The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MHP)

amteague777 (96.52) Submitted: 4/19/2007 7:37:14 PM : Start Price: $55.98 MHP Score: -14.66

Return to Shareholders in 2006 was 33.5%. Consistent increase in shareholder return and dividend since 2002. This was the 34th consecutive dividend increase.

darkflame (97.05) Submitted: 4/17/2007 7:26:28 PM : Start Price: $55.39 MHP Score: -14.85

Insiders don't buy agressively but show deep interest and commitment on the company.
Harold MCGRAW executes his options but always keeps part of them, increasing his share in the company, other insiders ocasionally buy it too.

The McGraw Hill group is owner of the Standard and Poor, Business Week magazine, McGraw Hill Constrution and a bunch of other uncool stuff who is unpopular enough to make big bucks.

Here be no dragons. Outperform.

krdorney (< 20) Submitted: 3/13/2007 10:54:30 AM : Start Price: $55.07 MHP Score: -18.76

It's a well diversified company, with some very strong brands and growth drivers in it's portfolio.

TieCoon (44.56) Submitted: 1/19/2007 2:18:34 AM : Start Price: $60.33 MHP Score: -24.54

Information is power and McGraw-Hill controls information, which is important in this new digital world where content is king.

NetscribeMedia (56.98) Submitted: 1/8/2007 7:48:30 AM : Start Price: $57.86 MHP Score: -22.61

McGraw-Hill is a global information services provider that caters to the financial services, education and business information markets through information products and services with brands like Standard and Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The company operates in three segments namely McGraw-Hill Education, Financial Services, and Information and Media.

The school education business has had a very soft year in 2006, due to lack of text book adoptions in Texas which had placed substantial orders last year. This was reflected in the company’s Education segment revenues which declined 6.7% in the first nine months of 2006. But the market is expected to be up by 15% in 2007 which should work in the company’s favor. The company has a whole pipeline of new textbooks like Real Math, Reading with Purpose and The Readers Choice which have been submitted to various states for adoption. They introduced 40 new online courses in 2006, and are planning to add more in 2007 to take advantage of the growing demand for digital products and services at higher education institutions worldwide.

The company has predicted double digit growth for their financial services segment in 2007. The fact that the company has globalized its financial services with presence in Asia and Europe will help meet its targets for 2007. The acquisitions of CRISIL in India and Automotive Resources Asia will help it penetrate the Asian markets more efficiently. In the Information and Media segment the company has announced plans to meet the challenges put forth by the emergence of the internet. The internet is expected to eat into the publishing market both in terms of audience and advertisers in the long run, and hence the company’s internet focused strategy will hold it in good stead. The synergies of the positives in all three segments will ensure McGraw Hill a smooth ride in 2007.

uglyshark (80.00) Submitted: 1/8/2007 12:12:07 AM : Start Price: $57.86 MHP Score: -22.61

It's Open Court - Language Arts - text books have a monopoly in public schools in states such as California.

OldNickel (98.26) Submitted: 12/12/2006 1:31:45 PM : Start Price: $58.52 MHP Score: -23.20

1. Elect Democrats
2. Buy Textbook Companies' Stocks
3. Increased Higher Brainw...umm, Education Funding
4. ?
5. Profit!

cabal2 (97.25) Submitted: 10/20/2006 3:22:59 PM : Start Price: $54.69 MHP Score: -20.97

School is expensive, and so is the books they provide

anylawn (36.90) Submitted: 10/19/2006 9:23:25 PM : Start Price: $54.64 MHP Score: -20.90

Top CAPS stock and a play on the book a Random Walk down Wall Street.

XMFWBuffettJr (97.46) Submitted: 9/27/2006 7:35:30 PM : Start Price: $50.16 MHP Score: -16.26

The stock has performed very well over the last few years, but so has the company underneath it. MHP dominates its industry on its earnings, and the returns from what it does with those earnings. High ROE, no debt, share buy backs, increased dividend, constantly growing earnings. The company got away from the stock a little IMHO, and it's time for the stock to play catch up. This is a solid company, I wouldn't mind owning it in a retirement fund if I were older.

TheWho44 (96.34) Submitted: 9/22/2006 6:38:56 PM : Start Price: $48.69 MHP Score: -15.36

see MCO

RukeyserWink (67.44) Submitted: 9/14/2006 1:29:59 AM : Start Price: $49.39 MHP Score: -16.54

Education, education, education. Well Standard & Poors is a big contributor!