Venezuelan Currency Devaluation Hits Consumer Goods, Oil

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By Paul Ausick Updated Published
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The effects of last week’s surprise devaluation of Venezuela’s currency are already hitting some U.S. firms. Colgate-Palmolive Co. (NYSE: CL) said this morning that it will take a $120 million one-time charge in the first quarter (about $0.25 a share). Oil field services firm Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL) will also take a charge of $30 million in the first quarter as a result of the devaluation.

There are not likely to be the only firms in this fix. Other consumer goods makers are also likely to feel some pain. Avon Products Inc. (NYSE: AVP), Clorox Co. (NYSE: CLX), Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG), and H.J. Heinz Co. (NYSE: HNZ) are also exposed to Venezuela’s devaluation. Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) participates in six projects in the country and France’s Total SA (NYSE: TOT) also holds interests in several projects in Venezuela. So far none has indicated any charge-offs related to the devaluation.

Today’s revelations from Colgate and Halliburton have had little impact on share prices. Colgate’s stock is flat in the early afternoon, and Halliburton’s shares posted a new 52-week high of $41.44 earlier today.

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About the Author Paul Ausick →

Paul Ausick has been writing for a673b.bigscoots-temp.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.

He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.

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