Whole Foods

It's a tough admission to make, but we're all friends here: Lately, I've taken to watching old DVDs of Dallas. It's become a vice I can't shake. And, much to my surprise, I'm learning a lot about investing from the adventures of the oil-rich Ewing family, especially the sly, conniving older brother, J.R.

By now we're all accustomed to hearing about the "two-speed economy," in which the wealthy flourish and the less affluent fall farther and farther behind. The widening gap between rich and poor has not been lost on the stock market: The valuations of luxury goods companies are much higher than those of lower-end firms.

The sweet taste and sunny hue of the banana contrast sharply with the high environmental and social costs its cultivation extracts in Latin America: pollution, deforestation, poor working conditions. Whole Foods Market is working to change that, in partnership with a non-profit international school in Costa Rica called EARTH University.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has grand plans to cut through the partisan noise and remind our country's politicians of their problem-solving duties: On Tuesday, he's hosting a gigantic, public telephone town hall, and asking all "concerned Americans" to join his movement and participate.

Walk into any Whole Foods Market and you are met with an array of vibrantly colored vegetables, leafy greens and barrels of fruit: The store is an emporium to healthy eating. Now, the company is wading deeper into the preventative health care market with member's only Wellness Clubs.

What's the secret to good worker attendance, retention, productivity, and the ability to attract top-notch recruits? Employee benefits. Which companies thrive and grow their businesses faster than their peers? Same answer: Those that offer better benefits to their workers.

Lots of companies are laying off workers, trying to cut costs and improve their profit margins. But how should investors view the news of job cuts at a company? As a sign of deep trouble and worse to come, or as proof of committed management and better times ahead? Here's how to read the pink slips.