Foreign companies gobble up U.S. food, drug and beverage makers

Buy low, sell high. That's an investment maxim that never gets old. But it's getting a fresh coat of paint thanks to the recent interest of foreign food, drug and beverage companies in buying their U.S. counterparts.

After all, with the Dow way below where it was in October 2007, the stock prices of U.S. companies are way below their peaks and in some cases, those U.S. companies are really hurting financially -- which makes it possible for cash-rich foreigners to pick them up at a bargain price.