GRAND PETROLEUM $3.75 (Toronto symbol GPP; SI Rating: Speculative) (403-231-8400; www.grandpetroleum.com; Shares outstanding: 24.0 million; Market cap: $89.9 million) explores for and develops oil and natural gas in central Alberta. It has also started drilling in southeast Saskatchewan.

In the three months ended September 30, 2006, Grand’s revenue rose 16.6%, to $13.8 million from $11.8 million. Cash flow per share rose …read more »

Two more of our buys — Swift Transportation and Agere Systems — have attracted takeover bids, raising our takeovers to a total of 10 for the year. (Our other 2006 takeovers were Mercury Interactive, ACE Cash Express, Russell Corp., Sico Inc., Vincor International, VFC, Dofasco and Geac.)

Investors often ask how we manage to recommend so many stocks that get taken …read more »

DOMINO’S PIZZA $27.30 (New York symbol DPZ; SI Rating: Average)(734-930-3030; www.dominos.com; Shares outstanding: 62.3 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion) is the world leader in pizza delivery. Through its primarily franchised system, Domino’s operates a network of 8,328 franchised and company-owned stores in the United States and in more than 50 countries.

Domino’s first outlet opened in 1960, when brothers Thomas and …read more »

CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY CO. $54 (Toronto symbol CNR; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; SI Rating: Average) plans to increase capital spending in 2007 by 4% over 2006. About half will go to basic items like replacing tracks and repairing bridges. It will also buy new locomotive and other railcars that will cut its fuel costs and improve safety.

CN …read more »

ANDREW PELLER LTD. $12 (Toronto symbol ADW.A; Income Portfolio, Consumer sector; SI Rating: Above average) is the new name for Andres Wines Ltd. The company is Canada’s second-largest producer of wines (after Vincor International Inc.), with about 12% of the market. It sells its products through provincial liquor agencies, as well as roughly 100 retail stores in Ontario.

Revenues grew at …read more »

BOMBARDIER INC. (Toronto symbols BBD.A $3.91 and BBD.B $3.90; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; SI Rating: Extra risk) is the world’s third-largest maker of commercial passenger aircraft behind Boeing and Airbus. The aerospace unit supplies roughly 55% of Bombardier’s revenue, and 60% of its profit.

The remaining revenue and earnings come from Bombardier’s transportation division, which is the world’s …read more »

FORTIS INC. $28 (Toronto symbol FTS; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; SI Rating: Above average) has raised its stake in Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd., from 37.4% to 54%. This business is the sole provider of electrical power on Grand Cayman Island.

This investment cost Fortis $48.9 million U.S., or about half of the $113.3 million (Canadian) or $1.05 a share that …read more »

SHAWCOR LTD. $25 (Toronto symbol SCL.A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; SI Rating: Average) makes sealants that protect oil and natural gas pipelines from rust and other forms of corrosion. The company also inspects and repairs pipelines, and makes specialty cables and wires.

In the three months ended September 30, 2006, ShawCor’s earnings from continuing operations fell 52.2%, to …read more »

Last year’s big run up in oil prices increased the operating costs of most industrial companies. But those that supply equipment and services to exploration firms have been among the biggest gainers in the past few months.

Here are three industrial stocks that should continue to profit from high oil prices. However, only two are buys right now.

SHAWCOR LTD. $25 (Toronto …read more »

H.J. HEINZ COMPANY $40 (New York symbol HNZ; WSSF Rating: Above average) has sold its New Zealand poultry-processing business for $165 million, which is about 24% more than the $133.2 million or $0.39 a share that the company earned from continuing operations in its third fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2006.

This is one of several sales of overseas assets that …read more »