adobe Systems (NASDAQ: ADBE), La-Z-Boy (NYSE: LZB), Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), CarMax (NYSE: KMX), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), FedEx (NYSE: FDX), JM Smucker (NYSE: SJM), and Winnebago (NYSE: WGO).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), major rival of Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), is letting the investing world know that it's doing fine. In one of the shortest press releases I've ever read, management at the beverage maker let shareholders in on the fact that it intends to reiterate guidance at The Deutsche Bank Global Consumer and Food Retail Conference that takes place next week in Paris. PepsiCo believes it's still good for $3.72 per share in earnings for the fiscal year.

When the world seems to be heading for the dark pits of economic hell, it's nice to know that PepsiCo expects to be able to stay the course and deliver on an earlier forecast. After all, with all this talk of inflation, one would have to wonder how companies like PepsiCo and Coke can possibly remain stable given the difficult input-cost environment. The big question on my mind is how high these two companies might rise during the summer, since they are considered defensive plays. They didn't seem defensive at all on Wednesday during the Dow's 200-point bleed, but my gut is telling me they might be good short-term plays.

They certainly are excellent long-term plays, and while I own Coke, I'll concede that right now, in terms of P/E ratios and dividend yields, an investor wouldn't go wrong with either. And, yes, I'll further concede that one gets an added bonus with PepsiCo since it owns the strong Frito-Lay salty-snack business. But with both stocks down over the last six months (As of this writing, PepsiCo is down more than 11% for the six-month period while Coke is down more than 9%), and with problems in the markets, they might be interesting ideas right now. Again, though, the effect of input costs must be part of your due diligence before buying.

Disclosure: I own shares of Coke; positions can change at any time.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Earnings season is basically over, but there are still some reports out there. On Friday, Wimm-Bill-Dann (NYSE: WBD), a dairy and juice distributor based in Russia, divulged its Q1 earnings stats. Talk about growth across the board. Everything was double-digit appreciation (except for one metric, which I'll get to in just a minute).

Seriously, this is like a picture of perfection in many ways. Net revenues jumped 35%. Gross profit shot up 26%. Operating income soared 23%. Net income on a dollar basis rose 31%. Net income on a diluted basis increased 30% to $0.95 per share. Bravo, Wimm-Bill-Dann!

Now, there's one metric that the company didn't shine on. It can be found in the statement of cash flows. Net cash from operating activities actually declined 45%. Okay, cash flow is one of my favorite metrics, so yes, this decrease isn't a joyous event for me. But this is just the first quarter. The growth rates in the other areas nevertheless inspire confidence in this foreign company. Plus, according to Reuters, this quarterly performance beat expectations.

According to AOL Finance, Wimm-Bill-Dann has been a pretty strong stock the past few years. And it held up relatively well in Friday's pounding sell-off. Although I wouldn't discourage anyone from investigating this idea further, especially those who want to expose a portfolio to a foreign-based consumer stock, I have to point out that, when it comes to investing in food stocks, I like ones that have a well-defined dividend plan, especially in an environment such as this one (according to Reuters, Wimm-Bill-Dann doesn't). I'd probably think of companies such as Kraft (NYSE: KFT), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), or PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) before I'd consider Wimm-Bill-Dann.

Still, I think Wimm-Bill-Dann delivered a fine quarter, and I think the stock could be interesting considering it is off its highs of the year (on Friday, the stock closed around $125 per share, and the 52-week high is about $145 per share). However, please perform your own due diligence before considering action on it.

Disclosure: I own shares of Coca-Cola; positions can change at any time.

Read | Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Is there anything cooler than Kool-Aid? Kraft (NYSE: KFT) believes there is, my friends. In fact, Kraft thinks a healthier Kool-Aid is pretty darn hip!

According to this AP article, Kraft wants to position the Kool-Aid brand to health-conscious moms as a beverage that is okay for kids to consume. The food company will be adding vitamin E to one of the Kool-Aid varieties, and it has reformulated its sugar-free lineup to improve the taste. There's also a new Kool-Aid product on the market called Burstin' Waters that is supposed to be relatively healthy.

The company actually has been pretty good about trying to make its products not as junky. As the article states, Kraft introduced an initiative a few years back to create a set of nutritional guidelines that would aid the company in making its portfolio more in tune with the current zeitgeist; indeed, moms everywhere seem to be getting sick of putting sugary, fat-inducing foodstuffs into the stomachs of their kids. Of course, I'm sure kids still get away with eating junk at times (it's like an inalienable right of the youth); for the most part, though, consumer choices are shifting, and woe be the consumer-goods entity that does not respond. Just ask Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP). Those two have been kicking it into high gear when it comes to alternatives to sugary carbonated sodas. Pepsi and Coke now offer all kinds of waters and enhanced beverages; in Pepsi's case, many of its salty-snack products are decidedly healthier. Coke purchased VitaminWater last year, and has been doing well with it. And with vitamins all the rage, Kraft would be smart to really promote the heck out of that vitamin-E addition.

From this point on, the public is going to increasingly demand food and drink of a higher quality, consumables that can promote wellness. Kraft needs to sell the public on its new Kool-Aid, especially since, no matter how much improved it is, it still is, well, Kool-Aid. It'll never be the healthiest thing on the market, but with the right campaign, perceptions can change, and sales can grow. Kool-Aid is still a famous brand, and little evolutions like this can help it remain relevant.

Disclosure: I own shares of Coca-Cola; positions can change at any time.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

According to an article on Reuters, Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) is feeling the pressures of the flat domestic marketplace. COO Muhtar Kent, who will soon become the CEO, said in comments at a speaking event in Japan that Coke will be evaluating an acquisition strategy to grow the long-term prospects of its beverage business.

Now, this doesn't mean that a large purchase or merger is on the horizon, but it does mean that shareholders can expect, according to Kent, small, targeted asset buys. He did, however, specifically state that the company isn't giving up on organic growth, either, in its quest to expand its presence in beverages and beat back the ongoing threat of enemy number one, PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP).

He better not be giving up on it. Coke's stock recently retreated from its 52-week high of $65.59 to a price, as of noon today, of $56.37. The stock has done well over the last year, and this could be considered a normal consolidation. However, there has been a lot of buzz lately about Coke's domestic weakness.

I wrote a piece back in February on the issue. What concerns me most is that Coke might give in to temptation to either make a large purchase or too many small ones. I continue to be behind the rationale that brought Glaceau and Vitamin Water to Coke's portfolio, but I, as a shareholder, am none too keen on any acquisition even remotely approaching that multibillion-dollar scale. I don't think this will happen, but I want Kent's mantra to center on organic, rather than inorganic, expansion of sales. The Glaceau buy is still young, and it will be many years before that company's brands are fully leveraged to Coke's maximum benefit, so Kent might as well concentrate on that recently-acquired asset.

It all comes back to marketing. Put more resources into ad campaigns, viral initiatives on the web, and new packaging designs. Don't give up on trademark Coca-Cola. Yes, the company will need to continue expanding into coffee, waters, and juices, oftentimes at the expense of an acquisition or a joint venture, but look to organic growth of carbonated sodas via intense advertising programs. It'll be tough, but the Coke brand is still tops in the eyes of many, and that is a great advantage.

Disclosure: I own shares in Coca-Cola; positions can change at any time.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and check out other Battle of the Brands posts.

Behold the humble potato chip, snack food of the ages. Claimed to have been invented in 1853 in the road house kitchen of Native American George Crum, the potato chip traveled through American snack history in a class of it's own. That is, until in the early 1960s, when it was discovered that you could grind potatoes into a slurry and then press them back into a consumable form.

I sat down one day with a bag of potato chips from Lay's and with a can of Pringles. Lay's are made by Frito-Lay, a property of PepsiCo Inc. ( NYSE: PEP). Pringles are made by Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG). I wanted to compare the two in order to assess their similarities and differences. What I found were two very different snacking sensations although both are derived from the same source. The Lay's ingredient list is simple. They're made with potatoes, oil, and salt, with no preservatives added. The Pringles ingredient list begins with the same potatoes, oil, and salt, but the product also contains at least traces of wheat starch and rice flour in addition to a couple common food chemicals.

Lay's potato chips come out of a bag, each one a thin, crisp, salty snack of individual size and shape. Pringles potato crisps come out of a can, each one a perfect replication of the crisp preceding it and the one following after. Both the snacks do an admirable job of satisfying the craving for a crunchy, salty treat. Nutritionally the two munchies are very similar in total calories and fat.

There was just one particular difference I found between the two that might sway a buying decision. While Pringles potato crisps might comfort us with their uniformity, each one exactly the same anywhere in the country, Lay's potato chips in their uniqueness, offer the possibility that you might find one shaped like Texas, which you could sell on eBay for $1,500.

Vote in our poll for Lay's or Pringles as your preferred brand, and let us know in the comments why you love it.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

"Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) is no longer relegated to a tiny corner of the investment landscape; indeed, according to the Social Investment Forum, SRI now accounts for $2.7 trillion, up more than 18% since 2005," says Chuck Carlson.

Here, the editor of The DRIP Investor offers five stock that both rank high for their social responsibility and also stand out based on more traditional earnings and valuation analysis.

"The Social Investment Forum estimates that more than one in every 10 dollars under professional management in the U.S. is involved in SRI investing. What is driving the growth in SRI?

"One factor is the increasing numbers of women and younger investors among the investor populace have fueled demand for SRI investments.

"In addition, we see an increased focus on environment, social, and corporate governance issues. Further, widely publicized stories concerning global warming as well as various corporate governance issues, have caused many investors to reconsider how they deploy their investment capital.

"The most prominent of all the SRI market indexes is the KLD Domini 400 Social Index. The index employs a variety of environmental and social screens when selecting components. In a nutshell, the index selects companies that have positive environmental, social, and governance performance.

"To be sure, I've always been a bit tentative about the concept of SRI investing. It seemed to me that to pick stocks solely on SRI criteria left out an important part of the equation - investment merit.

"Because traditional SRI investing often excludes important investment factors such as earnings and valuation. Still, plenty of stocks exist within the SRI framework that adhere to SRI principles yet offer outstanding return potential for investors."

Chuck Carlson adds that five stocks that rank highly according to SRI are also members of his Editor's Portfolio, which is determined by investment merit. They are Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX), PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), Regions Financial (NYSE: RF), and Walgreen (NYSE: WAG).

In addition, he adds, "Among other favorites, I especially like Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) as a stock offering a compelling buying opportunity. I think Wall Street's concern that Microsoft will overpay for Yahoo is overshadowing the company's solid growth prospects. I expect the stock to move sharply higher once there is greater clarity on the Yahoo deal."

Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers the latest market commentary and favorite investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and check out other Battle of the Brands posts.

When it comes to nonalcoholic beverages, there are two that stand out from all the rest. I'm sure you know the names of the companies behind them -- Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP). That's right, it's Coke-versus-Pepsi time! This battle has been waging for a long, long time, and it is as legendary, as ultimate, as the conflict between good and evil. Of course, which one is "good" and which one is "evil" will depend on your taste buds (or, perhaps, the stock you own).

Oddly enough, I'm sort of on both sides. Consider: I own shares in Coke, but when it comes to choosing between Coke and Pepsi, believe it or not, I actually choose the latter! Nothing wrong with that, certainly; after all, you don't invest based solely on what you personally like or don't like. But I will give Pepsi this much -- its soda, simply put, seems a little smoother, a lot sweeter, and it doesn't have an aftertaste. There's something about Coke's flagship beverage that causes a strange taste to linger after its been downed. Maybe it's just me. But, yes, I have to come clean and confess that I do prefer Pepsi over Coke (although, I tell all my friends that Coke is the better-tasting drink, as you can imagine, and promote it whenever the opportunity arises). I should note, though, that all of this is a bit of a moot point, since I mostly eschew sugary soda these days in favor of the dietary counterpart -- on that count, I am most firmly in Coke's camp, as I happily consume Diet Coke exclusively, and cannot stand Diet Pepsi!

So, okay, that sums up my personal biases. But what of the macro issue at large? How has the battle between Coke and Pepsi been playing out? Both companies possess fierce competitive streaks, and the weapons they wield come in the form of advertising campaigns, marketing slogans, and innovative packaging. If you ask me, I think it's kind of a draw between the two when it comes to the quality of their respective marketing strategies when taken in an overall context -- I think Pepsi has put forth a lot of cool ads that speak to the youth, and I believe Coke was lagging the last decade in terms of reaching this demographic.

Still, Coke retains a significant advantage over Pepsi in terms of brand equity, and this is evident even with younger people -- I recently wrote about the Coke brand scoring in a social-networking site survey. Of course, as I mentioned in that piece, many young people in my area seem to reach for the blue Pepsi packaging as opposed to the distinctive, crimson, iconic shape of the famous contoured Coke bottle. Even with Coke's best-of-breed worldwide distribution system, there always was a feeling that the soda wasn't as connected to the kids as it should be given the beverage's long history and famed reputation for being a valued member of the Americana.

But, when it comes to sales of the sodas, obviously Coke is the leader. Google the Coke-Pepsi wars, and you'll likely find articles that support such a statement. It doesn't mean, though, that the Coke brand will always be on top in terms of the most important metric in terms of this discussion. Likewise, it should be noted, that Coke's strength is, in a sense, its weakness, for while Coke pins its hopes to leveraging its shareholder success on the intangible value of the brand equity linked to trademark Coca-Cola (by the way, for those who wish to point out that growth in carbonated beverages has been challenged in recent years and that non-carbonated drinks such as Dasani and Powerade have being do a pretty good amount of the heavy lifting, keep in mind that it is the flagship brand that nevertheless drives everything at the company, and that it helps those other products get placement on supermarket shelves), Pepsi is free to pursue the growth opportunities in its Frito-Lay and Quaker Oats foodstuffs line.

So, who has the upper hand right now in terms of market cap? At the time of this writing, PepsiCo was valued at $110 billion; Coca-Cola's market cap, on the other hand, was near $140 billion. Not bad, considering it doesn't have a snacks business to help out. I think when it comes to brands, both are powerful, and both resonate with the consumer, but in the end, you've got to give Coke the edge here. Pepsi might, at times, be the choice of a new generation, but I think Coke will always be it!

Disclosure: I own shares of Coca-Cola; positions can change at any time.

Vote in our poll for Pepsi or Coke as your preferred brand, and let us know in the comments why you love it.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and check out other Battle of the Brands posts.

Businesswise, it's no real competition between Subway and Quiznos. Subway, the number 1 sub sandwich chain, claims to have more than 29,000 locations in 86 countries, earning more than $11 billion in 2007. Quiznos, on the other hand, has more than 5,000 locations in 20 countries, earning $130 million in 2004, making it a distant number 2. In fact, Subway is the third largest fast-food chain globally after Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) (Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, etc.) with 34,000 locations and McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), with 31,000 locations.

Both Subway and Quiznos are privately owned, franchise fast-food chains. While Quiznos is a limited liability company controlled by chairman Rick Schaden and his family, Subway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Doctor's Associates, Inc., a company founded in 1965 by Fred De Luca and Dr. Peter Buck specifically to oversee the Subway chain of restaurants.

Subway menus vary by store. For instance, its restaurants in Muslim countries serve Halal menu, and Subway has kosher restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, Kansas City, and a suburb of Cleveland. All locations feature submarine sandwiches, ranging from four-inch "mini subs" to its three-foot giant subs. Popular sandwiches include Turkey Breast, Italian BMT, and the Subway Club. All of Quiznos' sandwiches are served toasted, and its best-sellers include the Classic Italian, the Mesquite Chicken with Bacon, the Prime Rib Cheesesteak, the Chicken Carbonara. Last fall Quzinos introduced flatbread "sammies."

When it comes to advertising, Quzinos has been all over the map, including ads featuring a man suckled at a mother wolf's teat, talking "Baby Bob" ads, a dig at its larger rival with ads featuring a "Wrong Way" restaurant -- and then there were the creepy but short-lived Spongmonkey ads. Subway's best-known spokesman is Jared Fogle, who in 1999 is said to have lost 245 pounds on a diet featuring Subway sandwiches.

But don't think that the smaller Quzinos has had no influence on Subway. In 2003, when most Subway locations switched their beverage contracts from PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) products to Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) products, Coca-Cola helped pay for the initial rollout of toaster ovens to Subway restaurants in North America, This allowed customers the option to have sandwiches toasted, in response to increased competition from Quiznos.

But the real competition is not between one company and another, but between their product offerings. Who has the tastiest offerings? Who provides the best value? Vote in our poll and let us know what you think.

Vote in our poll for Subway or Quiznos as your preferred brand, and let us know in the comments why you love it.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (NYSE: AXL) reported a strike-related Q1 loss.
• Arch Coal Inc. (NYSE: ACI) Q1 profit tripled on increased demand and higher prices.
• Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) posted better-than-expected earnings despite Dreamliner delays.
• Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) better-than-expected quarter didn't impress Jim Cramer.
• ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) reported Q1 earnings and revenue above analysts' forecasts.
• Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) reported a big loss on a one-time charge and fuel costs.
• Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW) posted a smaller-than-forecast profit drop and predicted a good Q2.
• EI DuPont de Nemours & Co. (NYSE: DD) Q1 earnings rose 26% but missed expectations.
• Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) surprised Wall Street by swinging to a profit in the first quarter.
• Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. (NYSE: GT) easily surpassed analyst estimates for the first quarter.
• Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL) Q1 earnings and revenue rose due to international growth.
• Hershey Co. (NYSE: HSY) profit fell but was in line with analysts' expectations.

• JetBlue Airways Corp. (NASDAQ: JBLU) reported a narrower-than-expected loss in the first quarter.
• Lockheed-Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) posted solid Q1 results and raised its full-year outlook.
• McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD) easily beat Q1 estimates due to gains overseas.
• Northwest Airlines Corp. (NYSE: NWA) reported a larger-than-expected loss due to fuel costs.
• PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) posted solid Q1 results that were merely inline with expectations.
• Pepsi Bottling Group (NYSE: PBG) earnings were flat, but beat Wall Street expectations by a penny.
• Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. (NYSE: POT) posted strong results on strong demand and price hikes.
• Sonoco Products Co. (NYSE: SON) reported better-than-expected Q1 results and revised guidance.
• Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX) preliminary Q2 results were lower than analyst's expected.
• 3M Co. (NYSE: MMM) beat earnings expectations and reaffirmed its guidance.
• UAL Corp. (NASDAQ: UAUA) posted a worse-than-expected Q1 loss on rising fuel prices.
• US Steel Corp. (NYSE: X) better-than-expected quarter didn't impress Jim Cramer.
• Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) Q1 profits soared on overseas strength, and raised its guidance.

Also, Jim Cramer discusses "crummy lenders" and Jonathan Berr wonders if Ford's turnaround is for real. Joseph Lazzaro considers Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) as a barometer of the economy. One analyst thinks financials may have hit bottom and it may be time to buy, and Jon Ogg looks at what short sellers are making of tech stocks. Ted Allrich discusses what to sell/what to buy.

Upcoming results to watch for include Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN), CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS), Countrywide Financial (NYSE: CFC), U.S. Steel Corp. (NYSE: X), Office Depot (NYSE: ODP), General Motors (NYSE: GM), Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT), Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), Time Warner (NYSE: TWX), Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), and Chevron (NYSE: CVX).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Shares of PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP), and Hershey Co. (NYSE: HSY) fell as investors were worried that soaring commodity prices would hurt profit.

Net income at Pepsi increased to $1.15 billion, or 70 cents a share while sales soared 13 percent to $8.33 billion. The company benefited from strong international sales. It also reaffirmed 2008 guidance of "high-single-digit net revenue growth" and earnings of at least $3.72. Analysts were expecting profit of $3.73 on revenue of $42.85 billion, according to Thomson Financial.

"We delivered a strong first quarter," said Chief Executive Indra Nooyi in the earnings release. "During the quarter, we faced the challenge of a macroeconomic slowdown in the U.S. and continued global commodity inflation, but the strength and breadth of our global footprint and portfolio helped us deliver strong first quarter results."

The picture at Hershey was hardly sweet. Net income fell to $63.2 million, or 28 cents per share, compared with $93.5 million, or 40 cents, a year earlier. Total cost and expenses rose to $1 billion from $942.7 million.
Revenue rose $1.16 billion. Analysts had expected profit of 39 cents on revenue of $1.17 billion. The chocolate maker also reaffirmed its profit of $1.85 to $1.90 on sales growth of 3 to 4%. Wall Street consensus is for profit of $1.84 on revenue of $5.09 billion.

The problems caused by food inflation have only begun.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

I don't think I'll ever own a bottling group over a Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) or a PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP). The cash-flow and margin scenarios with the sellers of concentrate is a much better long-term story. With that bias stated, let me check out Pepsi Bottling Group's (NYSE: PBG) first-quarter results, which were reported on Wednesday.

Net sales expanded by 7% to $2.7 billion. On a reported basis, earnings per share didn't budge whatsoever -- it was 12 cents this year, and it was 12 cents last year. On an adjusted basis, earnings were 13 cents -- hey, a penny is a penny, I guess. In fact, I see that Briefing.com is reporting that Pepsi Bottling Group beat the Street's outlook by a penny. Talk about symmetry. Operational cas