Digital focus a plus for info providers

Article Excerpt

Fears of a slowing economy and falling advertising revenue have hurt all three of these information providers in the past few months. However, investments in new printing presses and other modern equipment will help keep their costs down. They should also gain from their expanding Internet businesses and lower computing costs. TORSTAR CORP. $17 (Toronto symbol TS.B; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 78.7 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion; SI Rating: Above average) publishes The Toronto Star, Canada’s largest daily newspaper. It also publishes other daily and community newspapers in Southern Ontario. Newspapers supply 70% of Torstar’s profit and revenue. The remaining 30% comes from wholly owned subsidiary Harlequin Enterprises Ltd., which is the world’s largest publisher of romance novels. Torstar has expanded its Internet properties in the past few years, which helps cut its exposure to declining newspaper circulation. As well, the company bought 20% of CTVglobemedia Inc. This business owns the CTV Television Network, specialty TV channels, radio stations and…