Top 10 Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now

It seems that one industry that has become highly defensive in recent times is the pet industry. It would appear that no matter how hard the economic situation has become, pets still get care and attention from their owners.

In addition, pets require almost constant medical attention as this guidance from the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals in the UK shows:

When puppies and kittens are born they are usually protected from infections by their mother's milk, providing she has been regularly vaccinated. However, this protection only lasts a few weeks so they need regular vaccinations from an early age.

Puppies are typically vaccinated at eight and 10 weeks, kittens at nine and 12 weeks, with an initial course of two injections. Your young pet should then be given a booster 12 months after their first vaccination.

Pet treatments are needed
So, like the market for human pharmaceuticals, pet treatments are in demand. In addition, demand for animal pharmaceuticals is not limited to dogs and cats.�Zoetis (NYSE: ZTS  ) , which was recently spun off from parent Pfizer, develops and produces animal health medicines and vaccines for livestock around the world. A more defensive play than a company that just supplies the pet market, Zoetis is experiencing near record demand for its products as beef and pork consumption rises in China and the African continent starts to develop -- there are now several large multi-national farming conglomerates operating on the African continent. Currently, Zoetis is only generating 2% of its revenue in China, but this figure should be set to rise dramatically in the near term.

Best Income Stocks To Own Right Now: Silvercorp Metals Inc(SVM)

Silvercorp Metals Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of silver mineral properties in China and Canada. The company holds interests in four silver, lead, and zinc mines, including the Ying Project, the HPG Project, the TLP Project, and the LM Project at the Ying Mining Camp in the Henan Province of China. It also holds interests in the GC Project, a silver, lead, and zinc mine in the Guangdong Province; and the BYP gold, lead, and zinc mine project in Hunan province, as well as the Silvertip silver, lead, and zinc mine project in northern British Columbia, Canada. The company was formerly known as SKN Resources Ltd. and changed its name to Silvercorp Metals Inc. in May 2005. Silvercorp Metals Inc. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  What: Shares of silver miner Silvercorp Metals (NYSE: SVM  ) plunged 12% yesterday after its quarterly results disappointed Wall Street.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Silvercorp Metals (NYSE: SVM) shares fell 1.30% to touch a new 52-week low of $2.19. Silvercorp's PEG ratio is 5.18.

  Bancolombia SA (NYSE: CIB) shares touched a new 52-week low of $47.94. Bancolombia's trailing-twelve-month ROA is 1.45%.

Top 10 Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: Avery Dennison Corp (AVY)

Avery Dennison Corporation (Avery Dennison), incorporated on February 23, 1977, is engaged in the production of pressure-sensitive materials, and a variety of tickets, tags, labels other converted products, and office and consumer products through embossing, printing, stamping and die-cutting. The Company operates in two segments: Pressure-sensitive Materials and Retail Branding and Information Solutions. In addition to its reportable segments, the Company has other specialty converting businesses comprised of Vancive Medical Technologies (Vancive) and Designed and Engineered Solutions (DES). Some are sold by the Company in converted form as printable media, tapes and reflective sheeting. The Company also manufacture and sells office and consumer products, other converted products and items not involving pressure-sensitive components, such as binders, organizing systems, markers, fasteners and business forms, as well as tickets, tags, radio-frequency identification (RFID) inlays and tags, and imprinting equipment and related services for retailers and apparel manufacturers. In 2012, the PSM and RBIS segments contributed approximately 71% and 25%, of its total sales, respectively. In 2012, international operations constituted a substantial majority of its business, representing approximately 72% of its sales. As of December 29, 2012, the Company operated approximately 200 manufacturing and distribution facilities worldwide, employed approximately 30,000 persons, and had operations in over 50 countries. In July 2013, Avery Dennison Corp completed the sale of its Office and Consumer Products and Designed and Engineered Solutions businesses to CCL Industries Inc.

Pressure-sensitive Materials Segment

Pressure-sensitive Materials segment manufactures and sells Fasson-,JAC -, and Avery Dennison-brand pressure-sensitive label and packaging materials, Avery- and Avery Dennison-brand graphics and graphic films, Avery Dennison-brand reflective products, and performance polymers (largel! y used to manufacture pressure-sensitive materials). The business of this segment tends not to be seasonal, except for certain outdoor graphics and reflective products and operations in Europe. Pressure-sensitive materials consist primarily of papers, plastic films, metal foils and fabrics, which are coated with company-developed and purchased adhesives, and then laminated with specially coated backing papers and films. They are sold in roll or sheet form with either solid or patterned adhesive coatings, and are available in a wide range of face materials, sizes, thicknesses and adhesive properties. These label and packaging materials are sold worldwide to label printers and converters for labeling, decorating, fastening, electronic data processing and special applications in the home and personal care, beer and beverage, durables, pharmaceutical, wine and spirits, and food market segments. A pressure-sensitive, or self-adhesive, material is one that adheres to a surface by press-on contact.

The Company�� graphics and reflective businesses sell a variety of films and other products to the architectural, commercial sign, digital printing, and other related market segments. The Company also sells durable cast and reflective films to the construction, automotive and fleet transportation market segments; and reflective films for traffic and safety applications. The Company provides sign shops, commercial printers and designers a range of pressure-sensitive materials to enable the creation of impactful and informative, brand and decorative graphics. The Company has an array of pressure-sensitive vinyl and specialty materials designed for digital imaging, screen printing and sign cutting applications.

The Company�� performance tapes business manufactures and sells coated tapes and adhesive transfer tapes for use in non-mechanical fastening, bonding and sealing systems in various industries. These tapes are sold to industrial original equipment manufacturers, converters, and dispo! sable dia! per producers worldwide in roll form and are available in a range of face materials, sizes, thicknesses and adhesive properties. Performance polymer products include a range of solvent- and emulsion-based acrylic polymer adhesives, protective coatings and other polymer additives for internal use, as well as for sale to other companies.

The Company competes with Raflatac, MacTac, Ritrama, Inc., Flexcon Corporation, Inc., Orafol Group, Inc., 3M, Tesa-SE, and Nitto Denko Corporation.

Retail Branding and Information Solutions Segment

The Company�� Retail Branding and Information Solutions segment (RBIS) designs, manufactures and sell a wide variety of branding and information solutions to retailers, brand owners, apparel manufacturers, distributors and industrial customers on a worldwide basis. RBIS branding solutions include creative services, brand embellishments, graphic tickets, tags, and labels, and sustainable packaging. RBIS information solutions include RFID-enabled inventory accuracy, visibility and loss prevention solutions, price ticketing and marking, care and content or origin compliance solutions, and brand protection and security solutions.

The Company competes with SML Group, R-pac Internation Corporation, and Checkpoint Systems.

Other specialty converting businesses

The Company�� specialty converting businesses include its designed and engineered solutions and Vancive businesses. These businesses manufacture and sell specialty tapes, engineered films, pressure-sensitive postage stamps and other converted products. These businesses are generally not seasonal, except for certain automotive products due to plant shutdowns by automotive manufacturers. It�� designed and engineered solutions business manufactures custom pressure-sensitive labels and multi-layer film constructions for durable goods, electronics and consumer packaged goods. These products are sold primarily to original equipment manufacturers, tie! r supplie! rs and packaging converters. For the automotive market segment, the businesses manufactures custom pressure-sensitive and heat-seal labels, and pressure-sensitive films, which are sold primarily to original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers. Its Vancive business manufactures an array of pressure-sensitive adhesive products for surgical, wound care, ostomy, and electromedical applications. These products are sold primarily to medical supply and device manufacturers and healthcare providers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  3M has also done a good job of defending its intellectual property. Late last month, the company announced that it had won a lawsuit against Avery Dennison (NYSE: AVY  ) for patent infringement, and the court dismissed counterclaims that Avery had filed against 3M.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Pressure-sensitive materials producer Avery Dennison (AVY) raised its quarterly dividend 21% to 35 cents per share payable June 18 to shareholders of record June 4.
  AVY Dividend Yield: 2.88%

Top 10 Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: SWK Holdings Corp (SWKH)

SWK Holdings Corporation (SWK), incorporated on July 1996, is engaged in identifying and reviewing candidates for acquisition or other investment. The Company was previously engaged in the development, marketing and support of customer communications software products. It sold its products primarily in North America, Europe and Asia, through its direct sales force and third party integrators.

The Company's applications were designed to integrate with other enterprise software and legacy systems, and provide customers with capabilities for personalization, customer profile management, inquiry management, universal business rules, knowledge management and work flow. KANA also offered customer support and professional services, such as consulting and education.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tess Stynes]

  Verint Systems Inc.(VRNT) agreed to buy customer-service software firm Kana Software Inc.(SWKH) from private equity firm Accel-KKR for about $514 million in cash, as the data-analysis company seeks to expand its offerings.

Top 10 Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: Arcadis NV (ARCAD)

Arcadis NV is a Netherlands-based international engineering and consultancy firm, providing consultancy, design, engineering and management services in infrastructure, water, environment and buildings. The Company develops, designs, implements, maintains and operates projects for companies and governments. The Company divides its business into four business lines: Infrastructure, which encompasses services for transportations, land development, energy and mining; Water, focused on water planning, wastewater and water management and consulting services; Environment, focused on activities that protect the environment and enhance sustainability, and Buildings, related to homebuilding as well as commercial and industrial buildings and facilities construction. Additionally, it works in partnership with UN-HABITAT, the United Nations agency for human settlements. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Companies like Expedia Inc. (EXPE), which provides online travel booking services, and Arcadis NV (ARCAD), a Dutch designer of bridges and dikes, are likely to increase profit at a faster pace than larger firms during an improving economy, Duret said. Smaller companies are also less leveraged, with U.S. mid-caps holding 46 percent less debt per share than firms listed on the S&P 500, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Top 10 Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: Powershares Buyback Achiever Portfolio (PKW)

PowerShares Buyback Achievers Portfolio (Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the Share BuyBack Achievers Index (the Index). The Index is designed to track the performance of companies that meet the requirements to be classified as BuyBack Achievers. To become eligible for inclusion in the Index, a company must be incorporated in the United States, trade on the NYSE, the AMEX or the NASDAQ, and must have repurchased at least 5% or more of its outstanding shares for the trailing 12 months. The Index consists of stocks of companies selected by Mergent, Inc. (the Index Provider) pursuant to its own selection methodology. The Fund�� investment advisor is PowerShares Capital Management LLC.

The Index is rebalanced on the last trading date of April, July and October based on the constituents��modified market capitalizations as of the last trading day in March, June and September, respectively. The Fund generally will invest in the stocks comprising the Index in proportion to their weightings in the Index. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate the performance of the Index.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marvin Appel, CEO and Founder, Appel Asset Management Corporation]

  Buyback Achievers ETF (PKW)

  The stocks in this ETF are those that have repurchased at least 5% of their shares in the 12 months preceding the reconstitution of the index every January. 200 stocks currently qualify. (They are weighted by market capitalization.)

Top 10 Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: Pernod Ricard SA (PDRDY)

Pernod Ricard SA is a France-based producer and distributor of spirits and wines. The Company offers such products as whiskies, aniseed spirits, liqueurs, cognacs and brandies, white spirits and rums, bitters, champagnes and wines. Its business is divided into three segments: Top 14 Spirits & Champagne, Priority Premium Wines and 18 key local spirits brands. Pernod Ricard SA�� flagship brands include ABSOLUT, Ricard, Havana Club, Ballantine��, Malibu, The Glenlivet, Chivas Regal, Beefeater, Kahlua, Martell, Royal Salute, Mumm, Perrier-Jouet and Jameson, among others. The wine category includes, Jacob�� Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo and Graffigna. It operates as a holding company, with the structure divided between brand owner subsidiaries, such as The Absolut Company, Havana Club International and Chivas Brothers and regional distribution subsidiaries, such as Pernod Ricard Europe, Pernod Ricard Americas and Pernod Ricard Asia, distribute local brands. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charles Sizemore]

  But its current valuation��t trades at 31 times earnings��akes me pause. At that price, you are implicitly expecting one of two things to happen:

  The American whiskey boom continues unabated for years��nd isn�� replaced by something new and trendy. Brown-Forman will be acquired by a larger competitor (think Diageo or Pernod-Ricard (PDRDY)).

  The first assumption is one I�� be hesitant to make given the whims of fashion. And the second is even less likely. Brown-Forman is family controlled, and in the past the company has very adamant about preserving its independence.

Top 10 Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: Eurobank Ergasias SA (EUROB)

Eurobank Ergasias SA, formerly EFG Eurobank Ergasias SA, is a banking and financial services group located in Greece. It is organized into five segments: Retail, incorporating customer current accounts, savings, deposits and investment savings products, credit and debit cards, consumer loans, small business banking and mortgages; Corporate, incorporating direct debit facilities, current accounts, deposits, overdrafts, loan and other credit facilities, foreign currency and derivative products to corporate entities; Wealth Management, incorporating private banking services, including total wealth management, to medium and high net worth individuals, insurance, mutual fund and investment savings products, and institutional asset management; Global and Capital Markets, incorporating investment banking services including corporate finance, merger and acquisition and equity brokerage, as well as International. On December 27, 2013, it merged by absorption of the New TT Hellenic Postbank SA. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  National Bank of Greece surged 24 percent and Eurobank Ergasias SA (EUROB) more than doubled. The lenders��planned merger has been postponed and not canceled, Bank of Greece Governor George Provopoulos said, after statements on April 8 that they will be recapitalized separately.