BAC - Bank of America Corporation
| Previous Close | 28.39 |
| Open | 28.76 |
| Bid | 29.09 x 2900 |
| Ask | 29.13 x 1400 |
| Day's Range | 28.67 - 29.31 |
| 52 Week Range | 22.66 - 33.05 |
| Volume | 65,866,974 |
| Avg. Volume | 73,778,590 |
| Market Cap | 281.473B |
| Beta (3Y Monthly) | 1.56 |
| PE Ratio (TTM) | 11.15 |
| EPS (TTM) | 2.61 |
| Earnings Date | Apr 16, 2019 |
| Forward Dividend & Yield | 0.60 (2.11%) |
| Ex-Dividend Date | 2019-02-28 |
| 1y Target Est | 33.09 |
- Yahoo Finance Video•5 days ago
Millennials love Venmo, but what's the proper etiquette?
Yahoo Finance's Jackie DeAngelis, Emily McCormick, Seana Smith, and Brian Cheung discuss the proper etiquette for Venmo.
- Zacks•7 hours ago
Citigroup (C) Raises CEO Corbat's 2018 Compensation by 4.35%
Citigroup's (C) chief executive officer (CEO) - Michael Corbat - receives about 4.35% pay hike in total compensation package to $24 million for 2018.
- ETF Trends•3 days ago
Bank ETFs Climb on Buffett’s Berkshire Bet on Financials
Bank stocks and sector-related exchange traded funds were leading the markets higher after recent filings revealed Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. jumped in on the falling bank stocks to increase his bets on financials, hinting at the possibility of further merger and acquisition activity in the space. Among the top performing non-leveraged ETFs on Friday, the Invesco KBW Bank ETF (KBWB) increased 2.3%, First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA) advanced 2.0% and SPDR S&P Bank ETF (KBE) gained 2.1%. Meanwhile, the broader Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) was 1.8% higher.
- InvestorPlace•3 days ago
Buffett Goes Bigger on Banks, Pumps Brakes on Apple Stock
Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A) has filed its final 13f report for 2018 detailing its stock investments and, as usual, people are poring over it like Cold War Kremlinologists … the headlines, however, screamed about Buffett selling out of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) stock.Source: Shutterstock The report showed the portfolio losing $38 billion during the quarter, almost 21% of its value, during the worst bear market since the 2008 financial meltdown. Berkshire stock fell about 6.5% during the period.But Berkshire only sold about 1% of its Apple stock. AAPL remains the largest holding in the portfolio, and it reportedly wasn't even Buffett doing the selling. The company's "basis" in the shares, its average purchase price, is $126. Apple was due to open on February 15 at $170.40 per share.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * 10 Hot Stocks Leading the Market's Blitz Higher Buffett Likes BanksBuffett started as a stock investor, Berkshire as a sort of mutual fund representing his investments.As Berkshire grew, however, it began buying entire companies, and is now primarily an insurance firm with brands like GEICO and Homestate. Berkshire is also a major electrical utility, one of the largest solar energy investors in the U.S.To the extent it matters to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, its stakes in other companies are its "mad money," an investment pool that's an alternative to the usual insurance industry practice of buying bonds or index funds. The 13f lists 14 fund managers, one for each insurance company.Still, journalists tell us, this is Warren Buffett, he must know something.Buffett knows the value of time. Buffett also knows finance. Buffett knows that banking and insurance are great businesses to be in. Buffett also knows how to take advantage of a huge cash position. This brought the decade's biggest win, warrants in Bank of America (NYSE:BAC).The warrants were purchased at the peak of the 2008 crisis. The warrants cost $5, each convertible into a share of common stock which opened for trade Feb. 15 at $28.39. This is nice work if you can get it. You can if you have billions of dollars in cash and don't lose your nerve. Berkshire now owns about 9.5% of the bank. Bank of America is now Berkshire's second-largest holding.The big news in this report is a renewed bet on big banks. New money went into US Bancorp (NYSE:USB), JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), PNC Financial (NYSE:PNC), and Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK).The 13f shows Berkshire reducing its stake in Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC), which has been under pressure over its various scandals and opened at $48.80. But Berkshire's cost basis in this stock is $24 per share.The big lesson of Berkshire Hathaway is to buy good companies and let time do your work. Even if they falter, you will still have a profit. Berkshire Hathaway and Tech LossesThat is also the lesson of Apple.Buffett has said in the past he doesn't like tech and doesn't understand it. Maybe we should take him at his word. Apple is less a computing play than a company built on consumer products and services.Early in 2018 Berkshire sold entirely out of IBM (NYSE:IBM), and the big tech news here may be that he's getting back in, having bought stock in Red Hat (NYSE:RHT), which IBM is now acquiring.Buffett's biggest tech mistake now may be Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL), which Berkshire exited during the quarter at about break-even. The Bottom Line on Berkshire HathawayApple's stock price collapse after it reported earnings in October cost Buffett's portfolio almost $17 billion, the value of its stake plunging from almost $57 billion to about $39.4 billion. It still represented 21.5% of the portfolio at year-end and was its largest holding.Dana Blankenhorn is a financial and technology journalist. He is the author of a new mystery thriller, The Reluctant Detective Finds Her Family, available now at the Amazon Kindle store. Write him at danablankenhorn@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @danablankenhorn. As of this writing he owned shares in AAPL and JPM. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * Should You Buy, Sell, Or Hold These 7 Medical Cannabis Stocks? * 7 Strong Buy Stocks With Over 20% Upside * 7 Reasons Stock Buybacks Should Be Illegal Compare Brokers The post Buffett Goes Bigger on Banks, Pumps Brakes on Apple Stock appeared first on InvestorPlace.
- Market Realist•3 days ago
Citigroup Stock: Analyzing the Uptrend
Citigroup Stock: Potential Upside(Continued from Prior Part)Strong financial performance Citigroup (C) impressed investors with its financial performance in 2018 due to higher net interest revenues, lower costs, and a decline in the effective tax
- Reuters•3 days ago
Thomas Cook enlists three banks to prepare airline sale - source
Thomas Cook has enlisted Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America Merrill Lynch to explore the possible sale of its airline business, a source familiar with the discussions said. The holiday company this month said it was willing to sell its profitable airline business to fund its fightback from losses racked up in 2018. Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America Merrill Lynch declined to comment.
- Reuters•3 days ago
Thomas Cook enlists three banks to prepare airline sale -source
Thomas Cook has enlisted Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America Merrill Lynch to explore the possible sale of its airline business, a source familiar with the discussions said. The holiday company this month said it was willing to sell its profitable airline business to fund its fightback from losses racked up in 2018. Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America Merrill Lynch declined to comment.
- Market Realist•3 days ago
Citigroup’s EPS: Quarterly Growth Projections
Citigroup Stock: Potential Upside(Continued from Prior Part)Quarterly growth projections Citigroup (C) has a strong history of beating analysts’ earnings estimates. The bank has beaten analysts’ estimates in the past eight quarters with an
- Zacks•3 days ago
Bank of America (BAC) Down 2.1% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Rebound?
Bank of America (BAC) reported earnings 30 days ago. What's next for the stock? We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues.
- American City Business Journals•3 days ago
Fund for Charlotte fintech startups raises $2.5M, looks to bolster local ecosystem
Charlotte's first capital fund for financial-technology startups is up and running. So far, Carolinas Fintech Ventures has raised $2.5 million.
- Motley Fool•3 days ago
The Real Story Behind What Warren Buffett Bought and Sold in the Fourth Quarter
Buffett's actions tell a story, if you're willing to dig deep enough.
- Investopedia•3 days ago
Banks That Will Pay You to Roll Over a 401(k)
Discover four financial institutions will pay you a cash bonus or match when you roll over assets from an old 401(k) or qualified retirement plan.
- Investing.com•3 days ago
Bank of America Rises 3%
Investing.com - Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) rose by 3.11% to trade at $29.28 by 12:42 (17:42 GMT) on Friday on the NYSE exchange.
- Morningstar•3 days ago
Berkshire Picks Up Red Hat and Suncor, Dumps Oracle
The firm also increased its stake in JPMorgan Chase and other financials.
- Investopedia•3 days ago
Berkshire Trims Apple, Sells Oracle and Buys Big Banks
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B), the conglomerate run by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, sold some of its giant stake in Apple Inc. (AAPL), called it quits on Oracle Corp. (ORCL) and used some of its freed-up capital to top up on bank stocks in the last three months of 2018. Berkshire also boosted its stake in regional lenders, including PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (PNC) and US Bancorp (USB).
- American City Business Journals•3 days ago
Charlotte's Women In Business: Stephanie Titus
Stephanie Titus, credit manager, custom underwriting global wealth and investment management at Bank of America Corp., is a 2019 honoree in the CBJ’s Women in Business awards program.
- Investing.com•4 days ago
Stocks - Wall Street Rises as Trade Talks Progress
The S&P; 500 rose 19 points, or 0.71%, as of 9:30 AM ET (14:30 GMT), while the Dow gained 125 points, or 0.49%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite increased 41 points, or 0.56%.
Bloomberg•4 days agoAnalysts Are Questioning the Latest Retail Sales Figures
Commerce Department figures released Thursday show U.S. retail sales fell 1.2 percent in December from the previous month, the most since 2009, rather than the slight increase economists had forecast. Jim O’Sullivan of High Frequency Economics Ltd said the figures were so much weaker than expected “that the data lose credibility,” while Stephen Stanley of Amherst Pierpont Securities LLC said the report “seems seriously out of whack” given mostly upbeat comments from retailers about the Christmas season.
- American City Business Journals•4 days ago
Orlando real estate opportunities may ‘shake out’ of BB&T-SunTrust deal
Two of Central Florida’s largest banks that occupy prominent downtown Orlando offices and have dozens of branches across the Orlando area may put some of that real estate up for lease or sale in the coming months. Winston-Salem, N.C.-based BB&T Corp. (NYSE: BBT) will buy Atlanta-based SunTrust Banks Inc. (NYSE: STI) in this year’s fourth quarter for roughly $28 billion, creating a plethora of local real estate opportunities as the banks begin to consolidate operations.
- American City Business Journals•4 days ago
BofA a newcomer on Fortune's '100 Best Companies to Work For' list in 2019
Just one Charlotte-based company has ranked among Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" — and it's a newcomer to the list.
- Business Wire•4 days ago
Bank of America Named One of the 100 Best Companies to Work For
Bank of America today was recognized as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by Fortune magazine and the global research and consulting firm, Great Place to Work®. Bank of America also was recognized as the only financial services company on Fortune’s inaugural “Best Big Companies to Work For” list, which recognizes seven companies with more than 100,000 U.S.-based employees that passed the Great Place to Work® Certification bar. As part of the selection process, Bank of America was evaluated anonymously by thousands of its employees on more than 60 elements of workplace culture, including trust in managers, compensation, fairness, manifestation of company values, ability to contribute new ideas, and overall fulfillment.
- Moody's•4 days ago
Moody's Fully Supported Municipal & IRB Deals
Announcement: Moody's Fully Supported Municipal& IRB Deals. Global Credit Research- 13 Feb 2019. New York, February 13, 2019-- ASSIGNMENTS:.
- InvestorPlace•5 days ago
7 Reasons to Own Coca-Cola Stock
Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) recently launched Orange Vanilla Coke, an offshoot of the hugely successful Cherry Coke and Vanilla Coke products. It is the first new variant of Coca-Cola in more than 10 years. However, before you go out and buy Coca-Cola stock, you might want to consider both sides of the argument.While there's no question that Coke is an iconic brand worldwide, it's hard to get behind a stock that's generated an annualized total return of 8.4% over the past three years, 7.9% over the last five years, and 11.5% over the past 10 years. By comparison, the S&P 500 has managed annualized total returns of 16.3%, 10.5%, and 14.9% over the past three, five and 10 years respectively. That's an average beat by the index of 463 basis points. It hasn't even been close. InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsTo some, the launch of a third variety is a sign the company has run out of ideas. To others, it's an indication the Atlanta-based beverage maker is prepared to innovate its way to growth. * 9 U.S. Stocks That Are Coming to Life Again For me, I've never been a big fan of Coca-Cola stock. However, I can quickly come up with seven reasons to own KO. Here they are in no particular order of importance. Warren Buffett Owns Coca-Cola StockOnce upon a time, Coca-Cola would have been the Oracle of Omaha's largest equity holding. That distinction falls to Tim Cook and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) these days. According to the Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A, NYSE:BRK.B) Portfolio Tracker, Apple stock is number one at $43 billion, $23 billion higher than Coca-Cola, which is the fourth-largest. It's still a pretty significant holding, with only Apple, Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) and Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) ahead of it. Last May, Buffett did admit that Coca-Cola's not looking as attractive as it did a decade ago due to changing diets and less royalty from consumers. Despite that admission, Berkshire Hathaway remains the company's largest stockholder holding 9.4% of its outstanding shares.As long as Warren Buffett is the largest shareholder of Coke, I think it's safe to say your investment's in good hands. KO Stock Has a Good DividendKO stock currently pays a quarterly dividend of 39 cents, which works out to $1.56 on an annual basis, and yields 3.1%. In Coke's third quarter, it earned 58 cents a share on a non-GAAP basis, making its payout ratio a reasonable 67% of net income, leaving plenty to reinvest in its business.Through the first nine months of fiscal 2018, Coca-Cola paid out $3.3 billion in dividends, $156 million more than in the same period a year ago. By comparison, it repurchased $1.6 billion in the first nine months, almost half what it did ($3.1 billion) a year earlier. * Buy These 5 Stocks to Play the Megatrend of the Century Oh, and if you're concerned about it raising its dividend in 2019 and beyond, don't be because Coca-Cola has increased the dividend for 56 consecutive years. There are Dividend Aristocrats. And there's Coke. It's not glamorous, but it gets the job done. It's a Contrarian PlayIf there's one thing I know about Coca-Cola stock, it's this: It's not unanimously loved by analysts. According to the Wall Street Journal, of the 25 analysts covering its stock, 12 consider it a buy, two have it overweight and the 11 remaining analysts give it a hold rating. The good news is that no analysts rate it underweight or sell. The overall consensus of the 25 analysts is overweight KO stock. However, the average 12-month target price is $52.13, an upside of just under 5%. In 2018, while most stocks were falling, Coca-Cola managed to eke out a small gain of 2.9% while PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) lost 8%. Investors were looking for yield and safety, and Coke provided both. Already a month-and-a-half into 2019, the reality is that many investors don't view Coca-Cola stock as nearly the safe bet it once was -- thanks to the changing food habits noted by Buffett and many others -- and are moving on. As a result, I consider Coca-Cola stock the ideal contrarian play. 2018 Was Good to Coca-Cola StockAs I mentioned in the previous slide, investors' flight to safety in 2018, helped KO stock stay out of the way of a falling stock market. However, if you look at the company's financials, I think it's fair to say that it didn't do too badly on the only scorecard that counts: the income statement. On the top line, the company's revenues through the first nine months of fiscal 2019, fell 11% to $24.8 billion. However, Coca-Cola is in the process of going asset-light, selling its bottling operations to new franchisees like Toronto Maple Leafs part-owner Larry Tanenbaum, who acquired the Canadian bottling operations in 2018 with partner Junior Bridgeman, for approximately $800 million. While this process takes money from the top line, it solidifies the balance sheet and cash flow, allowing KO to ratchet up growth without a massive capital infusion. Organically, however, it has been a different story so far in 2018, with revenues growing 6% year over year in Q3 2018 and 5% through the first nine months of the year. * 10 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for the Next 10 Months On the bottom line, on an adjusted basis, Coke increased its operating income by 20% in the third quarter and 12% through the first nine months of the fiscal year. Add in lower income taxes and Coca-Cola's net income increased by 48% in the first nine months of the year. Less revenue. More profits. Not a bad tradeoff. The Coffee BusinessOn Jan. 3, 2019, Coca-Cola completed its $4.9 billion acquisition of Costa Coffee, a deal it first announced at the end of August. The coffee segment of the beverage industry is growing at 6% annually on a global basis. By acquiring the UK coffee business, Coke can capture a big slice of a growing industry, at 16 times Costa's latest 12-month EBITDA. In the short term, investors might view this as expensive. However, long term, I believe Warren Buffett could look back at 2019 as the year Coca-Cola turned the tide and started growing again. If KO was to become a truly a hot and cold beverages company, the acquisition of Costa was a no-brainer for CEO James Quincey -- and Coca-Cola shareholders. KO's Free Cash FlowIn the first nine months of 2018, Coca-Cola's free cash flow decreased by 2% to $4.6 billion. Over the trailing 12 months through September, the company's free cash flow was $5.5 billion, close to the lowest level it's seen in over a decade. However, as it moves to an asset-light business model, I could see Coke generating $6 billion-$7 billion in free cash flow, the amount it has historically thrown off on an annual basis, within the next 2-3 years. And as you may or may not know, dividends tend to get paid out of free cash flow along with all the other things a company can allocate capital to after it's covered what needs to be paid to keep the business running. * 7 Reasons You Want Boeing Stock in Your Portfolio Without free cash flow, it's challenging for a business to grow. Coca-Cola is no exception. Potentially Game-Changing AcquisitionsThere aren't too many acquisitions that are game-changers. Costa Coffee could be the one for Coca-Cola. However, it's just as likely that a lot of gains in the future come from smaller tuck-in acquisitions that nobody pays attention to that strengthen the company's business. Consider its partnership with Monster Beverage (NASDAQ:MNST). Coke paid $2.15 billion in 2014 for a 16.7% stake in the energy drink leader. Coke got Monster's non-energy drink business and became Monster's most important distributor while Monster got Coke's energy business. Four years later, Coke owns 18.2% of Monster -- it has an option to go as high as 25% -- which is worth $6 billion. That's a nice 180% return on its investment. Most people in 2014 thought the deal was a good one, including myself. However, I'm not sure I ever thought Coke would see such a significant return. As companies grow, it takes bigger and bigger acquisitions to move the needle. Therefore, it's safe to assume we won't see another Costa-sized acquisition over the next 24-36 months. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if it bought some smaller, up-and-coming brands. Those are the ones whose value tend to sneak up on you. As of this writing Will Ashworth did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * The 7 Best Video Game Stocks to Power Up Your Portfolio! * 7 Forever Stocks to Buy for Long-Term Gains * 5 Self-Driving Car Stocks to Buy Compare Brokers The post 7 Reasons to Own Coca-Cola Stock appeared first on InvestorPlace.
- American City Business Journals•11 days ago
When it comes to big bank deals, Charlotte’s been a winner — mostly
The deal bringing the combined BB&T;/SunTrust to Charlotte in many way resembles First Union Corp.’s 2001 purchase of the original Wachovia Corp. That deal, like this one, involved a raid by Charlotte on a major banking headquarters in Winston-Salem.
- InvestorPlace•5 days ago
10 ‘Buy-and-Hold’ Stocks to Own Forever
[Editor's note: This story was previously published in July 2018. It has since been updated and republished.]Investing to "buy and hold" is trickier than it looks. The increasing pace of technological change means even the most successful, dominant companies have to continually adapt to keep up. Industries like energy, real estate and even consumer products are facing potentially significant long-term changes going forward. In any era, amassing a collection of retirement stocks simply by buying the best companies and holding them for years can be a risky endeavor.General Motors (NYSE:GM) was a classic "widows and orphans" stock until last decade when GM wound up going bankrupt. United States Steel (NYSE:X) once was a pillar of corporate America and a buy-and-hold stock. GM shares basically haven't moved in a quarter of a century. Polaroid and Eastman Kodak (NYSE:KODK) were once blue-chip stocks. Both went bankrupt as cameras changed from film to digital.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsBut there still are stocks to buy and hold out there that can last forever, while offering dividend income along the way. * 9 U.S. Stocks That Are Coming to Life Again Here are 10 such retirement stocks to hold forever.Source: Shutterstock Bank of America (BAC)Dividend Yield: 2.7%It might seem strange to open the list with Bank of America (NYSE:BAC). After all, we're less than a decade on from the financial crisis. During that crisis, BofA acquisition Countrywide Financial blew up in spectacular fashion, after pioneering many of the risky tactics that led to the bubble and subsequent bust.But this is a different BofA.Net consumer charge-offs hit a decade-long low in the company's second quarter. Performance on credit metrics continues to improve across the portfolio. The Merrill Lynch unit is posting record margins. Government regulations have been criticized as slowing growth -- but they've undoubtedly lowered risk as well, even if observers might argue that a better balance is needed.No less than Warren Buffett is now BofA's largest shareholder, through his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A, NYSE:BRK.B). And the Oracle of Omaha is fond of saying that his favorite holding period is "forever."That seems likely true for BAC stock as well.Source: Mustafa Khayat Via Flickr Diageo (DEO)Dividend Yield: 1.75%Change has come to the alcohol industry, with the number of breweries exploding worldwide and new distilleries popping up as well. The brands owned by Diageo (NYSE:DEO) are well-positioned to adapt to shifting tastes.Diageo owns classic brands like Johnnie Walker whisky, Tanqueray gin, Smirnoff vodka, and Harp and Guinness beer, among many others. What most have in common is a timeless quality and worldwide brand recognition. As a result, while beverage giants like Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) and Anheuser Busch InBev (NYSE:BUD) have struggled with earnings growth, Diageo grew net income by 13.5% in fiscal 2018 and expects consistent growth going forward. * Buy These 5 Stocks to Play the Megatrend of the Century Yet at a sub-20x forward multiple, and with a dividend yield approaching 2%, Diageo stock isn't all that dearly valued. Long-term investors would do well to own DEO and perhaps use the dividends to buy a bottle or two of fine whisky.Source: U.S. Embassy Kyiv Ukraine via Flickr (Modified) Medtronic (MDT)Dividend Yield: 2.21%In this day and age, the U.S. healthcare market in particular seems potentially volatile. Concerns about increased spending and political battles over the Affordable Care Act create more questions than answers.But even with that uncertainty, Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) isn't going anywhere. The company's devices are an integral part of modern medicine, ranging from pacemakers to stents to bone grafts to imaging systems.Even the risks involved in the sector look priced into MDT. Medtronic's days of double-digit annual growth may well be behind it, but it's not finished increasing earnings or dividends. MDT stock likely isn't finished rising, either.Source: Shutterstock NextEra Energy (NEE)Dividend Yield: 2.42%Utility stocks are among the most common safe, buy-and-hold stocks. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) is now the largest electric utility in the U.S. by market capitalization. That might actually be the only problem with NEE stock.NextEra shares gained 7.6% year-to-date, and trades just off record highs. Potential valuation concerns aside, NextEra looks like a winner. It serves customers in the southern Florida region, still one of the nation's fastest-growing areas. A 21x forward P/E multiple is high for the space but not outlandishly so. And a 2.7% dividend yield provides income along the way. * 10 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for the Next 10 Months Investors looking for value in the space might look for a smaller play like cheaper Dominion Energy (NYSE:D). But it's usually worth paying for quality, and NextEra Energy looks like one of the best utility stocks out there.Source: Blue Genie via FlickrDividend Yield: 1.7%McCormick & Company (NYSE:MKC) is another quality company whose valuation might spook some investors. But MKC stock very rarely is offered cheap; if it gets below $122, you should consider buying and holding this stock.The company's market leadership in spices and seasonings provides both an impressive moat and protection against economic downturns. MKC stock did dip after the company acquired French's mustard and Frank's RedHot sauce from Reckitt Benckiser (OTCMKTS:RBGLY) at a price that looked a bit high to many investors. But MKC has recovered those gains and then some.Top-line growth for McCormick likely isn't going to be explosive, but it will be steady. The same has been true of MKC stock, which has returned an average of 13% a year over the past decade, including dividends.With continuous cost-cutting initiatives, the contribution from the acquired brands and organic growth (and growth in organic products), MKC still should be able to provide double-digit annual returns going forward as well.Source: Shutterstock Dividend Yield: 2.13%Allstate Corp (NYSE:ALL) long has used the tagline, "You're in good hands," and it's true for Allstate investors as well. ALL stock has almost quadrupled from late-2011 lows. And there could be more upside to come.After all, Allstate isn't particularly expensive, trading at a 15.9 P/E. * The 9 Best Stocks to Invest In During a Manic Market Once any short-term worries subside, ALL should resume its march upward.Source: Shutterstock International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)Dividend Yield: 1.99%International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF) is a company most consumers encounter every day without knowing it and many investors aren't exactly hip to it, either.As its name suggests, the company develops flavors & fragrances across 13 categories, including cosmetics, perfumes, beverages and sweet flavors. Sales and earnings have increased consistently and so has IFF's share price. At a26.79 P/E, IFF does look a bit pricey. But, as with McCormick and other stocks on this list, investors should pay for quality.IFF's hidden, but key role, in so many industries, gives it a great deal of protection against both competition and macro factors. Acquisitions and a growing cosmetic additive business both provide room for growth.Consumers may not know IFF, but investors should.Source: Shutterstock Dividend Yield: 1.15%Lamb Weston (NYSE:LW) was spun off from Conagra Brands (NYSE:CAG) last year. Lamb Weston is the No. 1 potato producer in the United States. In fact, it manufactures the well-known fries at McDonald's (NYSE:MCD), among other restaurant chains.Lamb Weston also has a consumer business (including a small segment that manufactures frozen vegetables), while serving restaurants of all sizes. Health concerns might seem a long-term headwind against the business, but growth has been steady for years, and margins continue to improve.LW is targeting international markets for growth, as French fries have much more limited penetration, while international audiences generally are intrigued by Americanized products.Despite growth and leading market share, LW stock isn't particularly cheap, trading at about 21x next year's earnings. The company did pick up a fair amount of debt in the CAG spinoff. But it's paying that debt down, which should lower interest expense and boost cash flow going forward. * 7 Stocks With Too Much Riding On China With many similar stocks trading at much higher multiples, LW seems to have room for upside. And international growth should offset any health-related concerns in the U.S., should they arise. America's love affair with French fries isn't going to suddenly end, and that should ensure years of stability for Lamb Weston at least.Source: Shutterstock Fortune Brands (FBHS)Dividend Yield: 1.86%Investors are commonly advised to diversify their portfolio. Fortune Brands Home & Security (NYSE:FBHS) has done just that. The company operates in four segments: Cabinets, Plumbing, Doors, and Security. Among its well-known brands are Moen in plumbing, and MasterLock in security.FBHS is more of a cyclical stock than most on this list, and the company no doubt has benefited from the steady, if slow, housing recovery in the U.S. But the company's products also generate relatively stable replacement demand, and a 1.86% dividend yield provides modest, but growing, income.Fortune Brands has been an impressive company since its founding and a solid stock since its 2011 IPO. There may be a bit more volatility here, but that's a worthwhile price to pay for long-term investors. There's enough value in Fortune Brands to ride out any market jitters.Source: Shutterstock Dividend Yield: 1.94%Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) is a bit smaller and likely a lot less well-known than rival Waste Management (NYSE:WM). But in this case, that's not necessarily a bad thing.Republic Services has outgrown its larger competitor in both sales and earnings over the past five years. RSG stock has modestly outperformed WM over the same period as well. Investors appear to believe that will continue, as Republic Services is valued a bit higher than Waste Management, at least based on forward earnings multiples.Both RSG and WM are solid long-term plays. Contracted revenue and steady demand should support both companies for years to come. There's room for further acquisitions in a relatively fragmented space. Republic Services gets the nod here due to slightly better growth and more room for margin improvement. * 7 High-Dividend Stocks Yielding More Than 5% (Plus a Bonus) But investors looking for safe, stable growth can't go wrong with either RSG or WM.As of this writing, Vince Martin was long MKC.Compare Brokers The post 10 'Buy-and-Hold' Stocks to Own Forever appeared first on InvestorPlace.
