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.

Posts by the author
TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORP. $79 (New York symbol TUP; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 50.7 million; Market cap: $4.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; Dividend yield: 3.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.tupperwarebrands.com) is up 68.1% since we named it as our #1 buy for 2011.

The company continues to benefit from strong demand for its plastic food containers and beauty products in emerging markets such as Asia and South America, which now supply 45% of its total sales. That’s helping it offset weaker sales in North America and Europe.

Tupperware’s sales rose 3.4% in 2013, to $2.7 billion from $2.6 billion in 2012. If you disregard the negative impact of foreign exchange rates, sales rose 6%. Excluding costs related to plant closures and other unusual items, earnings gained 2.5%, to $288.3 million from $281.4 million. Due to fewer shares outstanding, earnings per share rose 8.8%, to $5.43 from $4.99.
...
NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. $30 (New York symbol NWL; Aggressive Growth and Income Portfolios, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 287.2 million; Market cap: $8.6 billion; Priceto- sales ratio: 1.5; Dividend yield: 2.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.newellrubbermaid.com) makes plastic storage bins, tools, window blinds, pens and many other household goods.

The company has five divisions: Writing makes pens and markers (30% of sales, 46% of earnings); Home Solutions makes foodstorage and cooking products (28%, 24%); Tools makes hand and power tools and accessories (14%, 8%); Commercial Products makes cleaning supplies (14%, 11%); and Baby & Parenting makes high chairs, car seats and other goods for infants (14%, 11%).

Newell owns some the top brands in these markets, including Sharpie markers, Parker and Paper Mate pens, Calphalon cookware, Levolor blinds, Irwin tools and Graco car seats and strollers.
...
Big property investments spell growth for two Canadian REITs
Kemie Guaida
H&R REIT (Toronto symbol HR.UN; www.hr-reit.com) owns stakes in 42 office buildings, 112 industrial properties and 164 shopping malls across Canada. The trust has a 98.2% occupancy rate....
Two Canadian financial companies that profit from more cars on the road
INTACT FINANCIAL CORP. (Toronto symbol IFC; www.intactfc.com) is Canada’s largest provider of property and casualty insurance, based on premiums. Its brands include Intact Insurance, Canada BrokerLink, belairdirect and Grey Power....
Canadian grain handler aims for gains as global markets recover
Pat McKeough responds to many requests from members of his Inner Circle for specific advice on stocks to buy as well as questions on investment strategy and the economy. Every week, his comments and recommendations on the most intriguing questions of the past week go out to all Inner Circle members. And each week, we offer you one of the highlights from these Q&A sessions. While we reserve our buy-hold-sell advice for Inner Circle members, these excerpts provide a great deal of information and analysis on stocks we’ve covered for members of Pat’s Inner Circle....
Two U.S. producers take strong measures to keep cash flow rising with energy outlook uncertain
Oil and gas industry. Work of refinery petrochemical plant. Oil reservoir and storage tank of mineral oil. Blue sky above factory
Spade
New technology has increased oil production from North American shale rock formations. Even so, oil prices have held up due to the improving global economy and lower output from conventional wells....
Rising car demand pushes sales up for Linamar
Stocks in the Manufacturing & Industry sector tend to be more volatile than those in the Finance, Utilities and Consumer sectors. Demand for their products moves up and down with the economy....
Sherritt announces decision to sell off coal interests
SHERRITT INTERNATIONAL (Toronto symbol S; www.sherritt.com) is a diversified natural resource company that produces nickel, cobalt, thermal coal, oil and gas. It also manages 356 megawatts of power generation capacity in Cuba, with an additional 150 megawatts starting up soon....
Overseas growth helps Baxter overcome Obamacare tax
YUNUS ARAKON
BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. (New York symbol BAX; www.baxter.com) continues to expand overseas, which helps cut its exposure to the 2.3% excise tax it must pay on sales of medical devices as part of the Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare). In 2012, overseas markets supplied 58% of Baxter’s revenue....