Sale Improves Hartco’s Outlook

HARTCO INCOME FUND $4.80 (Toronto symbol HCI.UN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Units outstanding: 13.6 million; Market cap: $47.6 million; SI Rating: Extra risk) lost $0.05 a unit in the first quarter of 2007, mostly due to losses at its CompuSmart retail stores. It earned… Read More

Buy Despite a Possible Payout Cut

HARTCO INCOME FUND $3.10 (Toronto symbol HCI.UN; SI Rating: Average) sells computers and consumer electronics, mainly through CompuSmart and MicroAge retail stores. The fund, formerly Hartco Corp., converted into an income trust last August, and changed its fiscal year end from January 31 to December… Read More

Junior Retailers for Aggressive Buyers

HART STORES INC. $4.25 (Toronto symbol HIS; SI Rating: Speculative) operates 71 mid-sized department stores, mainly in Quebec and Eastern Canada.

In the past year, Hart has opened eight new stores, including its five in Ontario. It prefers to focus on smaller urban centres that larger… Read More