1. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) stock has been in a free fall for much of this year, with the stock down more than 25% year to date. However, Apple shares are looking like an attractive bargain for value investors, with the stock currently trading at just seven times next year’s earnings. While there’s certainly a bear case to be made for Apple, it appears that much of the risk is already priced into the stock.
It’s no secret that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) faces tough competition from industry giants including Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG), and Samsung. Meanwhile, analysts on average expect Apple’s earnings to decline 18% from the year-ago period, according to The Wall Street Journal. Nevertheless, there are a number of catalysts working in Apple’s favor.
The Apple ecosystem of hardware, software, services, and apps acts as a network effect. This means that current Apple users are more likely to buy future Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) products, rather than switch to a new platform such as Android. Therefore, I’m of the contrarian opinion that Apple’s iDevices will continue to attract new users in the years to come.
Shifting back to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) as an attractive dividend stock, it’s important that investors take into account the strength of Apple’s balance sheet. Not many companies can claim more than $150 billion in cash and zero debt. Not to mention, the stock boasts a 2.6% dividend yield. That’s not bad for a company in the early stages of transitioning from a growth stock to a value stock.
Moreover, given Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s massive cash stash, I would be surprised if the company doesn’t issue a dividend hike in the near future. Apple’s in a liminal stage at this point, but the underlying fundamentals remain intact. I believe the stock’s current valuation creates a buying opportunity for long-term investors.
2. PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP)
This global soda and snack company offers investors another quality dividend stock to buy on the next dip. For starters, the pop star’s efforts to increase its competitiveness are beginning to pay off. Indeed, PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) stock hit an all-time high last week following the company’s first-quarter results. However, with shares up more than 21% year to date, is this still the stock to buy in 2013? I certainly think so. Here’s why…
The company beat analysts’ expectations for its first quarter, with profits climbing 12% and organic revenue up 4% in the period. Meanwhile, strength in its snacks business, as well as emerging markets, helped offset a 3% decline in Pepsi’s North American soda division.
Moreover, Pepsi continues to cut costs where possible, which should boost profit margins going forward. Specifically, the company expects savings of $3 billion by 2015, thanks to its ongoing productivity program.
Looking ahead, Pepsi should also benefit from growth opportunities in emerging markets, such as India and China. The company is heavily invested in China. In fact, by the end of this year, the cola and snack giant will have invested more than $2.5 billion in its operations there. The Asian country is also home to Pepsi’s largest research and development center outside of the United States.
