HOW TO PLAY IT

smart socks may be baby lifesavers, but smart diapers— with innovations such as “leak-locks” and wetness indicators—are indispensable savers of time and work. Global diaper, personal-care and consumer-tissue products giant Kimberly-clark is the maker of Huggies and Pull-ups. it is well positioned to benefit from higher birth rates, middleclass expansion and increased frequency of use in emerging economies like india, China, eastern europe and brazil. Kimberly-clark has increased its dividend for 45 straight years, and after a recent pullback, this steady grower yields 3.2%. The company also makes the Depends brand of adult diapers, so it’s an excellent cradle-to-grave buy.

John Buckingham is editor of The Prudent speculator investment newsletter.