Scott Clayton

Scott is an associate editor at TSI Network. He is the lead reporter and analyst for Dividend Advisor, Power Growth Investor and Canadian Wealth Advisor and a member of the Investment Planning Committee. Scott began his investment and financial career working with Pat McKeough at The Investment Reporter in the 1980s. Subsequently, he worked at the Financial Post Corporation Service for 10 years. He joined TSI Network in 1998. He is a Bachelor of Economics graduate of York University, and he also has an M.B.A. from the Schulich School of Business.

Posts by the author

How To Invest

5 Facts About Investing in Stocks You Should Know to Maximize Profits

Discover five facts about investing in stocks that will help you make better investment decisions over the long term. Learn more in this article now.

4 min read

Scott Clayton

Growth Stocks

Successful Investors Use These Key Tips to Find the Best Growth Companies to Invest In

4 min read

Scott Clayton

Growth Stocks

How to Find the Best Growth Stocks to Invest in Right Now

4 min read

Scott Clayton

Dividend Stocks

The bottom line remains strong for these two Canadian bank stocks

Our latest update on two Canadian bank stocks, both of which have seen their international expansion plans bear strong results.

2 min read

Scott Clayton

Growth Stocks

Long-term contracts aid two of our fastest growing stocks for conservative investors

Long-term contracts support these high-yielding power firms that we like as two of the fastest growing stocks for conservative investors.

2 min read

Scott Clayton

Dividend Stocks

Shrewd transactions unlock extra value for one of Canada’s best REITs

A $731 million part ownership deal that unlocks extra value in its industrial properties is just one reason H&R REIT is a buy.

1 min read

Scott Clayton

Energy Stocks

Best Canadian Stocks: Retail sales make Agrium the top performer among Canadian potash stocks

By focusing on retail stores selling fertilizer and seed to farmers—in U.S. dollars—Agrium has made itself the #1 potash stock in Canada.

3 min read

Scott Clayton

Growth Stocks

US Stock Picks: Growth strategy for Symantec includes a spinoff

SYMANTEC CORP. (Nasdaq symbol SYMC; www.symantec.com) sells computer security technology, including antivirus and email filtering software, to businesses and consumers.

In its fiscal 2015 third quarter, which ended January 2, 2015, Symantec earned $367 million, unchanged from a year earlier. However, per-share earnings rose 1.9%, to $0.53 from $0.52, on fewer shares outstanding.

Revenue slipped 3.9%, to $1.64 billion from $1.71 billion. But if you disregard the negative impact of the high U.S. dollar on the company’s overseas sales, revenue was flat.

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2 min read

Scott Clayton

How To Invest

Best Canadian Stocks: Another timely takeover for one of our top stock picks

Alimentation Couche-Tard (symbol ATD.B on Toronto; www.couche-tard.com) operates 6,314 convenience stores throughout North America. Canadian outlets operate under the Couche-Tard and Mac’s banners, while the U.S. stores mainly use the Circle K brand.

In Europe, Couche-Tard operates 2,233 stores across Scandinavia, Poland, the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and Russia.

In the three months ended February 1, 2015, Couche-Tard’s sales rose just 1.7%, to $2.33 billion from $2.29 billion a year earlier. The higher U.S. dollar cut the revenue contribution of its European operations.

However, per-share earnings jumped 64.5%, to $0.51 from $0.31. Couche-Tard saw higher profit margins on merchandise and fuel, and it continues to save on interest costs as it pays down the debt it took on to acquire Norway’s Statoil Fuel & Retail gas station chain, which it bought for $2.7 billion in June 2012.

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2 min read

Scott Clayton

Blue Chip Stocks

Best Canadian Stocks: CP restructuring plan is a runaway success

Up 243% since it was Canadian Stock of the Year in 2012, CP Rail continues to reap the rewards of a very successful restructuring plan.

3 min read

Scott Clayton

Dividend Stocks

Best Canadian Stocks: Ireland proves to be land of plenty for Great-West Lifeco

2 min read

Scott Clayton

How To Invest

Best Canadian Stocks: Hidden assets help WestJet profits soar

Every Tuesday we bring you “Best Canadian Stocks.” You get our specific recommendations on the stocks we profile, with a full explanation of how we arrived at our opinion. You’ll read about stocks making moves you should know about, from coverage in one of our three newsletters featuring Canadian stocks—The Successful Investor, Stock Pickers Digest and Canadian Wealth Advisor.

WESTJET AIRLINES (Toronto symbol WJA; www.westjet.com) serves 91 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Its fleet of 109 modern Boeing 737s are 30% more fuel efficient than older jets.

In June 2013, the company launched WestJet Encore, its Canadian regional airline. This business now operates 14 Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprop planes, which seat 78 passengers.

In the three months ended September 30, 2014, WestJet’s earnings, excluding one-time items, jumped 30.9%, to a third-quarter record of $85.4 million from $65.1 million a year earlier. Earnings per share gained 32.0%, to $0.66 from $0.50, on fewer shares outstanding. This was WestJet’s 38th consecutive quarter of profitability. Revenue rose 9.2%, to $1.0 billion from $924.8 million.

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2 min read

Scott Clayton