Jim Bates

Jim is an associate editor at TSI Network. He is the lead reporter and analyst for The Successful Investor and Wall Street Stock Forecaster and a member of the Investment Planning Committee. Jim has held the Chartered Financial Analyst designation since 1992 and spent more than a decade at the Financial Post DataGroup before joining TSI Network. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.

Posts by the author
Value Stocks
Finning International Has a Surging Backlog Amid Mining and Infrastructure Boom
Finning Int’l Inc. has a bright outlook spurred by mining and infrastructure growth.
2 min read
Jim Bates
McDonald's Corp. plans to keep aggressively opening locations to continue to power its sales.
Blue Chip Stocks
McDonald’s Reports Higher Sales Despite Economic Headwinds
2 min read
Jim Bates
Dividend Stocks
T. Rowe Price Group Offers a High 4.8% Yield Enhanced by a Key New Strategic Alliance
1 min read
Jim Bates
ETFs
The best way to diversify your portfolio (hint: it’s not asset allocation funds)
Many investors see asset allocation funds as an easy and profitable way to diversify between stocks, bonds and cash equivalents.

What you get when you buy units of asset allocation funds


Asset allocation funds are mutual funds that can shift their portfolio allocations between stocks, bonds and cash in order to capitalize on perceived investment opportunities in any one of those classes.

For example, if the managers feel that the bond market is depressed and poised for an upswing, they may invest heavily in fixed-income investments for a few months to take advantage of the change.

Some managers make their own judgments when choosing between stocks, bonds and cash....
2 min read
Jim Bates
Mining Stocks
Junior mining stocks: Endeavour profits from higher gold and silver prices
Endeavour Silver Corp., symbol EDR on Toronto, operates the Guanacevi and Guanajuato silver/gold mines in Mexico. We analyze Endeavour in Stock Pickers Digest, our newsletter for investing in aggressive stocks—including junior mining stocks. In the three months ended June 30, 2011, the junior mining stock’s revenue rose 84.7%, to $36.4 million from $19.7 million a year earlier (all amounts except share prices in U.S. dollars). The company earned $0.20 a share in the latest quarter, compared to a loss of $0.05 a share. Cash flow rose 125.0%, to $0.27 a share from $0.12 a share....
1 min read
Jim Bates
How To Invest
Top stock picks can divide their assets and multiply your profits
In the August 5, 2011, Wall Street Stock Forecaster hotline, we updated our buy/sell/hold advice on one of our long-time top stock picks, Kraft Foods Inc. (symbol KFT on New York). Kraft is the world’s second-largest food company, after Switzerland-based Nestle. Its owns many well-known brands, including Philadelphia cream cheese, Maxwell House coffee, and Oscar Mayer meats

Top stock picks: Kraft breakup could unlock hidden value

Kraft just announced plans to break itself into two separate, publicly traded companies. One company will sell snack foods, such as Oreo cookies, Cadbury chocolates, Trident gum and Tang powdered beverages. This business will have annual sales of $32 billion, with 42% of that coming from fast-growing markets, such as China, Brazil and India....
2 min read
Jim Bates
How To Invest
Invest in stocks: Japanese earthquake weighs on Texas Instruments’ earnings
Texas Instruments Inc., symbol TXN on New York, is shifting its focus from digital chips for cellphones to faster-growing analog chips, which convert sound and images into digital signals that computers can understand. We analyze Texas Instruments in Wall Street Stock Forecaster, our newsletter that recommends companies for investors who invest in stocks in the U.S. markets. Revenue and earnings declined in the 2011 second quarter compared with a year earlier. This was mainly due to the disruption caused by the Japanese earthquake/tsunami in March. The earthquake reduced production at the company’s Japanese factories, and cost it $50 million to repair the damage....
1 min read
Jim Bates
Wealth Management
Investing newsletter: Acquisition string continues for Stanley Black & Decker
Stanley Black & Decker Inc., New York symbol SWK, makes power and hand tools and security devices. It took its current form on March 12, 2010. That’s when Stanley Works bought the Black & Decker Corp. for $3.5 billion in stock. Stanley shareholders own 50.5% of the combined company, and Black & Decker investors own the remaining 49.5%. We analyze Stanley in Wall Street Stock Forecaster, our investing newsletter that recommends stocks in the U.S. markets. The company now expects efficiencies achieved by merging plants, distribution networks and purchasing systems will save it $450 million by the end of 2012....
1 min read
Jim Bates
How To Invest
Canadian stocks: Strong quarter for CN Rail
Canadian National Railway Co., Toronto symbol CNR, operates Canada’s largest freight-rail network and serves 16 U.S. states. We analyze CN Rail in The Successful Investor, our investment advisory that recommends the best Canadian stocks for conservative investors. In the three months ended June 30, 2011, the Canadian stock’s earnings rose 0.7%, to $538.0 million from $534.0 million. Earnings per share rose 4.4%, to $1.18 from $1.13, on fewer shares outstanding....
1 min read
Jim Bates
Growth Stocks
Growth stock picks: New pizza recipe continues to pay off for Domino’s
Domino’s Pizza Inc., symbol DPZ on New York, is the world’s largest chain of pizza stores that offer takeout and delivery. Domino’s operates 9,379 stores in the U.S. and over 70 other countries. Franchisees run most of these outlets. Domino’s is one of the growth stock picks we analyze in Stock Pickers Digest, our newsletter for aggressive investing. In the three months ended June 19, 2011, the growth stock pick’s earnings rose 11.5%, to $25.2 million, or $0.40 a share. A year earlier, it earned $22.6 million, or $0.37 a share. Sales rose 6.2%, to $384.9 million from $362.4 million. Same-restaurant sales rose 4.5% in the U.S. and 7.4% internationally. The consensus estimates were for earnings of $0.36 a share on sales of $372 million....
1 min read
Jim Bates
Wealth Management
Stock investment tips: Chipotle’s earnings rise as expansion continues
Chipotle Mexican Grill, symbol CMG on New York, is a Denver-based Mexican-restaurant chain. In the three months ended June 30, 2011, Chipotle’s revenue rose 22.4%, to $571.6 million from $466.8 million a year earlier. The company’s restaurants attracted more customers during the quarter. That pushed up its same-restaurant sales by 10.0%. As well, Chipotle opened 39 new outlets. It now has a total of 1,131 locations. We analyze Chipotle in Stock Pickers Digest, our newsletter that gives you stock investment tips for the part of your portfolio you devote to aggressive investments....
1 min read
Jim Bates
Blue Chip Stocks
Blue chip stocks: Amex earnings rise on strong consumer spending
American Express Co., New York symbol AXP, gets most of its revenue from the fees it charges merchants when consumers use its credit and charge cards. It also provides travel-agency services. American Express is one of the blue chip stocks we analyze in Wall Street Stock Forecaster, our newsletter for investing in the U.S. stock markets. The company continues to set aside less money to cover bad loans as more of its cardholders pay their bills on time....
1 min read
Jim Bates
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