Hot Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now

LONDON -- Successful investors use a disciplined approach to picking stocks, and checklists can be a great way to make sure you've covered all the bases.

In this series, I am subjecting companies to scrutiny under the following five headings: prospects, performance, management, safety, and valuation. How does�Unilever� (LSE: ULVR  ) (NYSE: UL  ) measure up?

1.�Prospects
The consumer staples sector is defensive. Nevertheless, in Western markets, sales are under pressure from weak economic growth, so firms must continue to invest heavily in brands to maintain market share. Emerging markets are experiencing rapid growth, as vast populations with increasing disposable wealth are attracted to branded goods.

As the world's third-largest consumer staples firms, Unilever has market power with suppliers and buyers and the scale to invest heavily in marketing. In emerging markets, it enjoys the advantage of having moved in early.

Hot Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Vulcan Materials Company(VMC)

Vulcan Materials Company engages in the production and sale of construction aggregates, as well as asphalt mix, ready-mixed concrete, and cement primarily in the United States. The company operates in four segments: Aggregates, Concrete, Asphalt Mix, and Cement. The Aggregates segment produces construction aggregates, which principally include crushed stone, sand, and gravel. Its aggregates are used in public and private sector construction projects, including highways, airports, water and sewer systems, industrial manufacturing facilities, and residential and nonresidential buildings, as well as railroad track ballast. The Concrete segment produces and sells ready-mixed concrete in California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Texas, Virginia, and the District of Columbia; and block and pre-cast beams, as well as resells purchased building materials for use with ready-mixed concrete and concrete block. The Asphalt Mix segment produces and sells asphalt mix in Arizona, Californi a, and Texas. The Cement segment produces and sells Portland and masonry cement in bulk and bags to the concrete products industry. This segment also imports cement, clinker, and slag to resell and export, as well as to blend, bag, or reprocess into specialty cements. In addition, this segment mines, produces, and sells calcium products for the animal feed, paint, plastics, water treatment, and joint compound industries. The company was formerly known as Virginia Holdco, Inc. and changed its name to Vulcan Materials Company in November 2007. Vulcan Materials Company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.

Hot Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Thomson Reuters Corp(TRI)

Thomson Reuters Corporation provides intelligent information for businesses and professionals worldwide. The company allows market participants to connect, access content, and trade in a secure environment through Thomson Reuters Eikon desktop, Thomson Reuters Elektron network, content integration and management technology, content feeds and databases, and transactions infrastructure solutions that support buy- and sell-side customers to trade in foreign exchange, fixed income and derivatives, equities, exchange-traded instruments, and commodities and energy markets. It also offers information, analytics, workflow, and technology solutions to buy-side and off-trading floor customers; access to liquidity in over-the-counter markets, trade execution, and connections for market participants and financial professionals? communities; and a suite of solutions offering informed outcomes to regulated industries and law firms. In addition, the company provides critical information , decision support tools, and software and services to legal, investigation, business, and government professionals; integrated tax compliance and accounting software and services for accounting and law firms, corporations, and government professionals; intellectual property and scientific resources that enable its customers to discover, develop, and deliver innovations; and data analytics, and performance benchmarking solutions and services to healthcare sector. Further, it offers coverage of global, regional, and national news in 20 languages covering politics, business, finance, entertainment, lifestyle, technology, health, science, and sports; and engages in advertising-supported direct-to-consumer publishing activities of Reuters.com and its network of Websites, mobile applications, and electronic out-of-home displays. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.

10 Best China Stocks To Watch For 2014: Supreme Resources Ltd (SPR.V)

Supreme Resources Ltd., a junior exploration and mining company, engages in the acquisition and development of mineral resource properties in Canada. The company primarily explores for copper, gold, silver, and zinc deposits. Its principal properties include TAS project covering a total area of 30,000 acres located in the Similkameen Mining Division of British Columbia; and Verde project comprising an area of 1,200 acres located to the east of Virginia Pit of Copper Mountain Camp. The company was formerly known as Universal Energy Corporation and changed its name to Supreme Resources Ltd. in February 2007. Supreme Resources Ltd. was incorporated in 1979 and is based in Coquitlam, Canada. Supreme Resources Ltd. operates as a subsidiary of Just Energy Exchange Corp.

Hot Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now: Platinum Capital Ltd(PMC.AX)

Platinum Capital Limited operates as a closed end investment company. It invests funds in securities of companies worldwide, which are undervalued. The company?s investment portfolio include cyclical/manufacturing, financials, technology/hardware, retail/services/logistics, consumer brands, software/media, gold and other resources, telecommunications, and medical industries primarily in western Europe, Japan, and North America. Platinum Asset Management Limited serves as the investment manager of the company. The company was founded in 1994 and is based in Sydney, Australia. Platinum Capital Limited is a part of the Platinum Group of Companies.