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.

December 17, 2011 - Kraft Foods Inc., (KFT-NYSE) together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets packaged food products worldwide. The company offers biscuits, including cookies, crackers, and salted snacks; confectionery products, such as chocolate, gum, and candy; beverages comprising coffee, packaged juice drinks, and powdered beverages; cheese products, including natural, processed, and cream cheeses; grocery items consisting of spoonable and pourable dressings, condiments, and desserts; and convenient meals, which comprise processed meats, packaged dinners, and lunch combinations.

The company sells to supermarket chains, wholesalers, supercenters, club stores, mass merchandisers, distributors, convenience stores, gasoline stations, drug stores, value stores, and retail food stores. Kraft Foods Inc. was founded in 2000 and is based in Northfield, Illinois.

Latest News:
Kraft Foods today shared results of a pioneering survey that measured its impact on climate change, land and water use. The multi-year footprinting project -- in partnership with Quantis Inc. (www.quantis-intl.com) and reviewed and analyzed by World Wildlife Fund and notable academics at the University of Minnesota 's Institute on the Environment - goes far beyond the company's walls.

"Having the 'big picture' of our total footprint -- from farm to fork -- validates the focus of our sustainability efforts, particularly advancing sustainable agriculture," said Roger Zellner , Sustainability Director for Research, Development & Quality. "Experts say climate change, land and water use may be among the biggest challenges in feeding a world of 9 billion people in 2050. As we continue our sustainability journey, we now have more insight into where we can make the greatest difference."

For the full article: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/KRAFT-FOODS-MAPS-ITS-TOTAL-prnews-1366863016.html?x=0

Announced in August, the company will split into two divisions: Global Snacks and North American Grocery. It should be completed by December, 2012.

Expectations:

20 analysts have a consensus estimate of $2.27 for 2011 (up from $2.02 in 2010).
21 analysts have a consensus estimate of $2.52 for 2012.
For fourth quater of 2011, 19 analysts have a consensus estimate of 56 cents compared to 46 cents last year in the fourth.

Important Numbers:
- Market Cap: $64.27 billion
- Trailing P/E: 19.85
- Forward P/E: 14.38
- Price to sales ratio: 1.21
- Price to book: 1.76
- Operating margin: 13.24%
- Profit margin: 6.06%
- Return on equity: 9.07%
- Return on assets: 4.67%
- Revenues for last 12 months: $53.45 billion
- Total cash: $2.06 billion
- Total cash per share: $1.17
- Total debt: $29.56 billion
- Total debt to equity: 80.56%
- Current ratio: .85
- Book value per share: $20.71
- Beta: .49
- 52 week change: 14.19%
- Total shares outstanding: 1.77 billion
- Float: 1.67 billion
- Held by insiders: .05%
- Held by institutions: 74%
- Annual dividend: $1.16
- Yield: 3.2%
- Payout ratio: 64%

Company Web site: www.kraft.com

-  Ted Allrich