Pat McKeough

A professional investment analyst for more than 30 years, Pat has developed a stock-selection technique that has proven reliable in both bull and bear markets. His proprietary ValuVesting System™ focuses on stocks that provide exceptional quality at relatively low prices. Many savvy investors and industry leaders consider it the most powerful stock-picking method ever created.

As early as 1980, Pat was recognized as #1 in the world of published investment advice by the Washington, DC–based Newsletter Publishers Association, and he was the first multi-year winner of The Globe and Mail’s stock picking contest.

Both CBS MarketWatch and The Hulbert Financial Digest recognized Pat as one of North America’s top stock analysts. The Wall Street Journal called him “one of only four investment newsletter advisors who have managed to serve their readers well over the long haul.”

A best-selling Canadian author, he wrote Riding the Bull, his 1993 book that predicted the stock-market boom of the last half of that decade. Through his many television appearances, he is well-known to investors for his insightful analysis and his candid, unpretentious style.

Bottom line: Pat’s conservative, reduced-risk strategy is a proven approach to safe investing.

SNAP-ON INC. $163 (New York symbol SNA; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 58.2 million; Market cap: $9.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.6; Dividend yield: 1.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.snapon.com) makes tools for auto mechanics and sells them through a fleet of franchised vans that visit garages. It also makes specialized tools for industrial customers. In the three months ended April 2, 2016, the company’s revenue gained 0.8%, to $834.2 million from $827.8 million a year earlier. But excluding exchange rates and acquisitions, sales gained 2.5%. Thanks to an ongoing efficiency plan, earnings per share rose 15.5%, to $2.16 from $1.87. The stock trades at 18.3 times the $8.93 a share that Snap-On will likely earn this year. That’s a somewhat high multiple for a company that relies on the cyclical automotive industry for 60% of its earnings....
MCCORMICK & CO. INC. $93 (New York symbol MKC; Income Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 115.3 million; Market cap: $10.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.8; Dividend yield: 1.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.mccormick.com) has paid $114 million for Botanical Food Co. Based in Australia, this firm makes packaged herbs under the Gourmet Garden brand. It sells these products mainly in Australia and North America. The purchase complements McCormick’s existing spice products. It will also add $53 million to its annual sales of $4.3 billion. The stock now trades at 24.9 times the $3.73 a share that the company will likely earn in its current fiscal year. That’s a high multiple in light of McCormick’s growth-by-acquisition strategy and currency risk....
TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORP. $60 (New York symbol TUP; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 50.5 million; Market cap: $3.0 billion; Priceto- sales ratio: 1.3; Dividend yield: 4.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.tupperwarebrands.com) makes plastic food and beverage containers, as well as cosmetics and fragrances. In the three months ended March 26, 2016, Tupperware’s sales fell 9.6%, to $525.7 million from $581.8 million a year earlier. Earnings per share also fell 10.8%, to $0.91 from $1.02. Overseas markets supplied 75% of the company’s sales; without exchange rates, sales rose 1% and earnings per share gained 10%. Due to lower raw material costs, Tupperware raised its 2016 earnings forecast to $4.28 to $4.38 a share, excluding exchange rates. That’s up from its earlier range of $3.81 to $3.91. The stock trades at a reasonable 13.9 times the midpoint of its new range....
TOYOTA MOTOR CO. ADRs $106 (New York symbol TM; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 1.5 billion; Market cap: $159.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.6; Dividend yield: 3.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.toyota.com) is the world’s largest carmaker. In its fiscal 2016 third quarter, which ended December 31, 2015, Toyota sold 2.22 million vehicles worldwide, down 2.1% from a year earlier. North American sales rose 2.2%. However, sales fell 4.5% in Europe, 1.0% in Japan and 3.2% in other parts of Asia. Revenue gained 1.9%, to $61.0 billion from $59.9 billion. Revenue in Japanese yen rose 2.4%. Cost cuts and favourable exchange rates boosted earnings per ADR by 4.7%, to $3.32 from $3.17 (each American depositary receipt equals two Toyota common shares)....
HONDA MOTOR CO. LTD. ADRs $28(New York symbol HMC; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 1.8 billion; Market cap: $50.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.1; Dividend yield: 2.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.honda.com) is Japan’s second largest carmaker and the world’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer. In its fiscal 2016 third quarter, which ended December 31, 2015, Honda sold 1.23 million vehicles, up 4.6% from a year earlier. The launch of new models in China increased Asian sales by 16.7%. Sales in Europe also jumped 19.4%. However, sales fell 1.7% in North America and 6.8% in Japan. Motorcycle sales declined 3.9% due to weaker demand in Japan and other parts of Asia. For the quarter, revenue rose 4.4%, to $30.1 billion from $28.9 billion. Due to costs related to fixing faulty airbags and unfavorable exchange rates, earnings per ADR declined 6.6%, to $0.61 from $0.57 (each ADR equals one common share)....
SONY CORP. ADRs $26 (New York symbol SNE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 1.3 billion; Market cap: $33.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.4; Dividend yield 0.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.sony.com) has also had to shut down two plants in Japan due to earthquake damage. These facilities make image sensors for smartphones. The company has also warned that slowing demand for high-end smartphones has hurt sales of these sensors. In addition, negative interest rates in Japan are hurting earnings at Sony’s banking and insurance operations. The company has now cut its operating profit forecast for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, by about 9% to $2.6 billion. Sony is a hold.
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. ADRs $28 (New York symbol PHG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 917.1 million; Market cap: $25.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.9; Dividend yield: 3.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.philips.com) had a deal to sell 80.1% of its Lumileds subsidiary, which makes lightemitting- diode (LED) components, to a Chinese firm. However, U.S. regulators blocked the sale. As a result, Phillips now plans to sell shares in its entire lighting division, including Lumileds, to the public. That could raise $6 billion, and set the stage for a possible spinoff. It would also allow the company to focus on its health care products, including X-ray scanners and ultrasound systems, and consumer goods such as electric shavers and coffee makers. Philips is still a buy.
ABB LTD. ADRs $21 (New York symbol ABB; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 2.2 billion; Market cap: $46.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.3; Dividend yield: 3.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.abb.com) makes transformers, transmission systems and circuit breakers for electrical utilities. It also produces automation systems and robotics for industrial clients. Slowing growth in China and a higher U.S. dollar caused ABB’s sales in the first quarter of 2016 to fall 7.6%, to $7.9 billion from $8.6 billion a year earlier. But thanks to a new restructuring plan, earnings per ADR were flat at $0.28. ABB expects its restructuring to save it $1 billion annually by the end of 2017. ABB is a buy....
NORDSTROM INC. $53 (New York symbol JWN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 172.9 million; Market cap: $9.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.6; Dividend yield: 2.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.nordstrom.com) mainly sells upscale clothing, accessories and footwear. It owns and operates 326 stores in the U.S. and Canada. The company is facing stronger competition from online retailers. In response, it plans to cut jobs at its corporate and regional support centres. In all, these layoffs represent 1% of its workforce. The cuts should save Nordstrom $60 million a year; it earned $600 million, or $3.15 a share, in the fiscal year ended January 30, 2016. The company will invest the savings in its own e-commerce operations....