Demand for medical devices and supplies will undoubtedly continue to grow as the population ages. Companies in this fast-changing field make a wide range of products, from laboratory instruments to bandages and surgical tools.

Some medical-equipment firms are large and well-established, like C.R. Bard (symbol BCR on New York), one of the stocks we cover in our Wall Street Stock …read more »

On January 15, Stock Picker’s Digest, our newsletter for aggressive investing, will unveil a stock that’s well positioned for explosive profits in 2010 — and if you hold it for a couple of years, there’s a great chance that it could skyrocket even further. In fact, we think this company’s prospects are so bright we’ve named it Stock Picker’s Digest’s …read more »

When you subscribe to The Successful Investor, our flagship publication, you get access to three high-quality portfolios we’ve built to help you profit over the long term.

We update all three regularly, and keep them under constant review to make sure you always get our very best picks among high return investments.

(We’ve updated our buy/sell/hold advice on a company …read more »

Some investors rely on chart reading (or technical analysis), when they’re aiming to add hot stock picks to their portfolios. That’s because relying on charts seems much simpler than delving into and weighing a company’s fundamentals.

We always look at charts when we select stocks to recommend in our newsletters, including Stock Pickers Digest, which focuses on more aggressive investments. And …read more »

APACHE CORP. $98 (New York symbol APA; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 336.2 million; Market cap: $32.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.1: WSSF Rating: Average) produces oil and natural gas from properties in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, Egypt and Argentina.

The company gets roughly 50% of its production from oil, and 50% from natural gas. This balance has …read more »

WESTJET AIRLINES $11.80 (Toronto symbol WJA; SI Rating:
Extra Risk) (1-877-493-7853; www.westjet.com; Shares outstanding: 138.0 million;
Market cap: $1.6 billion) serves 66 destinations in North America and the
Caribbean.
The company operates a fleet of 81 Boeing Next-Generation 737s.
These planes feature more legroom, leather seats and television
screens built into the back of each seat. But most important, the Next-
Generation Boeing 737 is roughly 30% …read more »

AMAZON.COM $131.29 (Nasdaq symbol AMZN; SI Rating: Extra Risk) (206-266-1000; www.amazon.com; Shares outstanding: 433.0 million; Market cap: $56.8 billion) reported sharply higher results in the three months ended September 30, 2009. Revenue rose 27.8%, to $5.4 billion from $4.3 billion a year earlier. Earnings jumped 68.6%, to $199 million, or $0.46 a share, from $118 million, or $0.28 a share. …read more »

HOME CAPITAL GROUP INC. $43 (Toronto symbol HCG; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 34.5 million; Market cap: $1.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.0; SI Rating: Average) provides residential mortgages and credit cards to borrowers who do not meet the stricter criteria of traditional banks. Its customers include the self-employed and immigrants with limited credit history.

Despite its focus on riskier …read more »

SNC-LAVALIN GROUP INC. $49 (Toronto symbol SNC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 151.1 million; Market cap: $7.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.1; SI Rating: Average) earned $0.68 a share in the three months ended September 30, 2009. That’s up 13.3% from $0.60 a year earlier. Higher profits from certain engineering and construction projects were the main reason …read more »

ARKANSAS BEST CORP. $26 (Nasdaq symbol ABFS; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 25.0 million; Market cap: $650.0 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; WSSF Rating: Average) specializes in “less-than-truckload” shipping. This involves loading freight from a number of customers onto a single truck. Arkansas Best carries a range of goods, including food, textiles, clothing and furniture. The company …read more »

FEDEX CORP. $74 (New York symbol FDX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 312.5 million; Market cap: $23.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; WSSF Rating: Average) delivers packages and documents in the U.S. and over 220 other countries.

FedEx earned $0.58 a share in its first quarter, which ended August 31, 2009. That’s down 52.8% from $1.23 a year earlier. Revenue …read more »

YUM! BRANDS INC. $34 (New York symbol YUM; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 467.7 million; Market cap: $15.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.5: WSSF Rating: Above Average) is a fast-food operator whose main brands include Kentucky Fried Chicken. “Colonel” Harland Sanders, originator of the KFC recipe, turned himself into the personification of the brand. He was its spokesperson until …read more »

J.C. PENNEY CO. INC. $33 (New York symbol JCP; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 235.9 million; Market cap: $7.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; WSSF Rating: Average) has entered into a 10-year alliance with clothing maker LIZ CLAIBORNE INC. $5.69 (New York symbol LIZ; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 95.1 million; Market cap: $541.1 million; Price-to-sales ratio: …read more »

TENNANT CO. $29 earned $0.27 a share in the three months ended September 30, 2009. That’s down 52.6% from $0.57 a year earlier. These figures exclude tax-related gains and other unusual items. The cleaning-equipment maker continues to benefit from lower commodity costs. However, sales will likely remain weak until the economy is well on its way to a full recovery. …read more »

GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO. $17.35 (New York symbol GT; SI Rating: Extra Risk) (www.goodyear.com; 330-796-2121; Shares outstanding: 241.9 million; Market cap: $4.2 billion) expects to save $555 million over four years as a result of concessions from its labour union. In return, Goodyear has agreed to spend $600 million over four years on upgrading plants represented by the union.

To …read more »

TIM HORTONS $30.52 (Toronto symbol THI; SI Rating: Average) (905-845-6511; www.timhortons.com; Shares outstanding: 181 million; Market cap: $5.6 billion) has opened a new coffee-and-donut shop at the Fort Knox U.S. Army base in Kentucky. The base is next to the famous gold bullion depository.

This is the company’s first store on a U.S. military base; it currently operates outlets on seven …read more »

CGI GROUP INC. $13 (Toronto symbol GIB.A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 306 million; Market cap: $4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.0; SI Rating: Extra Risk) is Canada’s largest provider of computer-outsourcing services. CGI helps corporations and government agencies automate certain routine functions, such as accounting and buying supplies. This lets its clients focus on their main …read more »

TIM HORTONS INC. $30 has finished shifting its incorporation to Canada from the U.S. This will let the coffee-and-donut store operator take advantage of Canada’s lower corporate tax rates. Corporate tax rates in the U.S. are over 30%, while Canada’s combined federal and provincial rate will be around 25% in two years. Shareholders will continue to own the same number …read more »

We’ve had a lot of success over the years with the aggressive investing stock picks we recommend in our Stock Pickers Digest newsletter.

Aggressive picks have the potential to give you bigger gains than your conservative selections.

Even so, aggressive stocks are best suited to investors who can accept substantial risk in the portion of their portfolios that they devote to …read more »

PETSMART INC. $22 (Nasdaq symbol PETM; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 125 million; Market cap: $2.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; WSSF Rating: Above Average) sells pet food and supplies through 1,145 stores in the U.S. and Canada. It also provides veterinary and grooming services, and boards pets at its 156 PetHotels.

In PetSmart’s second quarter, which ended August 2, …read more »

IDEXX LABORATORIES INC. $52 (Nasdaq symbol IDXX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 58.6 million; Market cap: $3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.1; WSSF Rating: Average) makes equipment that veterinarians uses to detect diseases in animals. Idexx also makes systems that detect contaminants in water and milk.

Because of the weak economy, fewer pet owners are taking their animals …read more »

NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. $16 (New York symbol NWL; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 277.7 million; Market cap: $4.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; WSSF Rating: Average) makes plastic storage bins, tools, window blinds, pens and a number of other household items. Its top brands include Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Paper Mate, Waterman and Levolor.

In response to falling sales, Newell is closing …read more »

The American Pet Products Association estimates that spending on pets will rise 5% this year, despite the economic slowdown. As well, over 60% of U.S. households now own a pet, and this number is expected to rise. These trends should continue to help these two pet-focused stocks.

IDEXX LABORATORIES INC. $52 (Nasdaq symbol IDXX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; …read more »

FirstService and Stantec both continue to expand by acquiring competitors in their fragmented markets. This strategy lets companies grow steadily, but it can also add risk.

FIRSTSERVICE CORP. $18.58 (Toronto symbol FSV; SI Rating: Extra Risk) (416-960-9500; www.firstservice.com; Shares outstanding: 28.1 million; Market cap: $522.3 million) operates in the following areas of the real-estate services market: commercial real estate; residential property …read more »

INDIGO BOOKS & MUSIC INC. $12 (Toronto symbol IDG; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 24.5 million; Market cap: $294 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.3; SI Rating: Average) is Canada’s largest bookseller. Indigo operates 91 superstores under the Indigo, Chapters and World’s Biggest Bookstore brands. It also sells books online, and in smaller stores under the Coles, Indigo, Indigospirit, SmithBooks …read more »

LINAMAR CORP. $12 (Toronto symbol LNR; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 64.7 million; Market cap: $776.4 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.3; SI Rating: Extra Risk) lost $48.4 million, or $0.75 a share, in the three months ended June 30, 2009. The loss included a $46.3-million writedown of machinery and equipment that Linamar used to make parts for …read more »

BROADRIDGE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS INC. $20 (New York symbol BR; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 139.3 million; Market cap: $2.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.3; WSSF Rating: Extra Risk) provides communication, processing and other back-office services to the investment industry. By outsourcing these activities to Broadridge, its clients can focus on their main businesses. Its clients include 250 banks, 500 …read more »

HARTE-HANKS INC. $14 (New York symbol HHS; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 63.6 million; Market cap: $890.4 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.9; WSSF Rating: Average) gets roughly two-thirds of its revenue by selling direct-mail and other marketing services to clients in a wide variety of industries. These help them attract new customers, and sell more goods and services to …read more »

DIEBOLD INC. $30 (New York symbol DBD; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 66.3 million; Market cap: $2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.6; WSSF Rating: Average) is one of the world’s leading makers of automated-teller machines (ATMs). The company also makes safes, vaults, building-security systems and electronic-voting machines.

Banks have been spending less on new ATMs because of the …read more »

CINTAS CORP. $28 (Nasdaq symbol CTAS; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 152.8 million; Market cap: $4.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.1; WSSF Rating: Average) provides a variety of products and services to over 800,000 businesses, mainly in North America. These include selling and renting uniforms, entrance mats, fire extinguishers, first-aid kits and cleaning products. The company also …read more »

Broadridge is unique in the financial sector. For over 40 years, the company has built up its investor-communications business and now dominates this niche industry. Its securities-clearing division makes short-term loans to brokers, which exposes it to some credit risk. But these loans are safer than subprime mortgages or credit-card debt. The company should also continue to profit as more …read more »

JONES APPAREL GROUP INC. $16 (New York symbol JNY; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 85.4 million; Market cap: $1.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.4; WSSF Rating: Average) gets about half of its sales by selling its clothing through department stores. In the second quarter of 2009, Jones’ sales fell 3.1%, to $803.9 million from $829.4 million a year earlier. …read more »

MCKESSON CORP. $57 (New York symbol MCK; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 266.1 million; Market cap: $15.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.1; WSSF Rating: Average) is the largest wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical drugs in the U.S. and Canada. It also owns 49% of Mexico’s largest drug distributor. Its customers include over 40,000 pharmacies, as well as doctor’s offices, hospitals …read more »

Aggressive investors need to be more skeptical and discriminating than conservative investors, because they take on great risk. Conservative investors mainly buy well-established companies with a history of earnings and possibly dividends, and a secure hold on a growing, or at least stable, clientele.

When an investment like that runs into problems, its stock price can fall — sometimes drastically. …read more »

GREY ISLAND SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL $0.34 (Toronto symbol GIS; SI Rating: Speculative) (877-434-4844; www.interfleet.com; Shares outstanding: 73.9 million; Market cap: $24.8 million) has received a friendly takeover offer from WebTech Wireless (symbol WEW on Toronto).

Grey Island shareholders will receive 0.30 of a WebTech share for each of their Grey Island shares. Based on WebTech’s current trading price, the offer is worth …read more »

DUNDEE CORP. $9.40 (Toronto symbol DC.A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 74.3 million; Market cap: $698.4 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.9; SI Rating: Average) is a holding company with subsidiaries in three main areas: wealth management, real estate and resources. The company’s main asset is its 49% stake (62% voting interest) in DundeeWealth Inc. (Toronto symbol DW), which provides …read more »

TIM HORTONS INC. $32 (Toronto symbol THI; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 180.7 million; Market cap: $5.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.7; SI Rating: Average) will start selling ice cream at six more of its Canadian coffee-and-donut stores following strong initial demand at six test outlets in southern Ontario. The U.S.-based Cold Stone Creamery ice-cream parlour chain supplies the …read more »

SHAWCOR LTD. $24 (Toronto symbol SCL.A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 70.4 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.2; SI Rating: Average) makes sealants and coatings that protect onshore and offshore oil and natural-gas pipelines from corrosion. This business supplies 90% of its revenue. The remaining 10% comes from making industrial equipment, such as electrical …read more »

FAIR ISAAC CORP. $18 (New York symbol FIC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 48.9 million; Market cap: $880.2 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.4; WSSF Rating: Average) sells products and services that help businesses evaluate customer creditworthiness. Its earnings shrank with the end of the subprime boom in 2007. But thanks to cost cuts, its earnings are now …read more »

ARKANSAS BEST CORP. $26 lost $0.62 a share in the second quarter of 2009. That includes $0.12 a share in unusual expenses for non-union health-care and pension costs. It earned $0.63 a share a year earlier. The recession has hurt trucking volumes and freight rates; this was the main reason that revenue fell 27.3%, to $362.6 million from $498.5 million. …read more »

TEMPUR-PEDIC $14.17 (New York symbol TPX; SI Rating: Speculative)(800-878-8889; www.tempurpedic.com; Shares outstanding: 74.9 million; Market cap: $1.1 billion) trades at over three times its March low of $4.

At times like this, some investors feel tempted to hold off on new buying and “wait for a dip”, as the saying goes. That could be a mistake.

The problem with waiting for a …read more »

ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD $16.79 (Toronto symbol ATD.B: SI Rating: Extra Risk) (1-800-361-2612; www.couche-tard.com; Shares outstanding: 193.1 million; Market cap: $3.2 billion) is up over 25% since reporting sharply higher earnings in the latest quarter.

In the three months ended April 26, 2009, Couche-Tard’s earnings rose 145.2%, to $38 million, or $0.20 a share, from $15.5 million, or $0.08 a share, a year …read more »

AMERICAN WOODMARK $23.22 (Nasdaq symbol AMWD; SI Rating: Speculative) (540-665-9100;www.americanwoodmark.com; Shares outstanding: 14.1 million; Market cap: $327.7 million) is a U.S.-based maker of cabinets for kitchens and bathrooms. It offers more than 380 cabinet lines in a variety of designs, materials and finishes. The company sells these through a network of dealers and distributors, as well as directly to home …read more »

Small caps are companies with a “market cap” (the value of shares they have outstanding) below $250 million, or some other arbitrary figure.

Many investors think of the “small cap group” as the place to look for aggressive investments, such as junior companies that will develop into seniors and make huge gains for investors. Some small caps will indeed turn …read more »

INDIGO BOOKS AND MUSIC INC. $13 (Toronto symbol IDG; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 24.5 million; Market cap: $318.5 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.3; SI Rating: Average) has started paying quarterly dividends of $0.10 a share. The annual rate of $0.40 a share yields 3.1%.

Indigo is also doing a good job of increasing its sales during the recession. In …read more »

HOME CAPITAL GROUP INC. $28 has adopted a shareholders’ rights plan, or “poison pill.” These plans let existing shareholders buy new shares at a discount if a hostile bidder acquires more than 20% of the outstanding shares. The extra shares would then drive up the cost to a potential buyer. While these plans sometimes protect management more than investors, we …read more »

Lately we’ve heard from some investors who are unhappy with some of their investments, particularly their more aggressive investing picks. They want to rebuild their portfolios, but are reluctant to sell anything at today’s lower prices.

We think that’s a mistake. Obviously you want to think things through and make sure you are not holding low-quality investments, or investments that …read more »

FORD MOTOR CO. $5.64 (New York symbol F; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 3.2 billion; Market cap: $18.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.1; WSSF Rating: Speculative) has rallied from $1.01 last November, partly on expectations that it stands to gain market share in the wake of the bankruptcies of GM and Chrysler.

Ford is taking advantage of its …read more »

DEL MONTE FOODS CO. $9.02 (New York symbol DLM; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 197.7 million; Market cap: $1.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; WSSF Rating: Average) makes a wide variety of canned fruits and vegetables, as well as sauces and soups. Del Monte also makes pet food under the 9Lives, Milk-Bone and Meow Mix brands.

In the fiscal year …read more »

LEON’S FURNITURE LTD. $9.99 (Toronto symbol LNF; SI Rating: Average) (416-243-7880; www.leons.ca; Shares outstanding: 70.7 million; Market cap: $706.2 million) has built its chain of over 60 furniture stores on its four main strengths: a huge selection of furniture, appliances and electronics; a lowest-price guarantee; strong after-sales service; and aggressive TV, radio and print advertising.

In the three months ended March …read more »