Are You Creating Your Greatest Missed Opportunity?

Each month the Wealth, Money & Life Network chooses a topic for that month's theme. Since our members are a diverse group, the selected topic is usually broad, allowing each of us an opportunity to address it from our perspective. This month, Missed Opportunities was selected as our topic.

When most people hear the phrase "missed opportunities" they tend to reflect on past events and what could have been. By nature I am forward looking, so "missed opportunities" for me is the present and the future.

At some point in the future will we look back on our actions today and refer to them as our greatest missed opportunity? There is a lot of fear today. Fuel prices have soared driving up the prices of everything that is transported. The economy is slowing and some fear that they may lose their jobs. Many are posturing themselves in a defensive stance, moving money out of equities into cash and bonds. With that, consider the following stocks (data as of mid-day 8/27/08):

AFLAC Inc (AFL): Its average P/E and dividend yield between 1998 and 2007 was 18.8 and 0.95%, respectively. It is currently trading with a P/E of 14.8 and a dividend yield of 1.79%.

BB&T Corporation (BBT): Its average P/E and dividend yield between 1998 and 2007 was 15.8 and 3.30%, respectively. It is currently trading with a P/E of 9.1 and a dividend yield of 6.66%.

Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED): Its average P/E and dividend yield between 1998 and 2007 was 14.5 and 5.47%, respectively. It is currently trading with a P/E of 10.0 and a dividend yield of 5.69%.

General Electric (GE): Its average P/E and dividend yield between 1998 and 2007 was 25.4 and 2.24%, respectively. It is currently trading with a P/E of 13.2 and a dividend yield of 4.39%.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): Its average P/E and dividend yield between 1998 and 2007 was 23.9 and 1.77%, respectively. It is currently trading with a P/E of 17.1 and a dividend yield of 2.60%.

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW): Its average P/E and dividend yield between 1998 and 2007 was 22.0 and 0.37%, respectively. It is currently trading with a P/E of 14.0 and a dividend yield of 1.38%.

Sysco Corp (SYY): Its average P/E and dividend yield between 1998 and 2007 was 26.4 and 1.48%, respectively. It is currently trading with a P/E of 17.4 and a dividend yield of 2.79%.

By most measures, many blue-chip stocks are trading at a historical discount. Are you going to buy now or pay full-price or a premium price later? Unlike the perpetual going-out-of-business sale at the local furniture store, this sale will end suddenly and without warning.

Full Disclosure: Long in AFL, BBT, ED, GE, JNJ and SYY.

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