It's a leader in the data storage device area for computer systems. It has a 50 percent share of that market that's growing very rapidly, and a number of the proprietary software content that's within their devices for these computer networks leads to a very profitable stream for the company, as well as keeps many competitors at bay in terms of encroaching on its franchise. |
It's a leading soft drink producer, but we feel that the real story there is in their salty snack business - brand names such as Lay's potato chips, Doritos, if you will. This is a segment of Pepsi's business that is growing very fast and has the highest margins and the real meaningful edge for Pepsi. If PepsiCo even gains a little bit of incremental market share going forward, that should be a very huge positive for the company, in that the salty snack portion of their business represents two-thirds of their profits. |
Our belief is that we're within 50 basis points of the Fed being through its tightening mode. Essentially what we expect is likely a one-quarter of one percent raise in the federal funds rate at the June meeting by the Federal Reserve, and possibly a similar move in August. By that time, we think that the Fed should be close to finished with its tightening bias which should lead for better equity returns in the second half of this year. |