Related topics: stocks, recession, Amazon, Intel, Ford
Amazon.com
Amazon.com (AMZN, news) is among the companies demonstrating that patience, innovation and a willingness to embrace change are capable of producing profits during the roughest of economic times.
The company's secret? Focus on the long term. Amazon looks to expand its market share with innovations such as its Kindle 3 e-reader. It seems to be forever anticipating the next change.
In the 15 years since Jeff Bezos (above, showing off a Kindle) founded the company, Amazon has grown into the most popular place to shop online. Sales increased 28% in 2009, a year of deep dips for most retail businesses.
Ford Motor
Like the rest of the U.S. auto industry, Ford Motor (F, news) appeared near the end of its road around the time Alan Mulally took over as chief executive in 2006.
Turning the corner hasn't been easy. Unpopular brands were eliminated, and employees made concessions that gave the company a break on retiree health care costs and other economic issues.
But Ford posted a $2.7 billion profit in 2009 and recently said net income had jumped 70% in the third quarter of 2010, its sixth consecutive quarterly profit. Ford expects to end 2011 with more cash than debt.
Domino's Pizza
It's not easy to go on national TV and admit your pizza crust tastes like cardboard and the sauce reminds people of ketchup, but Domino's Pizza (DPZ, news) did just that. Responding to a consumer survey, the company overhauled its recipe.
In the aftermath, Domino's posted strong third-quarter gains on a nearly 15% increase in revenue.
"The takeaway is that people love the new pizza," Domino's CEO Patrick Doyle said in a conference call to discuss the financial results. "In short, we're a new Domino's."
Allstar Products, maker of Snuggies
The Snuggie has been parodied all over TV; Jay Leno called it a robe you put on backward. But the attention paid off: The blanket with sleeves was snagged by 20 million people in 2009.
How did a novelty product turn out to be a recession hit for privately owned Allstar Products Group? Well, one thing many people have done during the downturn is save money by staying home, curled up on the couch.
Intel
"What goes down must come up" seems to be the secret for Intel (INTC, news) and their 59% jump in third-quarter net income. The results showed that economic worries haven't spoiled consumers' appetite for new computers.
Intel sat tight as the recession unfolded and its customers curtailed spending on information technology. Pent-up demand is emerging, and Intel's patience is paying off.
Lego
Danish toy-maker Lego saw profits soar 63% in 2009, thanks in part to expansion in Asia and Europe. Sales got a boost when soccer star David Beckham said in an interview that he had been building a Lego Taj Mahal.
The company, which estimates that children spend 5 billion hours a year playing with its multicolored bricks, said its share of the global toy market increased to 5% in the first half of the year, from 3.6% in 2008. It credited the popularity of its "Star Wars" and Lego City building-block sets, as well as the introduction of board games.
This article was reported by Claire Bradley for Investopedia.
