Cash-strapped consumers are eating more meals at home and that's slathering J.M. Smucker's (SJM) bottom line in sweet, sticky profits.

The packaged-food maker said Friday that fiscal second-quarter earnings boomed more than 170%, blowing past Wall Street's estimates by 18 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters. Even more impressive, revenue leaped by 52%.

Smucker may be best known for its eponymous jams and jellies -- other brands include Jif, Hungry Jack, Crisco and Pillsbury -- but it's the Folgers coffee business the company acquired from Procter & Gamble (PG) last year that's jolting growth.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s (GT) stock has meandered of late, but I'm nevertheless reiterating my buy rating for the company, first recommended on May 5, 2009 at a price of $13.30. Here's why.

Institutional investors sold GT after the company reported a 15% reduction in Q3 revenue and the view from here argues the selling was overdone. Goodyear will benefit from tire demand growth in 2010.

Retail investors may be forgiven if they view bank stocks with great skepticism. After all, the financial sector touched off the conflagration that ultimately became the Great Recession. But that doesn't mean there aren't some bargains in the banking sector, and noted bank analyst Dick Bove of Rochdale Securities says he has a doozy.

Bove published a report last week banging the drum on Bank of New York Mellon (BK) as one of the most compelling stories in the financial sector -- with one of the worst performing stocks.

U.S. electric power demand may be sluggish, due to the recession, but investors should view that as a temporary phenomenon. True, increased energy efficiency across the U.S. economy will be a trend for the next decade and beyond, but relatively low-cost electric power does not go out of style, which is why I'm reiterating my buy rating for American Electric Power (AEP), first recommended on May 4, 2009 at a price of $25.38.

If you bought AEP in May, you're up about 25%. AEP's above-average total return on equity story remains intact. Look for an increase in retail electric demand in fiscal 2010 and that fact, combined with a decline in operating/maintenance costs, and little impact from greenhouse gas legislation until about 2018 or 2020, translates into a bargain stock at a P/E of 12.

Kohl's (KSS) is managing the downturn in consumer spending with remarkable ease. The mid-price department store chain posted a 21% gain in third-quarter net income last week thanks to strong sales. As is usual to see this earnings season, cost cuts helped boost the bottom line, but the retailer also benefited from its expansion of exclusive brands.

Kohl's has a history of getting that value-versus-style proposition just right -- something that bodes well for the stock as frugal consumers become increasingly careful with their discretionary dollars. Indeed, the company appears to be eating some of its competitors' lunches.

Back in August, I discussed my amazement at the performance of shares of Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF). The stock just didn't seem to reflect the fundamentals of the company's business. Well, my amazement continues, because shares of the retailer are up 9% on Friday on the latest earnings report -a report that did not impress me.

For the third quarter, Abercrombie made, on a reported basis, 44 cents per diluted share compared to 72 cents per diluted share in the year-ago period. After adjustments, earnings came in at 30 cents per share. Okay, that profit drop is bad enough, but wait till I get to the really bad stuff --revenues. Total sales declined 15%, but same-store sales were even worse: They plunged off the proverbial cliff, falling 22%.

MasterCard (MA) looks to be charging back to stability sooner rather than later.

The company swung to profitability in the third-quarter thanks to cost cuts and a slowdown in the rate of decline in consumer spending. Now if consumers would just start spending a smidge more, the company could generate some compelling growth.

Rare is the day you should sell an oil services play. And the reason is obvious enough: Despite increased engine efficiency, conservation and the rise of alternate energy sources, oil will remain a primary energy for propulsion and heat for at least the next 20 years. For that reason, I'm Reiterating my Buy rating for contract driller/oil support company Atwood Oceanics (ATW), first recommended on April 25, 2009 at a price of $21.82.

If you bought Atwood in April, you're up an impressive 79%. For those who missed the April Buy call, there's good news: ATW has considerable upside remaining.

As the U.S. dollar continues to swoon anything denominated in greenbacks is getting a boost. Just witness what's happening in the commodity markets, where gold topped $1,100 an ounce Monday and oil is back flirting with 80 bucks a barrel.

That's made mining and energy stocks popular bets on the flaccid greenback -- but also kind of a crowded trade these days. For an alternative, longer-term wager on a weak dollar (and emerging-market growth), consumer products stalwart Colgate-Palmolive (CL) looks good.

I'm placing a Hold on shares E.I. du Pont De Nemours (DD), also known as DuPont, first recommended on April 22, 2009 at a price of $27.48. If you bought DD in April, you're up about 20 percent.

Look for DD's coatings and color technologies business to begin to recover in 2010, on the U.S./global recoveries. However, DD's pharmaceuticals unit will face a tougher 2010, due to patent expirations. The First Call FY2009/FY2010 EPS estimates for DD are $2.01 to $2.22.

When you run across a stock with a 16 percent yield you at least have to check out the story. Prospect Capital Corp (PSEC) is just such a company. Last week, PSEC declared its 20th consecutive increased dividend.

In sharing my adventures and opinions in the investment world I try very hard to be candid without crossing the line into being a promoter. That said, I have been buying stock regularly over the last 12 months and buying on fear has paid off handsomely. As the market has catapulted upward since March, the opportunities have diminished. However, I did add PSEC in the last month.

You know it's an especially painful downturn when even the better-off among us stop shelling out for luxury brands. The last time we went through a recession upscale retailers like Polo Ralph Lauren (RL) actually held up pretty well. This time? Not so much.

That's why the company's second-quarter earnings report was somewhat reassuring. True, Polo blew past Street estimates, but then it's done that for at least nine quarters in a row. More encouraging was an expansion in gross margin (an indication that the company is getting some pricing power back), as well as its better outlook for sales in 2010.

At first blush you'd think Kimberly-Clark (KMB) couldn't loose. In both good times and bad, people need Kleenex tissues, Huggies diapers and Scott paper towels.

Of course there's plenty of competition from powerhouse Procter & Gamble (PG) (Charmin, Pampers, Bounty), not to mention store brands. And rising commodity costs are a concern (the super-absorbent polymers that make diapers so effective are synthesized, ultimately, from oil.)

Is Ford (F) Chief Executive Alan Mulally good or just lucky?

After Monday's quarterly results where the car maker blew away analysts' estimates and posted a surprise billion-dollar profit, who cares? The man is getting results.

Mulally, recall, successfully piloted Boeing (BA) through the turbulent times following the attacks of 9/11, so he certainly has the street cred to steer an automaker through pretty much the worst economic conditions the industry has ever faced. Why was Ford the only member of the Big Three to avoid bankruptcy and eschew supping at the taxpayer trough? Because Mulally tapped the credit markets for about $20 billion -- all the cash the company would need -- just before lending ground to a halt last year. Boy, does that look like a brilliant move in hindsight.