personal finance

Adidas Group, the parent company of adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade Golf, is the world's second largest maker of athletic footwear, apparel and equipment by sales (2009) after Nike (NKE). [1] Although the company makes most of its money by selling at wholesale rates to large retailers like Dick's...

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) is the world's largest producer of household and personal products by revenue, with its products reaching 4 billion people worldwide.[1] including Tide detergent, Pampers diapers, and Gillette razors, that generate over $1 billion in revenue annually,[2] with the...

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) is one of the world's largest Consumer Products companies by market share with commercial presence on six continents.[1] Since its 1806 founding, Colgate has grown into a multinational corporation known for its toothpaste and oral hygiene products with a $15.3...

Nestle SA (OTC:NSRGY) is the world's largest food and beverage company, with 2009 sales of over 107 billion CHF ($101 billion USD).[1] Nestle owns several major consumer brands such as Stouffers, Nescafe, Kit-Kat, Carnation, Nestle Water, and many others.[2] All in all, 30 of Nestle's products...

Anheuser-Busch generated gross sales of $19 billion and produced over 125 million barrels of beer in 2007[2], ranking it as the largest alcohol brewer in the United States and third largest worldwide, behind Belgium-based InBev NV, and U.K. based SABMiller. While the company brews the world's...

NiSource Inc. (NYSE:NI) provides natural gas and electric utilities to approximately 3.8 million customers, from the Gulf Coast up to New England. NI competes against other companies that produce natural gas, including MDU RES GROUP (MDU), Atmos Energy (ATO), and Puget Sound Energy (PSD). One...

Mosaic, the world's largest phosphate producer, makes agricultural fertilizer out of potash, and phosphate. Mosaic owns a 13% share of phosphate global production and a 58% share of American production.[1] Similarly, Mosaic owns a 13% of potash global production and a 40% share of North American...

Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is the world's largest provider of patented genetically modified seeds for crops such as corn, soybeans, and cotton, bringing in $11.7 billion in 2009.[1] Monsanto is also the inventor of Round-Up, the first commercial glyphosate herbicide (weed-killer), and...

Manitowoc (NYSE: MTW) manufacturers cranes, food service equipment, and shipping vessels. Manitowoc's value is tied directly to world infrastructure growth, as more heavy construction projects worldwide mean more contracts for MTW's cranes. The sale of the ship building operations in early 2009...

Manitex International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTX), through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and distributes engineered lifting equipment in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company provides boom trucks and sign cranes for industrial projects and energy exploration, as well as for...

Santa Monica, CA-based Macerich Company (MAC) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and operates shopping centers throughout the US. Macerich's properties are concentrated in Arizona and California, and in 2005 it acquired competitor Wilmorite's foothold of properties in Virginia...

Liberty Interactive (LINTA) is one of two tracking stocks created in May 2006 for Liberty Media, which owns a broad range of businesses, including electronic retailing, cable television, video programming, media, broadband distribution, and interactive technology services. The tracking stocks...

Colombia Sportswear Company (NYSE: COLM) is one of the largest wholesalers of outdoor sportswear and equipment in the U.S. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Columbia sells clothing and equipment for a variety of outdoor sports, including hunting, fishing, hiking, and snowboarding. Its products...

Chiquita Brands International (NYSE:CQB) is a leading marketer and distributor of bananas and other produce. Chiquita is the No. 1 seller of bananas in the European Union and the No. 2 seller of bananas in North America. [1] Under the brand name Fresh Express, Chiquita is the largest seller of...

Giant Interactive Group, Inc. (NYSE: GA) is a Chinese company that develops and operates online video games. Giant was founded in November 2004 and has since developed and released 2 online games, including the massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG), ZT. Giant also plans to...

Cal-Maine Foods (CALM) is the largest producer and marketer of shell eggs in the United States. Cal-Maine is primarily engaged in the production, grading, packing, and sale of fresh shell eggs. The company provides over 15% of the total U.S. consumption of eggs. Cal-Maine operations are fully...

CA, Inc. (NYSE: CA) sells software that help automate IT tasks such as managing databases, backing up data, and checking for compliance with regulations such as security standards. As data is increasingly becoming digitized and stored, ensuring that security of company networks through...

Bucyrus International (NASDAQ: BUCY) manufactures mining equipment used to extract coal, copper, iron ore and gold. As such, Commodities Prices directly affect demand from Bucyrus's customers. When prices are high, companies like BHP Billiton (BHP), Peabody Energy (BTU), and CONSOL Energy (CNX)...

Astec Industries (NASDAQ: ASTE) is a family of companies that have become America's leading manufacturer of equipment for aggregate processing, asphalt road building and pipeline and utility trenching. The company's goal is to design, manufacture and provide the most innovative, productive and...

Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) is one of the largest processors of oilseeds, corn, wheat and cocoa in the world, posting revenues of $62.9 billion.[1]It processes crops and makes them into food and Biofuels. A 2007-2008 investment the company made in corn-based ethanol has impacted...