Got this in the spinoff of FDC. In a global economy, they are still the premier way to move money. Incidentally, my alma mater Cornell was founded with money Ezra C got when he cashed in from the original IPO of WU.

Back in '01 when Immelt took over GE and Nardelli took over HD, these two stocks had grossly inflated valuations and the performance could never catch up. Well HD's problems are now very clear but GE has gone through a bold and successful reshaping of its company portfolio and is now quite undervalued, particularly once you take the 3%+ yield into account. It is solid solid but the Street just does not want to give it credit for the quality performance. I have sold some shares I bought back in 2000 to redploy the capital but have held on to a tranche I bought at $30. One lingering concern I have is that Immelt spent a ton of money investing in healthcare yet the division is underperforming. At this level of investment, I can be patient but not for another 7 years.

The original global brand. Originally bought a large stake (for me) at $40 in early '03. When it skyrocketed to $50 within six months, I took the 25%appreciation off the table when it appeared as though the stock had gotten ahead of the turnaround. Since then I have patiently enjoyed the nice 2.5 % yield as the stock found its balalnce and the turnaround actually took hold. Late May 2007, I added back to the position by 50% when the Fuze, Odwalla and Glaceau acquisitions made it abundantly clear that KO was serious in redeploying growing profits into noncarbonated beverages. NOTE: this stock really belongs now in my large portfolio but for tracking purposes I have left it in the Other Holdings portfolio

Great innovator and much broader portfolio of products than KO. Great Brands, lots of room for overseas growth and a nice steadily growing dividend. What's not to love if you are a long term investor.

Again, great brands: Arm & hammer, Orange Glo, Trojan. They also picked up Spin Brush on the cheap from P&G post-Gillette. They are investing heavily in new products and marketing. Bought at $28 and took some my profit off the table at $51. I am letting the rest ride.

Excellent service, high margin relative to competitors and an excellent steward of corporate capital. Excellent excellent management in an industry with very few big players. As of July 13, 2007, it has worked its way up to $96 in very short order from where I bought it at $74 in Jan '06 after being flat for quite some time. With the economy slowing and the excessive run-up in a short time frame, I took a little off the table but still love the stock long term.

Everyone ran scared when CAT took down forecasts in '06 but forgot that CAT makes gobs of money in mining and energy and has been in China for 20 years. I saw it as a buying opportunity and increased my position and am up about 30% since then.

Global demand for oil isn't going away any time soon and politial headline risks are overstated. Incredible stewards of corporate capital. At$80, it is still only at a P/E of 11. Slow and steady wins the race. Bought this back in 2000 at $40 and have taken a little bit off the table now and again. At this point the dividend yield (1.7%) is actually more like 3.5% relative to my cost basis and with dividends still being taxed at a lower rate than interest, this beats the crap out of a bond or a CD, with the appreciation upside still baked in. However, I do think there is more upside in COP.