There are no safe havens in the stock market. Every stock carries risk. But some less than others. This column features stocks that have shown one or more of the following characteristics: less volatility, better earnings, larger market caps, safe and increasing dividends. In these times of turmoil, our goal is to show readers better opportunities for investing with fewer risks.

May 19, 2012 - E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company operates as a science and technology based company worldwide. Its Agriculture segment provides hybrid corn and soybean seeds, and grains under the Pioneer brand name; and herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides.

Performance Chemicals offers fluorochemicals, fluoropolymers, specialty and industrial chemicals, and white pigments for various markets, such as plastics and coatings, textiles, mining, pulp and paper, water treatment, and healthcare.

Performance Coatings supplies high performance liquid and powder coatings for motor vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEM); the motor vehicle after-market; and general industrial applications, such as such as coatings for heavy equipment, pipes and appliances, and electrical insulation.

Performance Materials provides engineering polymers, packaging and industrial polymers, elastomers, films, parts, and systems and solutions for the automotive OEM and associated after-market industries, as well as electrical, electronics, packaging, construction, oil, photovoltaics, aerospace, chemical processing, and consumer durable goods.

Pharmaceuticals represents the company's interest in the collaboration relating to Cozaar/Hyzaar antihypertensive drugs. The company was founded in 1802 and is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.

Latest News:
DuPont Electronics & Communications President David B. Miller said during a presentation at the Barclays Chemical ROC Stars conference held in New York City that DuPont advances in materials are continuing to drive the cost of photovoltaic (solar) energy lower. As a result, the pursuit of photovoltaic grid parity - the point at which the unsubsidized cost of photovoltaic electricity is equal to the price of electricity from the grid - is well on track, with industry expectations that, on average, global commercial and residential markets will reach grid parity by 2015.

"We expect that global photovoltaics markets will, on average, achieve grid parity by 2015," said Miller. "Some areas where there is an abundance of sunlight and high grid electricity prices already have achieved grid parity. Advanced materials that continue to increase the efficiency and extend the lifetime of photovoltaic modules are an important factor in driving down the cost of photovoltaic electricity."

Earnings Expectations:
- Second quarter (to be announced July 23): $1.47 vs $1.37 last year's second period.
- Third quarter (71 cents compared to 69 cents)
- Full year 2012: $4.30 vs $3.93 in 2011
- Full year 2013: $4.78

Important Numbers:
- Trailing P/E: 12.99
- Forward P/E: 10.14
- Price to sales ratio: 1.16
- Price to book: 4.71
- Operating margin: 13.05%
- Profit margin: 8.91%
- Return on equity: 32.86%
- Return on assets: 6.96%
- Revenues (last 12 months): $39.62 billion
- Cash: $3.6 billion
- Cash per share: $3.84
- Total debt: $14.82 billion
- Total debt to equity: 142.18%
- Current ratio: 1.58
- Book value per share: $10.38
- Beta: 1.49
- 52 week change: -7.39%
- Shares outstanding: 937.04 million
- Float: 935.72 million
- Held by insiders: .07%
- Held by institutions: 64.30%
- Annual dividend: $1.72
- Yield: 3.5%

Company website: www.dupont.com

Ted Allrich