ABT has 3 major diversified business sectors: vascular, diabetes care and diagnostics. Humira has about 30 percent share of the psoriasis market and is approved for at least 5 other diseases. Estimates for Humira growth are very high. Their dignostics business is increasing, growing 15 percent last quarter. ABT currently yields around 2.8 percent, has earnings growth of about 12 percent and trades at about 14 times earnings.

Rofin-Sinar Technologies develops and manufactures lasers and laser-based solutions for industrials materials processing. Rofin sells its products in 35 countries, particularly Asian, North America and Europe.

LH is a provider of clinical testing services. At about 17x next years earnings of 4.47 it is below the peer group average of 22. LH has 20% of the market share for clinical laboratory work. They do blood-chemistry, urinalysis, pap smears, HIV tests, microbiology cultures, allergies blood-cell counts and drug tests. Most of their services are billed to insurance companies, medicare, medicaid and managed care companies. LH's biggest competitor is DGX. LH has purchased numerous smaller independent labs across the country giving LH the advantage of national coverage. LH has a 10-year exclusive contract with UNH and also has a contract with CI. LH repurchased over $400 million of its stock during January to June, 2007. With their increasing operating cash flow, I look for them to repurchase more shares.

Ternium manufactures crude steel in Latin America, with manufacturing, processing and finishing facilities that produce and distribute a range of semi-finished and finished steel products, including value-added steel products tinplate, cold rolled coils and sheets, galvanized and electro-galvanized sheets, pre-painted sheets, welded pipes, hot rolled pickled and annealed and tailor-made flat products, and long steel products, such as bars and wire rod. Currently yields 3.7 percent and trading at about 2.3 earnings. While non-residential construction may be on the decline for the remainder of 2008 and 2009, getting paid close to 4 percent may be worth the wait.

High growth company expanding across the country. It is the nuts and bolts of construction. Grainger may be better

BASF SE is a German based chemical conglomerate. This is the largest chemical company in the world. It currently yields about 9.3 percent and trades at about 6 times earnings. While I believe their dividend is safe, I am concerned about earnings for 2009 and 2010.70 percent of BASF's net income is generated from its Industrial activities, 20 percent from Oil & Gas, and 10 percent from agrochemicals. According to one analyst's report, "the danger facing BASF shareholders is that 90 percent of its net income (Industrials and Oil) is facing a sharp decline in profitability. In 2Q08, BASF's combined industrial divisions reported EBIT down 21%, and this was during a period where underlying demand was still relatively strong as customers were still tending to stockpile ahead of anticipated price increases. Over the next six to nine months, we expect to see a sharp decline in volumes as customer de-stocking exaggerates an underlying lower level of demand in key end-markets such as automotive, construction and electronics."

CF Industries manufactures and distributes fertilizer. It currently trades at about 7 times 2008 earnings. About three-fourths of CF's sales come from Nitrogen fertilizer and CF has about one-fourth of the US Nitrogen fertilizer market. CF also produces phosphate fertilizer and has the advantage of mining its own phosphate, allowing CF to enjoy higher margins. Corn crops appear to be increasing and the ethanol mandate has not disappeared. This seems bullish in terms of the demand for nitrogen fertilizer. My one concern is the cost of natural gas. As natural gas prices increase, so do CF's costs.

CNH is a Dutch farm equipment and light construction equipment manufacturer, currently trading at about 9.5 times 2009 earnings estimates.