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
ACI Worldwide’s acquisitions bring quick growth—and risk
ACI WORLDWIDE (Nasdaq symbol ACIW; www.tsainc.com) makes software for processing transactions involving credit cards, debit cards, automated teller machines, point-of-sale terminals and interbank payments. Its products also help cut fraud. In mid-February 2012, ACI completed its $540 million purchase of S1 Corp. This acquisition has been a good fit: S1 sells transaction software for banks, credit unions, retailers and other payment processors. It has over 3,000 clients worldwide....
New hepatitis drug could bring huge profits for Gilead
red and yellow pills on white background
Pat McKeough responds to many requests for specific advice on investing in stocks and other questions on investment strategy and the economy from the members of his Inner Circle. 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. This week, an Inner Circle member asked us about a stock that is a leader in developing drugs for viral diseases. Gilead is particularly strong in the treatment of hepatitis, a lucrative market. Pat examines the progress of Gilead’s attempt to win approval for a new hepatitis drug against stiff competition from other major pharmaceutical firms. ...
RUSSEL METALS $26.27 (Toronto symbol RUS; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (905-819-7777; www.russelmetals.com; Shares outstanding: 60.9 million; Market cap: $1.6 billion; Dividend yield: 5.3%) is one of North America’s largest metal distributors. It serves 39,000 clients at 54 locations in Canada and 12 in the U.S.

In the quarter ended March 31, 2013, revenue rose 2.4%, to $821.8 million from $802.9 million a year earlier. The steel-distribution division’s revenue fell 26%, and the metal-services business saw a 10% decline. The slower economy cut steel demand.

...
CHEMTRADE LOGISTICS INCOME FUND $17.30 (Toronto symbol CHE.UN; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (416-496-5856; www.chemtradelogistics- .com; Units outstanding: 41.7 million; Market cap: $716.7 million; Dividend yield: 7.0%) is one of North America’s largest providers of removal services for resource firms, such as oil refineries and base-metal processors. These companies create sulphur, acid and other by-products as part of their activities. Chemtrade converts these substances into useful chemicals, like sulphuric acid.

Chemtrade’s Marsulex subsidiary provides a range of environmental services, including improving air quality and treating and handling industrial waste.

In the three months ended March 31, 2013, Chemtrade’s revenue fell 7.8%, to $210.0 million from $227.9 million a year earlier. The decline mostly reflects lower prices for sulphuric acid on international markets. However, cash flow per unit rose 7.6%, to $0.71 from $0.66.

...
ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD $63.38 (Toronto symbol ATD.B: TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (1-800-361-2612; www.couche-tard.com; Shares outstanding: 179.4 million; Market cap: $11.6 billion; Dividend yield: 0.5%) reports 44.9% higher sales in the three months ended April 28, 2013, up to $8.8 billion from $6.1 billion a year earlier. The gain mostly came from Norway’s Statoil Fuel & Retail ASA, which it bought for $2.7 billion in June 2012 (all figures except share price in U.S. dollars).

Excluding one-time items, earnings per share rose 7.0%, to $0.61 from $0.57. The latest earnings missed the consensus estimate of $0.77 a share, but that was because the latest quarter included upfront costs related to Statoil’s new computer systems and reporting software.

The company’s outlook is positive. But while high gasoline prices are pushing up the company’s sales, they’re also causing motorists to cut back on driving. That’s hurting its fuel sales volumes, which is cutting its profit margins on the fuel it does sell. As well, fewer customers at the pumps means less traffic through the company’s stores.

...
TIM HORTONS $58.90 (Toronto symbol THI; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (905-845-6511; www.timhortons.com; Shares outstanding: 153.1 million; Market cap: $9.0 billion; Dividend yield: 1.8%) has a long track record of successfully launching new products to take advantage of consumer trends.

The latest is its first gluten-free snack, the Gluten- Free Coconut Macaroon. Gluten-free baked goods are for people who can’t digest wheat or are concerned about the possible unhealthy effects of eating gluten, first popularized in the 2011 book Wheat Belly.

Tim Hortons is a buy....
PASON SYSTEMS $18.98 (Toronto symbol PSI; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (403-301-3400; www.pason.com; Shares outstanding: 82.1 million; Market cap: $1.6 billion; Dividend yield: 2.7%) has lost a patent dispute with its main competitor involving its AutoDriller product, which runs drilling operations more accurately and efficiently. The judgment awards the competitor $52.9 million of damages.

Pason rents equipment for monitoring and managing land-based oil rigs. It also provides communication systems that companies use to remotely collect data from their drilling operations. Pason serves oil and gas firms and drilling contractors in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Argentina.

In the quarter ended March 31, 2013, revenue fell 5.1%, to $109.3 million from $115.1 million a year earlier. Strong international sales were offset by slower activity in the U.S. and Canada. Cash flow per share fell 7.9%, to $0.58 from $0.63. Pason holds cash of $168.9 million, or $2.06 a share, and has no debt.
...
strong>AEROPOSTALE $14.15 (New York symbol ARO; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (646-485-5410; www.aeropostale.com; Shares outstanding: 78.5 million; Market cap: $1.1 billion; No dividends paid) now plans to launch the Aeropo
This summer, Aeropostale plans to open small outlets inside Liverpool’s department stores across the country. It will also roll out standalone stores, with the first one scheduled to open in Mexico City’s Sante Fe Mall.

Aeropostale is still a hold.
...
INTUITIVE SURGICAL $415.54 (Nasdaq symbol ISRG; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (515-507-5000; www.intuitivesurgical.com; Shares outstanding: 40.2 million; Market cap: $17.0 billion; No dividends paid) is down over 16% since it released a preliminary revenue forecast for the latest quarter that was below the consensus estimate.

In the second quarter of 2013, the company expects to report revenue of about $575 million, up 7% from $537 million a year earlier. However, that’s well below the consensus estimate of $629.8 million.

Intuitive expects revenue from sales of replacement parts, training and other services to rise 18%, but it predicts a 6% decline in da Vinci system sales. That’s mainly due to tightening hospital budgets in the U.S.

...