SELLING THE BASICS: PACKAGED-FOODS EDITION
On Tuesday, we showed you that our "basics" advice was working with giant beer brewer
Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD). Today's chart shows our strategy at work with food giant
ConAgra Foods Inc. (
NYSE: CAG,
Stock Forum)..
You don't need to sell fancy products to be a successful business. "Boring" products like soda, beer, and cigarettes are always in demand. While the companies that make these products might not be exciting, their steady, profitable businesses generate cash flow for investors. We're seeing that right now in the food industry...
ConAgra sells a variety of "packaged goods"... The company's major brands include Chef Boyardee canned pasta, Orville Redenbacher's popcorn, Healthy Choice diet food, Swiss Miss hot chocolate, and Peter Pan peanut butter, among others. It's a great business. These products can stay popular for decades. They generate billions of dollars in revenues, and they don't require additional spending from the company.
As you can see from the chart below, ConAgra has been in a solid uptrend. Shares recently broke out to an all-time high... and have risen more than 45% over the past year. Selling the basics may be boring... but it works.