Apple

Demand for wireless services is rising sharply in North America. That’s partly because device makers continue to release new cellphones and wireless devices, such as Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader.

As well, more customers are switching from traditional phones (or land lines) to wireless services. Smartphones, in particular, have become increasingly popular. Aside from functioning as mobile phones, …read more »

AT&T will probably lose its exclusive right to carry Apple’s popular iPhone when the contract expires in 2011. However, in countries where there is more than one iPhone carrier, the original carrier usually hangs on to most of its customers. We feel that rising demand for smartphones, including the iPhone, will continue to benefit both AT&T and Verizon.

AT&T INC. $29 …read more »

High unemployment continues to hold back consumer spending in the U.S. As well, many households are using their extra cash to pay down debt. Even so, demand for electronic devices, particularly smartphones and video-game players, continues to rise.

That’s good news for these four leading makers of consumer-electronic products. All four have launched new devices in time for Christmas. Their new …read more »

NVIDIA CORP. $11 (Nasdaq symbol NVDA; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 574.0 million; Market cap: $6.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; No dividends paid; WSSF Rating: Average) should also benefit from rising demand for consumer electronics. That’s because it is a leading designer of 3D-capable video chips for computers and other devices. These chips make video games …read more »

AMAZON.COM $129.65 (Nasdaq symbol AMZN; SI Rating: Extra Risk) (206-266-1000; www.amazon.com; Shares outstanding: 447.8 million; Market cap: $58.1 billion; No dividends paid) reports that its sales jumped 41.2% in the latest quarter, to $6.6 billion from $4.7 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 39.4%, to $0.46 from $0.33.

Sales of electronic books for its Kindle reader continue to grow …read more »

Like most newspaper publishers, Torstar has suffered because of free or low-cost Internet competition in news and ads, as well as the recession. In response, it aggressively cut its costs, which helped it stay profitable, despite the weak economy.

Torstar’s lower costs put it in a strong position to gain as the economy rebounds. Rising revenue from its Harlequin subsidiary and …read more »

INDIGO BOOKS & MUSIC INC. $15 (Toronto symbol IDG; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 24.7 million; Market cap: $370.5 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.4; Dividend yield: 2.9%; SI Rating: Average) also hopes to profit from growing sales of e-books. So far, however, e-books are cutting into its profit.

In December 2009, the bookseller launched its Kobo e-book downloading web site. …read more »

Apple Inc. (symbol AAPL on Nasdaq) continues to see strong sales of its iPad tablet computer: in April and May of 2010, the company sold 2 million of these devices.

At this rate, Apple should sell many more iPads than the 6 million it was expected to sell in the first year. As well, Apple is now selling the iPad …read more »

TORSTAR CORP. $10.16 (Toronto symbol TS.B; Shares outstanding: 78.9 million; Market cap: $801.6 million; SI Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 3.6%) has suffered like most paper publishers from free or low-cost Internet competition in news and ads. The company’s sales stagnated at around $1.5 billion a year for the past decade. Profits shrank, and the company lost $2.30 a share …read more »

Smartphones have become increasingly popular in recent years. Aside from functioning as mobile phones, these devices have many computer-like functions, including Internet access and email.

There are a couple of ways for investors to profit from rising use of smartphones. The obvious approach is to buy shares of companies that make these devices. Apple and Research in Motion are the most …read more »