For its part, Dole will form a special committee of its board to consider Murdock’s offer, but chances that it will be found insufficient are pretty unlikely. Dole’s shares closed at $10.20 last night, and even though shares are trading above the offer price they remain nearly 20% off their 52-week high.

Murdock took the company private in 2003 and then took it public again in 2009 at an IPO price of $12.50 a share. His offer this morning pretty much sums up the company’s fortunes since the 2009 IPO.

The last big going-private deal in the food industry occurred in December 2010 when Del Monte Foods was taken private in a $4 billion deal with KKR and its partners. More common are mergers and buyouts, like last year’s ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) $6.8 billion acquisition of Ralcorp. According to The Food Institute, there were 301 mergers in the food industry in 2012, down 21% from 2011.

The largest deal on the table so far this year is a $4.7 billion offer for the country’s largest pork producer, Smithfield Foods Inc. (NYSE: SFD), by China’s Shuanghui International Holdings. The world’s largest beef producer, Brazil’s JBS S.A., just expanded its poultry business and now leads U.S.-based Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN) as the world’s largest poultry producer. JBS also owns a controlling stake in Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. (NASDAQ: PPC).

The Tyson family controls Tyson Foods through its ownership of essentially all of the company’s class B stock, which is valued the same as the class A stock, but carries 10 votes per class B share. The Tyson family owns just 2.53% of the outstanding class A stock, so going private with the company, which has a current market value of around $9 billion, is an expensive but not impossible proposition.

Food prices have been rising, and at least some industry analysts think that inefficiencies in the supply chain are responsible for the hikes. If that is the case, then gaining control now, as Murdock is trying to do, is a smart move for him. Whether it is a good move for other shareholders is certainly arguable.

UBS has just released a list of stocks that have a dividend yield of at least 2.5%, have increased their payout ratio by more than 5% during the past year and have positive consensus earnings per share growth over the next 12-months. All the stocks on the list have Buy ratings at UBS.

Williams Companies Inc. (NYSE: WMB) is one of the leading energy infrastructure companies in North America. It owns interests in or operates 15,000 miles of interstate gas pipelines, 1,000 miles of natural gas liquids transportation pipelines, and more than 10,000 miles of oil and gas gathering pipelines. UBS has a $41 price target. The Thomson/First Call consensus estimate is also at $41. Investors are paid a solid 4.0% dividend.

Ensco PLC (NYSE: ESV) saw a big jump in its revenue in fiscal 2012 after completing a merger with Pride International in May 2011. In addition to strong sales growth last year, Ensco also recorded a rebound in its operating efficiency, with margins rising for the first time since 2008. The UBS target for the offshore-driller is $64, while the consensus is at $70. Investors are paid a 3.3% dividend.

Nucor Corp. (NYSE: NUE) is one of the few steel companies that has not struggled with overcapacity issues. The UBS target for the stock and the street consensus are both $52. Shareholders are paid a 3.3% dividend.

Johnson & Johnson‘s (NYSE: JNJ) pharmaceutical business generated $2.6 billion in sales outside the United States alone last year. UBS has a $97 target for this top name, while the consensus is at $90.50. Investors are paid a 3.1% dividend.

ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) has an above-average rank, in the top 50% of the Wall Street coverage universe, which suggests it is among the top most “interesting” ideas that merit further research by investors. UBS has placed a $39 target on the stock. The consensus estimate is at $40. Shareholders are paid a 3.% dividend.

KLA-Tencor Corp. (NASDAQ: KLAC) is a top technology stock to buy with strong dividend growth. UBS has a $58 price target on the semiconductor equipment giant, while the consensus is at $60. Investors are paid a 2.8% dividend.

Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is another quality large cap tech name to make the list. As demand for super-networks increase, Cisco looks to be a prime beneficiary of huge carrier build-outs. UBS has a $26 price target, which is the same as the consensus target. Investors receive a 2.8% dividend.

BB&T Corp. (NYSE: BBT) is one of the largest financial services holding companies in the United States, with $181 billion in assets and market capitalization of $22.0 billion, as of March 31, 2013. UBS has a $37 target, and the consensus is at $35. Shareholders are paid a 2.8% dividend.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has gone from hero to zero in the eyes of many on Wall Street. With a music streaming service and the iPhone 6 on the horizon, the company still has legs. UBS has a $500 target for the stock, but the consensus is higher at $535. Investors are paid a 2.8% dividend.

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) develops, manufactures and markets products for people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma and other chronic and acute medical conditions. The UBS target is $77, and the consensus for the stock is also at $77. Investors receive a 2.8% dividend.

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) is expected to grow at close to 12% each year over the next five years, with the bulk of growth coming from emerging markets such as China and India. UBS has a $15 price target for the iconic automaker. The consensus target is higher at $16.50. Investors receive a 2.5% dividend.

Companies that are growing their dividends are growing their earnings. Companies that grow earnings usually see appreciation in the stock price. The UBS stocks to buy offer an investor a solid portfolio of diversified names. The key to the game is always total return, and the UBS stocks offer that possibility.

The U.S. dollar index is down 0.26% today, now at 82.708. The GSCI commodity index is down 0.2% at 651.87. WTI crude oil closed down 2.8% today, at $94.45 a barrel,after an inventory report that showed a larger than expected increase (more coverage here). Brent crude trades down 3.5% at $107.44 a barrel. Natural gas is down 1.5% today at about $3.92 per million BTUs. Gold settled down 1.3% today at $1,553.30 an ounce.

The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA down nearly 112 points to 14,550.35 (-0.76%), the NASDAQ fell more than 36 points (-1.11%) to 3,218.60, and the S&P 500 fell -1.05% or nearly nearly 17 points to 1,553.69.

There were a several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CBST) cut to ‘sell’ at Cantor Fitzgerald, Charles River Laboratories International Inc. (NYSE: CRL) cut to ‘sell’ at Citigroup; Gold Fields Ltd. (NYSE: GFI) cut to ‘neutral’ at Credit Suisse; NextEra Energy Inc. (NYSE: NEE) raised to ‘Conviction Buy’ list with a price target of $84 at Goldman Sachs; and Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) cut to ‘neutral’ at Goldman Sachs.

Earnings reports since markets closed last night resulted in a few price move today: Team Inc. (NASDAQ: TISI) is down 5.3% at $37.79; ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) is down 2.1% at $34.80 (more coverage here); Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) is up 0.4% at $104.06 (more coverage here); and Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: SCHN) is up 1.5% at $25.82.

Before markets open tomorrow morning we are scheduled to hear from Harry Winston Diamond Corp. (NYSE: DDC), Greenbrier Companies Inc. (NYSE: GBX), and RPM International Inc. (NYSE: RPM).

Some standouts among heavily traded stocks today include:

Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ: ZNGA) is up 15.5% at $3.55. The social game maker launched its first real-money gambling games in the U.K. today. More coverage here.

Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) is down 3.2% at $11.76. The big bank is leading its competitors on a slide today, likely due to the weak ADP employment news, which means fewer home buyers, fewer mortgages, and less consumer borrowing.

Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) is up 3.3% at $26.26. The social networking giant is announcing a Facebook phone tomorrow and is likely getting a bit of lift from Zynga, which provides Facebook’s for-fun-only casino games.

Stay tuned for Thursday. Chicago Fed President Charles Evans, Fed Governor Esther George, and Fed Vice-Chair Janet Yellen are giving speeches. We have also noted the following events on the schedule (all times Eastern):

• 7:30 a.m. – Challenger job-cut report
• 8:30 a.m. – New claims for unemployment benefits
• 10:30 a.m. – EIA weekly natural gas storage report
• 3:00 p.m. – Treasury STRIPS
• 4:30 p.m. – Fed balance sheet and money supply

On a GAAP basis, EPS totaled $0.29, compared with $0.67 in the same quarter last year. Excluded items include $0.16 per share in the 2013 third quarter for expenses related to ConAgra’s acquisition of Ralcorp and a $0.14 per share benefit in the year-ago quarter.

The company’s CEO said:

Challenges remain for key areas of our business, but a combination of successful margin improvement initiatives and a more favorable input cost environment is enabling us to significantly increase our brand investment and deliver EPS growth. … Our organization is very focused on the ongoing integration of Ralcorp, which will play a key role in creating shareholder value.

The company closed its acquisition of Ralcorp in late January, and the $6.8 billion acquisition added $292 million to sales and operating profit of $22 million to the quarter’s results. Net expenses related to the acquisition totaled $17 million.

The company reaffirmed its fiscal year 2013 guidance for adjusted diluted EPS of $2.15. That number is also the consensus analysts’ estimate for 2013 EPS.

Shares are down 2.2% in premarket trading this morning, at $34.76. The current 52-week range is $23.64 to $35.91. Thomson Reuters had a consensus analyst price target of around $37.25 before today’s results were announced.

The U.S. dollar index rose 0.23% today, now at 82.927. The GSCI commodity index is down 0.3% at 653.1, with commodities prices mostly lower as concern over corn prices continues (more coverage here). WTI crude oil closed up 0.1% today, at $97.19 a barrel. Brent crude trades down 0.7% at $110.57 a barrel. Natural gas is down 1.1% today at about $3.97 per million BTUs. Gold settled down 1.6% today at $1,575.90 an ounce.

The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA up nearly 89 points to 14,661.63 (0.61%), the NASDAQ rose nearly 16 points (0.48%) to 3,254.86, and the S&P 500 rose 0.51% or about 8 points to 1,570.22. both the DJIA and the S&P 500 posted new all-time highs today.

There were a several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) started as ‘neutral’ at UBS; Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) cut to ‘perform’ at Oppenheimer; Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) started as ‘buy’ with a price target of $27 at UBS; Groupon Inc. (NASDAQ: GRPN) cut to ‘sell’ at UBS; and Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) cut to ‘sell’ with a price target of $16 at Goldman Sachs.

Earnings reports since markets closed last night resulted in just one price move today: McCormick & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MKC) is down 0.3% at $72.46 after posting a new 52-week high of $73.70 earlier today.

Before markets open tomorrow morning we are scheduled to hear from Team Inc. (NYSE: TISI), ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG), Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON), and Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: SCHN).

Some standouts among heavily traded stocks today include:

BGC Partners Inc. (NASDAQ: BGCP) is up 47.5% at $5.68. The financial services firm has sold its eSpeed bond unit.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) is up 4.9% at $61.83 after posting a new 52-week high of $63.95 earlier today. The health insurer is getting a boost from the increase in Medicare and Medicaid patients announced early this morning.

Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) is down 8.1% at $14.93. The airlines reported weak numbers for March and cut its first-quarter revenue forecast.

Stay tuned for Wednesday. San Francisco Fed President John Williams and St. Louis Fed President James Bullard are giving speeches. We have also noted the following events on the schedule (all times Eastern):

• 7:00 a.m. – Mortgage Bankers Association purchase applications
• 8:15 a.m. – ADP employment report
• 10:00 a.m. – ISM non-manufacturing index
• 10:30 a.m. – EIA weekly petroleum status report

The S&P 500 took a late-day run at its record closing high of 1,565.15, but ended just two points away. The 30-stock Dow Jones Industrial Average has been setting record highs since last week, when it rallied on March 5 to initially surpass its previous lifetime closing peak set in October 2007. The question again for investors, especially those who have missed the big rally, is where do we go from here?

In a report out today, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) chief equity strategist Thomas Lee points out that there are two distinctive style attributes that will help stocks outperform after such an exhausting bull market run. The team at J.P. Morgan screen their universe of stocks and look for names that exhibit high free cash flow yields, and surprisingly, low dividend yields. The search produced 15 names investors can buy now. In the 11 market pullbacks since 2009, this group of 15 stocks outperformed S&P 500 eight times. We looked through the list for the 10 names with the best dividend yield and selected those.

Consumer and commercial food company ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) leads off the list, with its popular brands from Healthy Choice to Orville Redenbacher’s. The Thomson/First Call consensus price target is $37. The stock also pays a 2.90% dividend.

Technology leader International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) has become a service giant in the industry. The Wall St. consensus price target is $230. IBM pays a 1.60% dividend.

Automotive and industrial parts distributor Genuine Parts Co. (NYSE: GPC) makes the grade. Analysts on Wall St. have a $73.50 price target on the shares. The company also pays a 2.80% dividend.

St. Paul, Minn.-based 3M Co. (NYSE: MMM) makes the J.P. Morgan list. The company makes consumer and commercial products used daily around the world, and the consensus estimate is $106. The dividend yield is 2.40%.

Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ: PAYX) provides outsourced payroll, human resources and benefits solutions to small and medium-sized businesses. The consensus price target is $34. Paychex pays a 3.90% dividend.

United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) provides technology products and services to the building systems and aerospace industries worldwide. The consensus price target for this Wall St. favorite is $99.50. The company pays investors a 2.30% dividend.

Serving restaurants with everything from food to utensils, Houston-based Sysco Corp. (NYSE: SYY) makes the J.P. Morgan top 15. The consensus price target is $30. Investors are paid a 3.30% dividend.

PPG Industries Inc. (NYSE: PPG) is a leading paint, coating and special products company. The consensus for this venerable Pittsburgh-based company is $155. The stock pays a 1.70% dividend.

Praxair Inc. (NYSE: PX) sells atmospheric gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen, argon; rare gases; process gases comprising carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen; electronic gases; specialty gases; and acetylene. The consensus price target is $125. The stock also pays a 2.10% dividend.

A transport stock that makes the J.P. Morgan list is Union Pacific Corp. (NYSE: UNP), which offers rail transportation services across North America. The consensus price target is $150. Investors also a capture a 2% dividend.

The other five stocks on the J.P. Morgan list include Fiserv Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), Sigma-Aldrich Corp. (NASDAQ: SIAL), DENTSPLY International Inc. (NASDAQ: XRAY), Loews Corp. (NYSE: L) and, rounding out the list, is entertainment giant Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS).

We have written at great length this week about what seems to be an overbought and toppy stock market. Investors are faced with a conundrum not faced in years. They face the risk of missing out if the market goes higher or getting caught in the inevitable correction. Our advice remains the same. If you have money to invest, consider scaling or dollar-cost averaging into the market. Having dry powder after a correction may be just the ticket.

The company’s CEO said:

The profitability of our core business is showing strong progress, and we have recently completed the largest acquisition in our history with the purchase of Ralcorp. The transaction is financially and strategically compelling and creates a company with $18 billion in net sales and the leading position in North America in private brands. We have already begun the integration process, and look forward to reporting on our progress over the next few months.

The company raised its fiscal 2013 earnings per share (EPS) outlook to $2.06 in December, and today said it expects the addition of Ralcorp to boost EPS by another $0.05 per share. For the full year, the company now expects EPS of $2.15, slightly better than the consensus estimate of $2.13. The addition of Ralcorp is also expected to add $0.25 to fiscal year 2014 EPS. ConAgra’s fiscal year ends in May.

ConAgra said it will continue its current $1.00 annual dividend (yield is 3%) as it works on reducing its debt. Ralcorp brought about $1.8 billion in debt to the merger, and ConAgra has arranged to borrow about $6 billion to help finance the deal

Shares of ConAgra are up about 0.5% in premarket trading this morning, at $33.89 in a 52-week range of $23.64 to $33.93.

We would caution about chasing these. Some of these companies are already at highs, and some are either controlled or would be very difficult for an outside buyer to acquire. The valuations look very high and may drive away value investors with trailing P/E ratios and forward P/E ratios being above the S&P 500 Index average. We did not value the Kraft Foods breakup, and we cut the list off after a point where a company could reasonably be acquired.

Dean Foods Co. (NYSE: DF) trades at 25 times earnings, but Finviz.com lists its forward P/E as about 13. Dean Foods is still in a turnaround, and its market cap is $3.1 billion. Finviz shows that it trades at more than 60 times book value. Note that the book value here may be distorted due to issues the company has faced and due to restructuring efforts. There is no dividend, and Dean Foods shares are up 0.4% at $16.77 on the day.

McCormick & Co. (NYSE: MKC) recently hit a snag, but its market cap is still $7.7 billion. It trades at 21 times trailing earnings, and Finviz lists its forward P/E as almost 18. The dividend yield here is 2.1%, and Finviz shows that it trades at five times book value. Shares are up 1% at $64.75.

Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN) is worth about $8.5 billion and trades at about 14.5 times earnings. The forward P/E is only 10, according to Finviz. As a reminder, due to the founding family control, this is not as easily accessible as some investors might think. The dividend yield is a pathetic 0.9%, and Finviz shows that it trades at 1.4 times book value. Shares are up only 0.9% at $24.08, but that is a new 52-week high.

Hormel Foods Corp. (NYSE: HRL) is worth some $9.5 billion. It trades at closer to 20 times earnings, but it trades at about 18.3 times the forward October 2013 earnings estimate. Its dividend yield is only 1.9%. Finviz shows that it trades at 3.3 times book value. Shares are up 0.8% at $36.12.

J.M. Smucker Co. (NYSE: SJM) is worth $9.8 billion and trades at 21 times trailing earnings. Finviz shows that it trades at 15.9 times forward earnings. The dividend yield is 2.3%, and Finviz shows that it trades at 1.9 times book value. Shares are up 1.8% at $91.96.

Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB) is worth $12 billion in market capitalization and trades at 16 times trailing earnings. Finviz shows its forward P/E as 14.2, and it trades at more than 10 times book value. Campbell’s dividend yield is 3%, and its shares are up 3.5% at $39.52.

ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) is worth some $13.9 billion in market capitalization. Finviz shows it trading at just over 20 times earnings, but only about 14.2 times forward earnings expectations. This is also just under three times book value. Its dividend yield is 3%, and shares are up 0.8% at $33.74.

Kellogg Co. (NYSE: K) is worth some $21.25 billion and trades at 23 times earnings. Finviz shows its forward multiple on earnings as being 14.4, and its price-to-book ratio is almost 9. Kellogg’s dividend yield is 3%, and its shares are up 1% at 59.95.

General Mills Inc. (NYSE: GIS) is already worth about $28 billion, so it is getting to the cut-off level of any possible “easy” buyout price. It trades at about 16 times earnings, and the forward earnings multiple is listed by Finviz as being 14.8. General Mills trades at about four times book value, and it has a dividend yield of 3.1%. Shares are up 2.2% at $43.95 so far.

H. J. Heinz shares are up about 19.9% to $72.52, a new all-time high.

The consumer staples research team at Bank of America/ Merrill Lynch (NYSE: BAC) did just that. They looked through their universe of consumer staples stocks, which are stocks that sell products that people use on a regular basis, and reviewed their buy rated names that had the best technical profiles. They offered up a blue chip group of stocks, with some technical reasons why.

Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO). The overall pattern for MO is a consolidation within an uptrend. Support at $30 continues to hold and the potential is for a continuation of the uptrend toward projected rising channel resistance at $40. A break above very nearby resistance at $33-34 would confirm this idea. Altria closed Friday at $33.45 and yields 5.30%.

ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE: CAG). is completing a 14-year base or bottom on the breakout above $30. The highs from January 1999 and December 1997 provide resistances at $34.00-34.00 and $38.75, respectively, but the big base projects longer-term upside to $45. Holding the $30-28 area keeps the breakout firmly in place. Additional support chart is $27.45 to $25.90. ConAgra closed Friday at $33.23 and yield $3.10.

Kellogg Company (NYSE: K). Kellogg (K) is breaking out from a four year triangle pattern. Sustaining a rally above $57-56 confirms this idea and favors a rally to rising channel resistance at $67-68. The triangle projects up to $80 longer-term. Key support is $57-54 with additional support in the $46-45 area. Kellogg closed Friday at $58.84 and yields 3%.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB). Kimberly-Clark is on the Most Attractive Buy (MAB) List and a favored stock for 2013. With a big base in place and a rising channel that project to $95-100. Initial projected resistance is $90, but the stock is building a triangle pattern that if completed would likely lead to a rally above the $90 area. Nearby support is $83-80 and holding this level would keep the developing triangle pattern intact. Additional uptrend and chart support is $75-72. Kimberly-Clark closed Friday at $86.26 and yields $3.40%.

Pepsico Inc. (NYSE: PEP. PepsiCo (PEP) has tested and held support at $68-67. The technical pattern has firmed and favors a rally to the $80 area with projected rising channel resistance at $85. Continuing to hold $68-67 keeps the pattern bullish. Additional chart support is $61-58. Pepsico closed Friday at $72.49 and yields 3%.

These well known, buy rated stocks have several things in common. Strong consumer name recognition and products. Good earnings growth and dividends which have consistently grown as well. Plus the added insurance of a strong technical readout. When investing it’s always good to have us much information as possible to make your decision.

While stock picks have been made here, the summary even with the upside picks is that demand is still a challenge with management teams generally subdued regarding 2013 earnings growth. Soft demand in North America and Europe is trumping manageable cost inflations. BofA screened for stocks with company specific tailwinds from corporate actions, as well as those with product categories immune from consumer weakness, and those with strong developing market franchises.

BofA’s Spillane has identified some key themes for 2013 being led by actions in mergers, splits, and restructurings to offset slow organic growth. It sees soft domestic market demand, moderating input cost inflation and a potential for increased promotions. Today’s research also shows an expected developing and emerging markets rebound, profit growth in the domestic soft drink market, a move in health and wellness, and macro support for demand and pricing in alcohol.

BofA’s Top Picks: Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) and Kraft Foods Group Inc. (NASDAQ: KRFT). Constellation has an attractive valuation, improving share/growth in beer and wine, favorable wine industry supply and a potential catalyst if the Crown deal is approved. Kraft is said to be in the early stages of a multiyear cycle of productivity gains which should fund marketing increases and mid-single-digit profit growth.

The Top Categories isolated Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM) and The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY). Beam was listed as having solid organic sales growth, early stages of industry wide price increases and as being likely impacted (favorably) by industry consolidation (i.e., mergers). Hershey was listed as having top-tier domestic sales growth, a cost tailwind and accretion from Brookside.

BofA’s Corporate Actions focused on ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) and Dean Foods Co. (NYSE: DF). ConAgra has improving organic growth, accretion from bolt-on deals and the transformative nature of the Ralcorp deal. Dean Foods shares are said to currently not be reflecting the value from the The WhiteWave Foods Co. (NYSE: WWAV) IPO and pending asset sale.

Turnaround candidates are favored as Kellogg Co. (NYSE: K) and PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP). Spillane said, “We expect both companies to benefit from recent investments in marketing, new products and M&A. Kellogg should see more upside from Pringles while we are bullish on prospects for revived international growth at Pepsi.”

In Developing Markets rebounding, BofA favors The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) and Mondelez International Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ). Both were listed as having sustained consistent investment levels in developing markets over the past few years and both are believed to be positioned to accelerate as the consumer improves in these markets.

BofA also maintained its Neutral rating on Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR). The report said, “We are raising our price objective from $42 to $45 and our target multiple from 14.7x to 15.7x our FY14 EPS of $2.85, due to an overall increase in the packaged food group multiple.”

We might not have given this much thought except for one key issue. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) was listed by all analysts out there as being one of the five most undervalued DJIA components for 2013.

JON C. OGG