Pfizer Inc.
Henry McKinnell
, 59
CEO since 2001
Industry:
Health Care
Sales:
$32.3 billion
Net Income:
$7.8 billion
Corporate Snapshot:
PFE
Pfizer has been on a tear, thanks in no small measure to the 2000 acquisition of Warner-Lambert. By landing Warner in a hostile takeover, Pfizer nabbed the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor, a $6.4 billion blockbuster. In addition, Pfizer's rapid integration of Warner-Lambert yielded cost savings in 2001 of $1.4 billion, helping to nearly double net margins, to 24% from 12.7% in 2000. A couple of co-marketing deals also helped New York-based Pfizer double its net income last year. But the drugmaker will face new competitors for some key products in 2002. That's one reason why stock returns are down 8% over the past year.
|
MBNA Corp.
Alfred Lerner, 68
CEO since 1991
Industry:
Banks
Sales:
$10.1 billion
Net Income:
$1.7 billion
Corporate Snapshot:
KRB
The Wilmington (Del.) credit-card giant continued to generate healthy growth even as the economy weakened. It helped that borrowing costs fell faster than the rates it charges customers. And the company's credit-card loss rate was only 4.9% at the end of 2001, well below the 6%-plus industry average. One reason is MBNA's rigorous credit screening process: While computer models help screen customers, every new account is also reviewed by a real person. That has helped send MBNA's margins to 16.7%, higher than most of its competitors. The result: Sales and earnings grew at a torrid 27% and 29%, respectively, last year.
|
Philip Morris Cos.
Geoffrey Bible, 64
CEO since 1994
Industry:
Consumer Products
Sales:
$72.9 billion
Net Income:
$8.6 billion
Corporate Snapshot:
MO
The tobacco and food giant thrived in 2001, benefiting from a flight to Old Economy stocks. In the past year, the New York maker of Marlboro cigarettes and Miller beer returned 14.4% to shareholders, while the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index fell 9.5%. That's a nice welcome for Louis Camilleri, 47, who becomes CEO in late April. The future looks strong, too. Although Philip Morris sold off part of cheese giant Kraft Foods in 2001, it is still pulling in lots of earnings from its 84% Kraft stake. Tobacco litigation continues to be a risk, but Philip Morris expects to see earnings per share grow as much as 11% in 2002.
|
Copyright 2002 , by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
