Dismal Report of Sales, Earnings and Dividends Over Past Year

They don’t call it the Great Recession for nothing. Our annual performance report of leading, listed security and security-connected businesses presents a stark picture, but surely not despairing.

Twenty-five comparable companies out of 66 reported an increase in sales for the previous full year. The previous year 53 reported greater sales growth. Yet to many observers earnings per share (EPS) are king. Broadly similar to the sales profile, 25 companies reported an increase in EPS compared with 31 the previous year. But the trend was down: 20 were lower and 13 reported a loss.

Finally, shareholders deserve earnings from those corporations poised to pay them. Dividends increased in 14 corporations (compared with 16 the previous year), five decreased, seven remained the same, and 40 are not paying dividends.

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