Investment U

Prudential plc (PRU) - Investment U

British insurance firm Prudential Insurance ADR (NYSE: PUK ) offered $35.5 billion to purchase the Asian arm of American International Group (NYSE: AIG ). That branch, called AIA, is the leading pan Asian foreign insurer. It carries 33 million policyholders across 13 countries, employs about 250,000 sales agents and makes annual operating profits of around $2 billion. 

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG) - Investment U

If you have any doubt that sniffing out these opportunities early represents one of the most profitable strategies, consider Intuitive Surgical (Nasdaq: ISRG ). When the firm went public in 2000, investors were clueless about robotic surgery, let alone the company's market leading position in the space. In fact, Intuitive had to cut its IPO price by 30% just to attract enough interest and raise a measly $47 million. 

WellPoint, Inc. (WLP) - Investment U

According to the Los Angeles Times, since WellPoint (NYSE: WLP ) acquired Anthem in 2004, Anthem has contributed $45 billion in profits Rapidly rising insurance premiums are crippling individuals and small businesses alike I expect that whatever beast emerges from healthcare reform, some form of caps or heavy regulation on premiums will be part of it 

Apple Inc (AAPL) - Investment U

An Apple a Day Could Strengthen the Gaming Industry Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) probably didn't mean to give its competition a leg up, but that's exactly what it did when it started the app revolution Take Electronic Arts, for example It first entered the lucrative business a few years ago by acquiring the early phone gaming company, Jamdat 

The Dow Chemical Company (DOW) - Investment U

And it definitely bodes well for chemical companies like Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW ) and DuPont (NYSE: DD ), which are perfectly poised to take advantage of any growth Promising Signs In The Petrochemical Market In The West Dow Chemical especially took advantage of the oversupply in North American natural gas to export all sorts of chemicals to Asia In doing so, it generated exceptional free cash flow and brought in pre recession level earnings during the last quarter 

Vale SA (VALE3) - Investment U

Major resource companies like BHP Billiton ADR (NYSE: BHP ) and Vale ADR (NYSE: VALE ) see the industry's long range potential as well They especially have their eyes on production of potash, a potassium compound often used in agriculture Of course, continuing tight credit conditions have driven prices down, even in key emerging markets 

Ormat Industries (260018) - David Fessler at Investment U

And you can bet that as EGS advances from the R&D phase into widespread commercialization, Ormat will be in the driver's seat If you want to get in ahead of the crowd on this burgeoning area, consider adding a few Ormat shares to your energy portfolio Good investing, Dave Fessler Editor's Note: So what sectors are most deserving of your hard earned investment dollars in 2010 and beyond? As Dave Fessler flatly states: "You cannot have sustained economic growth without cheap, reliable, homegrown sources of energy" 

Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA) - Investment U

, 2010 With its newly announced partnership with Cosan ADR (NYSE: CZZ ), the world's third largest sugar producer, Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDSA ) has taken a bigger step into biofuels than any oil major has ever attempted The $12 billion joint venture into ethanol includes about 75% of Cosan's assets, including its sugarcane processing mills, co generation power plants, ethanol trading company and 2 billion liters of annual ethanol production capacity, which just happens to be the second largest amount in the world In return, Shell will pay $162 billion for a half stake in Cosan's core asset base, contributing an additional 2,740 gas stations and other fuel distribution assets in Brazil 

Cosan S/A Industria E Comercio (CSAN3) - Investment U

, 2010 With its newly announced partnership with Cosan ADR (NYSE: CZZ ), the world's third largest sugar producer, Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDSA ) has taken a bigger step into biofuels than any oil major has ever attempted The $12 billion joint venture into ethanol includes about 75% of Cosan's assets, including its sugarcane processing mills, co generation power plants, ethanol trading company and 2 billion liters of annual ethanol production capacity, which just happens to be the second largest amount in the world In return, Shell will pay $162 billion for a half stake in Cosan's core asset base, contributing an additional 2,740 gas stations and other fuel distribution assets in Brazil 

General Mills, Inc. (GIS) - Investment U

For the third straight year (and eighth time overall), packaged food giant General Mills (NYSE: GIS ) made it onto Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list According to Mike Davis, senior vice president of General Mills' Global Human Resources, this philosophy means more than just being "nice" It makes good business sense: "General Mills has created a successful culture by combining attention to development with the kind of support that does not require employees to lose sight of family and community commitments