Northbridge Financial
formerly Toronto symbol NB, is one of the largest insurers in Canada. The company provides auto, general liability and commercial insurance through its Lombard Canada, Markel Insurance of Canada, Commonwealth Insurance Co. and Federated Insurance Co. of Canada units. Northbridge was acquired by Fairfax Financial Holdings in 2009.
NORTHBRIDGE FINANCIAL CORP. $38.80 (Toronto symbol NB; SI Rating: Speculative) (416-366-9544; no web site; Shares outstanding: 47.7 million; Market cap: $1.9 billion) jumped over 25% recently after Fairfax Financial Holdings, symbol FFH on Toronto announced that it will make an offer to acquire the shares of Northbridge it does not already own. Fairfax hopes to complete the transaction in the …read more »
FAIRFAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS $360 (Toronto symbol FFH: SI Rating: Average) (416-367-2612; www.fairfax.ca; Shares outstanding: 16.9 million; Market cap: $6.1 billion) is a financial services holding company with assets of $27.9 billion. Fairfax engages in insurance, reinsurance and investment management. Prem Watsa is the chairman and founder of the company. Fairfax’s shares are high priced, but you can buy an odd …read more »
NORTHBRIDGE FINANCIAL CORP. $31 (Toronto symbol NB; SI Rating: Speculative) (416-366- 9544; no web site; Shares outstanding: 47.7 million; Market cap: $1.5 billion) is one of the largest commercial property and casualty insurers in Canada. This includes commercial businesses, homes and vehicles. Around 88% of Northbridge’s business is with commercial clients and 12% is in personal lines. Commercial lines are …read more »
NORTHBRIDGE FINANCIAL CORP. $35.75 (Toronto symbol NB; SI Rating: Speculative) (416-366- 9544; no web site; Shares outstanding: 49.7 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion) is one of the largest commercial property and casualty insurers in Canada. This includes commercial businesses, homes and vehicles. Around 88% of Northbridge’s business is with commercial clients and 12% is in personal lines. Commercial lines are …read more »
TIM HORTONS $33.75 (Toronto symbol THI; SI Rating: Average) (905-845-6511; www.timshortons.com; Shares outstanding: 186.8 million; Market cap: $6.3 billion) reports that revenues rose 10.5% in the three months ended December 31, 2007, to $515.4 million from $466.5 million. Canadian same-store sales rose 3.4%, and U.S. same-store sales rose 4.2%. Earnings per share rose 17.1%, to $0.41 from $0.35.
The improved results …read more »
KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES $15.83 (Toronto symbol KFS; SI Rating: Speculative) (905- 629-7888; www.kingsway-financial.com; Shares outstanding: 55.9 million; Market cap: $880.6 million) offers automobile insurance for drivers that standard auto insurers have rejected. This could be because of their poor driving record, vehicle type, place of residence, age or credit rating.
The company serves other niche markets including long-haul trucking, taxi, rental …read more »
HOME CAPITAL GROUP INC. $38.39 (Toronto symbol HCG; SI Rating: Extra Risk) (1-800-990-7881; www.homecapital.com; Shares outstanding: 34.5 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion) is a federally regulated trust company offering residential first mortgages to small business owners, the self-employed and others who don’t meet the stricter criteria of larger, traditional lenders.
Home Capital reports that revenues rose 31% in the three months …read more »
NORTHBRIDGE FINANCIAL CORP. $34.30 (Toronto symbol NB; SI Rating: Speculative) (416- 366-9544; no web site; Shares outstanding: 50.9 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion) reported 27% lower earnings per share in the three months ended March 31, 2007, to $0.89 from $1.22.
However, the company has exited higher risk underwriting, including exposure to the energy business in the Gulf of Mexico. The …read more »
KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES $24.55 (Toronto symbol KFS; SI Rating: Speculative) (905- 629-7888; www.kingsway-financial.com; Shares outstanding: 55.9 million; Market cap: $1.4 billion) offers automobile insurance for drivers considered too risky by standard auto insurers. Major insurers may also reject them due to their poor payment history, driving record, place of residence, age or vehicle type.
The company’s other niche markets include long …read more »
TD CANADIAN SMALL-CAP EQUITY FUND $30.48 (CWA Rating: Aggressive) (TD Asset Management, P.O. Box 7500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario. M5W 1P9. 1-800-463-3863; Web site: www.tdcanadatrust.ca. No load — deal directly with the bank) invests in small to medium-sized companies located in Canada and other countries, that the managers feel offer either superior earnings growth or appear undervalued. It looks for …read more »
