In Focus

Chicken Pox Help Chick Pick Stocks

April, 2000...

Last January the Chicks and I gathered for a meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. As a mother of two small fireballs I relish the times I get to spend with the Chicks talking "grown-up" talk and being able to wear white without the fear of getting ketchup on my shirt sleeves. But as much as I need the time to get away, it's usually only hours before I'm missing the babies back home. This trip was no exception.

After a long and turbulent flight I race-walked toward baggage claim where I knew the family would be waiting. Sure enough, at the bottom of the escalator I see two little blond-haired beauties racing for me, arms outstretched, smiles from ear to ear. I grin at their dad, so proud of my pajama-clad girls, and so glad to be home. As we walk over to collect my bags, I notice my two-year old has pulled her princess jammies up to her armpits and is engaging in some pretty serious two-handed scratching in the rear area. Hmmmm. Not necessarily unusual, but her serious determination told me this was more than just a mere bug bite. And alas, I was right. "Chicken Pox," Kevin said. "Found 'em last night."

Chicken Pox? Yikes! I forgot about those things. What to do? First things first - I get on the Internet and see what I can find out. Not much you can do but keep them clean, don't let them get too hot, and try Caladryl. I remembered the stuff; we always had it around growing up. A quick jaunt to the drug store and behold the miracle... instant relief for the girls, therefore instant relief for me. And being a Chick got me thinking... What's egg-zactly is going on with Caladryl?

Back on the Internet while the girls slept peacefully covered by soft pink Caladryl kisses (I'll call them whatever they want if it makes them happy!!), I discovered Warner-Lambert (WLA) and thought I'd see if they'd fit in an egg carton.

Let's use the Chicks' Dozen to check them out:

1. Buy What You Know
I knew Caladryl so well it brought back childhood memories of Houlton Lake in Michigan and swarms of mosquitoes on hot, muggy nights. I always brush my breath with Dentyne and helloooo.... who do you think makes "Chic-lets"???

2. K.I.S.Sistah
Most of their products are highly recognized (see above).

3. Industry
Its industry is Major Drugs, its sector, healthcare. It also deals in confectioneries, i.e., Chewing Gum... Competitors? J & J is their biggest but obviously these guys can hold their own. Keep reading...

4. Leader in Its Field
Many of their products stand alone, for example Halls, and again, Caladryl.

5. Repeat Purchase of a Low Priced Product
Would I let my medicine cabinet go without Caladryl? Probably not for very long. After all, those "kisses" work on insect bites and we DO live in Maine.

6. GM -- 76.30

7. NM -- 12.8

8. Cash More Than 1.5 x Debt -- .79

9. Flowie -- 1.19
Great Numbers!!

10. Increasing Growth
In March of '97 their revenues were at 1,777,400,000. This past March? Try 3,407,100,000!

11. Strong Management
Well, I searched high and low to get some info on Mr. Lodewijk deVink, the Chairman, CEO & Pres. of WLA, but to no avail... except to say that he used to be the CEO of Xerox. He's apparently "copied" his philosophies from Xerox, because WLA has certainly benefited from his leadership.

12. Is It On Sale?
52 Week High: 120.19

52 Week Low: 60.18

Today's Price: 114.69

November, 2000...

At the time of that writing it was completely unbeknownst to me that there was a merger just around the corner. I thought it would be interesting to show the information we had on Warner-Lambert before it embarked on this successful merger with Pfizer. To see this separate entity's solid achievement on its own emphasizes with absolute certainty our faith in the ultimate success of Pfizer. These two hugely popular companies together can only mean good things. My kids, thanks to Caladryl, survived the Chicken Pox -- sans scars. And judging by PFE's continued growth since the merger, they're no worse for the wear either. Another great example of the Chicks' Dozen doing its job.