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Speaking of Wrigley (WWY), a similar stock on our Buy List is Sysco (SYY), which is up nicely today on a strong earnings report. The WSJ reports:

Food-distribution giant Sysco Corp. posted a 9% rise in fiscal third-quarter net income as strong sales growth more than offset increasing food-cost inflation.

The supplier of food service and equipment to businesses, schools and health-care institutions reported net income of $240.9 million, or 40 cents a share, for the quarter ended March 29, up from $221 million, or 35 cents a share, a year earlier.

Sales rose 6.7% to $9.15 billion. A year ago, an accounting-rule reduced sales by 0.9%.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had expected earnings of 39 cents a share on revenue of $9.21 billion.

The economic downturn amid rising food costs has spelled trouble for restaurant sales. Sysco said Monday it saw food costs jump 6.2% in the quarter.

Here's a look at SYY's sales and earnings of the past few years.

Year..............Sales...............EPS
1998........$15,327.54........$0.47
1999........$17,422.82........$0.54
2000........$19,303.27........$0.68
2001........$21,784.50........$0.88
2002........$23,350.50........$1.01
2003........$26,140.34........$1.18
2004........$29,335.40........$1.37
2005........$30,281.91........$1.47
2006........$32,628.44........$1.35
2007........$35,042.08........$1.60

If you're new to investing, those numbers above are very good.

The fiscal year ends in June, so SYY has already made $1.26 for the first nine months of 2008. The company is on track to make about $1.80 this year, and $2 next year.

Posted by edelfenbein at April 28, 2008 10:58 AM