Founded in 1919, Altria (MO) is America’s largest tobacco company. The business split into three separate firms in 2007 and 2008 (Altria, Phillip Morris International, and Kraft), with Altria retaining all domestic tobacco operations. Altria has exclusive U.S. rights to sell cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro, Parliament, Virginia Slims, and Benson & Hedges brands.  The company also markets cigars, chewing tobacco, and table wines and owns a 10% stake (valued at about $15 billion) in Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD), the world’s largest beer company.

Founded in 1969, Sysco (SYY) is the largest global distributor of food, essentially acting as a middleman between food producers and retail consumers.  The company provides a full line of food products and non-food items to more than 650,000 customer locations, including restaurants (62% of sales), schools and governments (9%), hotels and travel companies (9%), healthcare facilities (8%), and other foodservice customers (12%). Sysco sells fresh and frozen meats (19% of revenue), canned and dry products (17%), frozen fruits, vegetables, and bakery items (15%), poultry (10%), dairy products (10%), fresh produce (8%), paper products (7%), seafood (6%), beverages (4%), janitorial products (2%), equipment (1%), and medical supplies (1%).

Founded in 1899, V.F. Corp (VFC) is a global lifestyle apparel maker in the outerwear, footwear, backpack, luggage, accessory, sportswear, occupational, and performance apparel categories. The company owns about 20 well-known brands, including Vans (34% of sales), The North Face (24%), Timberland (17%), and Dickies (7%). Activewear generates 42% of V.F. Corp's revenue, outdoor apparel contributes another 42%, and workwear generates the remaining 16%.

General Motors (GM) was founded in 1897 in Detroit, Michigan, and is one of the largest carmakers in the world. Most of the company's sales are pickup trucks and crossovers, which carry higher margins than passenger cars.  The company markets its cars and trucks under the following brands: ChevroletBuickGMCCadillacWuling (China)Baojun (China)Jiefang (China)Holden (Australia)