Eight more stocks round out low maintenance portfolio

The last eight of 16 stocks selected for a long-term low maintenance portfolio featured in Bizword columns includes six consumer-oriented stocks and two resource producers.
Consumer stocks selected are Honda and Toyota of Japan, Fresenius Medical Care of Germany, Novo Nordisk of Denmark, Wal-Mex of Mexico and Kimberly-Clark de Mexico. Brazil's Vale and Aracruz Cellulose are the resource players.
Honda and Toyota are global leaders in the flagging automobile business. Based on their corporate culture's commitment to quality and innovation, they are probably best of breed.
The world automotive industry, similar to the global tire industry of the 1980s, has too many players, and too many companies leaking cash from their business model. When the shakeout happens Honda and Toyota will not only remain profitable but likely will be stronger.
Fresenius operates in renal dialysis treatment and equipment sectors. The company leads the global market selling 28 per cent of all dialysis products. Its 2,200 plus clinics treat 172,000 patients with 120,000 in North America.
Operations on four continents include China and Taiwan where this lifestyles disease is just beginning to grow. Given the global population's capacity to abuse itself, Fresenius unfortunately has strong future growth ahead.
Danish insulin and diabetes product maker Novo Nordisk has similar growth in store as the world leader in diabetes care technology.
Neither Fresenius nor Nova Nordisk are subject to take overs. Family trusts control both corporations.
Wal-Mex is the fast-growing Mexican subsidiary of Wal-Mart. While shares of the parent company are stuck in the doldrums because gigantic operators have difficulty growing beyond a snail's pace, Wal-Mex is a star.
The company operates just over 1,000 stores in Mexico with store banners catering to various segments of the population and room to build more. Only 135 are regular Wal-Mart formats with 345 in restaurant mode.
With 40 per cent of the population under 30 years and rising incomes, Mexico presents a retailer's dream come true.
Wal-Mex is only available to buy on the U.S. pink sheet system, and not available for RRSP accounts. Trading volumes aren't exceptionally high but sufficient for small investors.
Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, a subsidiary of the U.S. company, like Wal-Mex feeds on the demands of a growing population. Rising incomes for paper products from diapers to hygiene products will grow profits steadily.
Just as Wal-Mex, Kimberly-Clark de Mexico is available only on the U.S. pink sheets and trades occasionally in low volumes Try going through your broker to buy these.
Now for the resource plays.
Vale, or Compagne Dos Vale de Roces, as it was know until December, is best known for the taking over Canadian icon, INCO.
The Brazilian-based company operates on four continents and is the world's largest and lowest-cost producer of iron ore. Iron ore prices jumped 70 per cent in 2006, five per cent in 2007, with rumours of a 50 per cent boost in 2008.
Vale is also a global player in nickel with significant production of copper, bauxite, kaolin and an assortment of other minerals.
Company fortunes are closely linked to growth in China and the rest of Asia.
Aracruz, operator of nearly one million acres of eucalyptus plantations in Brazil, has 27 per cent of the world market for the species used to make fine paper and tissues.
Fast-growing plantations, eight years to harvest from seedling, provide a cost advantage. The products meet all environmental criteria, so important to accessing American and European industrial markets.
Production keeps ramping up, partially explaining the 270 per cent return on the stock since 2002.
Have fun researching these stocks. Remember to do your homework before buying.
Bizword columns do not solicit buying or trading of securities. Investors need to do their own homework or consult advisers.