As the creation of new jobs slows and layoffs continue, small businesses keep hiring. ADP is betting those companies will continue to buck the trend. It's setting up new services to capitalize on that growth.

Shares of technology outsourcing and consulting giant Accenture have been on a tear lately, with the company bulking up its insurance offerings. Trefis thinks Accenture's acquisition of Duck Creek Technologies could give it a boost, but maintains its price estimate for now.

Trefis has raised its expectations for SAP's stock price based on some of the German enterprise-software company's new businesses.

As commodity prices continue to rise, Estee Lauder is hiking prices for its cosmetics in China. The move comes after competitor L'Oreal already raised its prices. But the increases are unlikely to make much difference to Chinese consumers or to Estee Lauder's cash flow.

CVS Caremark is best known for its drugstore busines. But it's also finding its way into the business of managing prescription-drug insurance claims. After taking some heat in the last few quarters, it is starting to see revenue from some big contracts in this segment.

Coca-Cola reported strong second quarter results, with growth coming from emerging markets like China and Russia. Coke is the leader in the Chinese market, and with it projected to keep growing at a rapid rate, the nation is a key part of the company's plan to double its 2009 revenues by 2020.

By the end of 2012, one-third of the world's travel sales will be booked online. But the majority of bookings still happen through the traditional brick-and-mortar travel agents, which is why Expedia's new Travel Agent Affiliate Program is a smart growth move for the OTA.

In order to avoid new federal rules and heightened scrutiny from regulators, MetLife has decided to sell its banking unit. That's a smart move for the nation's largest life insurer, and keeps it on a level playing field with its competitors.

After successfully revising its business processes and restructuring its operations in Europe, premium cosmetics maker Revlon now plans to implement similar changes in its operations globally. Trefis examines how those changes worked in Europe, and what they mean for the company's future profits.

Walgreen, the leading U.S. pharmacy chain, recently increased its quarterly dividend by 28.6%, the largest increase in the company's 110-year history, from 17.5 cents a share to 22.5 cents a share. But is it giving away cash it's really going to need for its expansion plans?