Last week’s answer

I’m 165 years old and came to life as a small family-run soap and candle company in Cincinnati. My celestial logo dates back to the 1850s. I recorded $1 million in annual sales in 1859 and take in about $40 billion annually now. I sell more than 250 items in 130 nations to more than 5 billion consumers. My Cheer-y and Joy-ous customers shout Olay! They’ve a Zest for my Bounty, which Cascades over their Head and Shoulders and Pampers them. It’s no Secret that they Sure have a Gleam in their eyes and a Bounce in their step, Always. Who am I? (Answer: Procter & Gamble)

Know the answer? Send it to us with Foolish Trivia on the top and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a nifty prize! The address is Motley Fool, Box 19529, Alexandria, Va. 22320-0529. Send questions for Ask the Fool, Dumbest (or Smartest) Investments (up to 100 words), and your Trivia entries to Fool@fool.com.

On-time deliveries

FedEx recently announced that it’s on track to deliver a solid close to its fiscal year. While the weak corporate climate has set up speed bumps on the tarmac of its FedEx Express roots, the consumer-based FedEx Ground business is booming, with volume up by 20 percent in the current quarter.

FedEx, along with UPS (NYSE: UPS) and the U.S. Postal Service, arguably has reaped more benefit from the e-commerce revolution by delivering the packages than those who run the storefronts themselves. (In fact, UPS recently reported that a last-minute holiday surge helped prop up what was shaping up to be a dud of a quarter.)

It’s a sound strategy for FedEx to grow its consumer-fueled business, even if it means butting heads harder with UPS.

Many cost-cutting companies no longer are willing to pay dearly for speedy overnight deliveries, and many have taken to e-mail for anything short of critical documents. This trend might continue even when the economy bounces back. While teaming up with the post office has helped the Priority Mail business, it’s the newer, slower ventures such as home delivery that has FedEx excited about the future. FedEx Home Delivery, aimed at the business-to-consumer market, now will cover 90 percent of the U.S. population.

The delivery business bears watching. Snap up some shares for a reasonable price, and they may deliver profits for years to come.

Not such a good thing

I invested $1,000 in the stock of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia immediately after learning the stock was on the market. The value of those shares recently dropped to $400. So in a matter of months, the stock plummeted. My husband was very upset with me. I’m holding on, hoping it might make a comeback. This was my first venture in the stock market. Help! Josephine Wacker, Winter Haven, Fla.

The Fool Responds: First off, it sounds as if you chose this company because you were familiar with it. That’s a good thing. (Ideally, you also researched it, reading through an annual report or two and reviewing its numbers.) What you need to do now is determine whether the company is still poised for long-term growth and profitability, or whether it’s in significant trouble. Many terrific companies fall on temporarily tough times. (The company’s ties with beleaguered Kmart have hurt it recently.) Don’t hold on if you no longer have faith in the firm. But if you still like Martha’s prospects, don’t sweat the slump.