Fortune Brands Inc. (FO)

Fortune Brands, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture, production, and sale of spirits, home and hardware products, and golf products. The company offers various distilled spirits, including bourbon, tequila, Canadian whisky, scotch whisky, and cognacs under the trademarks of Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Sauza, Canadian Club, Laphroaig, and Courvoisier. It also provides sherries, port, gin, whisky, and bitters under the trademarks of Teacher’s, Harveys, Cockburn’s, Larios, Whisky DYC, and Kuemmerling. In addition, the company offers custom, semi-custom, stock, and ready-to-assemble cabinetry for the kitchen, bath, and home use under various brand names, including Aristokraft, Omega, Kitchen Craft, Schrock, Diamond, HomeCrest, Decora, and Kemper; faucets, bath furnishings, accessories, parts, and kitchen sinks; fiberglass and steel residential entry door, and patio door systems; and key-controlled and combination padlocks, bicycle and cable locks, built-in locker locks, and other specialty safety and security devices, as well as automotive, trailer, and towing locks. Further, Fortune Brands, Inc. manufactures and markets golf balls, golf clubs, golf shoes, and golf gloves, as well as golf bags, golf outerwear, and accessories. It offers its products primarily in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Mexico. The company was founded in 1904 and is based in Deerfield, Illinois.

For the nine months ended 30 September 2006, Fortune Brands, Inc.'s revenues increased 27% to $6.49B. Net income from cont. ops. increased 41% to $572.1M. Revenues reflect the addition and growth of the acquired Spirits & Wine brands, the benefit of SBR acquisition, sales growth of new products and expansion into new markets. Net income reflects improved operating margins and the presence of other income, vs. an expense.