Core Viewpoint - General Mills, Inc. is recognized for its strong dividend history, which provides a buffer for investors amid current earnings challenges and market pressures [2][4]. Group 1: Company Overview - General Mills is a global leader in packaged foods, operating over 100 brands in more than 100 countries [2]. - The company has maintained a consistent dividend payment for 127 consecutive years without any cuts, highlighting its financial stability [4]. Group 2: Recent Developments - On June 30, 2025, General Mills completed the sale of its North American yogurt division for $2.1 billion, which represented about 8% of total sales last year [2]. - The proceeds from the sale are intended for share buybacks, although this divestment is expected to reduce fiscal 2026 earnings per share by approximately 3% due to the segment's low profit margins [2]. Group 3: Financial Performance and Outlook - The company is currently facing a challenging environment with declining at-home food demand post-pandemic and ongoing cost inflation [3]. - Management has projected flat organic sales and a 10%–15% decline in earnings per share for fiscal 2026 due to these pressures and significant investments in the pet segment [3]. Group 4: Dividend Strength - General Mills offers a quarterly dividend of $0.61 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.95% as of October 12 [4].

Group 1: Market Overview - Five large-cap companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange are underperforming compared to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, primarily due to consumer inflation expectations affecting their sectors [2][3] - The impact of tariffs is leading to increased prices for goods, resulting in more sellers than buyers for these stocks, which have reached new lows [3] Group 2: Company Summaries - **Colgate-Palmolive**: Market cap of $64.78 billion, earnings up 2.13% this year and 11.19% over three years, with a price-earnings ratio of 22.53 and a high debt-to-equity ratio of 12.48. Offers a 2.61% dividend [4] - **International Flavors & Fragrances**: Market cap of $15.99 billion, earnings down 1.37% this year and 4.88% over three years, with a price-earnings ratio of 22.62. Pays a 2.62% dividend [5] - **Kellanova**: Formerly Kellogg's, with a market cap of $26.78 billion, earnings down 7.04% this year and 3.64% over three years, price-earnings ratio of 20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58 [7] - **McCormick & Co.**: Specializes in herbs, spices, and seasonings, affected by tariffs, with a price chart indicating a new low [8] - **U-Haul Holding Company**: Market cap of $10.29 billion, earnings down 32% this year and 69% over three years, with a price-earnings ratio of 40.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95 [9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The gross asset value as of June is approximately $5.6 billion, with three of the four core holdings being billion-dollar companies [4] - Recurring profit reached a record high of over $375 million, reflecting an 11% increase [7] - Turnover saw a slight increase, while contribution from operations rose by 8% to over $400 million [6] - Interest expenses decreased by 10% to $35 million due to declining interest rates [7] - Recurring EPS increased by 10% [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Indofood reported record high revenues, with sales continuing to hit successive record highs since 2014 [12] - Indofood's EBIT decreased by 1%, while core profit increased by 2% [13] - Metro Pacific's contribution rose by 18%, driven by power and water businesses, with the water business benefiting from tariff increases [17] - PLDT's revenues and EBITDA reached record highs, although core profit faced slight declines due to competitive pressures [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Philippines and Indonesia are identified as the fastest-growing regions, with GDP expected to double over the next twelve years [39] - Foreign exchange rates have shown a historical decline, impacting profit reporting in US dollars [40] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is confident in continuing earnings growth in the medium term, supported by essential services in defensive industries [8] - PLDT is focusing on leveraging its strong market position to enhance customer experience and drive growth despite increased competition [33] - Indofood aims to maintain market share and profitability while addressing input price pressures [13] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the growth outlook for Indofood despite current consumer confidence challenges in Indonesia [39] - The company anticipates a stable dividend income stream for the full year, supported by expected growth in profitability from NPIC and PLDT [48] - The competitive landscape in the telecommunications sector is expected to remain challenging, but PLDT's established network provides a strong foundation for growth [33] Other Important Information - The company has a strong focus on maintaining investment-grade credit ratings, with stable outlooks from both S&P and Moody's [12] - The upcoming IPO for a subsidiary has been delayed due to internal decision-making processes among cornerstone investors [80] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the impact of the new telco bill on PLDT? - Management indicated that while the new bill opens the market, PLDT's established network and brand position will allow it to leverage growth opportunities despite increased competition [32][33] Question: Which companies are benefiting from AI spending? - Companies involved in data centers and power generation are expected to benefit indirectly from increased AI-related power demand [34][36] Question: What is the outlook for Indofood given weak consumer confidence in Indonesia? - Despite low consumer confidence, the overall economic growth forecast for Indonesia remains positive, supporting Indofood's outlook [39] Question: What is the status of the holding company cash flow and dividend income? - The decline in dividend income was attributed to timing differences, with expectations for recovery in the full year [46][48] Question: What is the expected CapEx for the new power project? - The total project cost for the new 670 MW CCGT plant is estimated at around $900 million, with equity requirements spread over several years [62]

Core Viewpoint - Costco's stock is currently overvalued despite its strong business performance, making Coca-Cola and PepsiCo more attractive investment options for income and value-focused investors [4][14]. Group 1: Costco - Costco operates on a membership model, providing a reliable revenue stream with a high member renewal rate of approximately 90% [2]. - The company is experiencing growth through new store openings and increased customer spending, but its stock valuation is high with P/S, P/E, and P/B ratios above five-year averages [4]. - The dividend yield for Costco is low at around 0.6%, which is disappointing for income-focused investors [5][4]. Group 2: Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola has shown strong performance with a 5% growth in organic revenues in the second quarter, appealing to consumers despite inflation concerns [6][7]. - The stock is reasonably priced with P/S, P/E, and P/B ratios at or slightly below five-year averages, and a dividend yield of 3% [8]. - Coca-Cola is considered a better value than Costco due to its strong business performance and reasonable stock valuation [8][14]. Group 3: PepsiCo - PepsiCo's stock is undervalued with P/S, P/E, and P/B ratios significantly below five-year averages, and a dividend yield of approximately 4% [10]. - The company reported a lower organic sales growth of 2.1% in the second quarter compared to Coca-Cola, indicating underperformance [11]. - PepsiCo is a diversified business with a history of dividend growth, and recent acquisitions may help it regain momentum [12][13].