Although growth stock picks can be highly volatile, they can make good long-term investments. They may be well-known stars or quiet gems, but they do share one common attribute—they are growing at a higher-than-average rate within their industry, or within the market as a whole, and could keep growing for years or decades.
And keep in mind that we focus on growth stocks, which have a good long-term history and favourable prospects. We downplay momentum stocks that tend to attract many investors simply because they are moving faster than the market averages, but are liable to fall sharply when their momentum fades.
There’s room for growth stock investing in your portfolio, but make sure you follow our TSI Network three-part Successful Investor strategy for your overall portfolio:
- Invest mainly in well-established companies;
- Spread your money out across most if not all of the five main economic sectors (Manufacturing & Industry; Resources & Commodities; Consumer; Finance; Utilities);
- Downplay or avoid stocks in the broker/media limelight.
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In the three months ended October 31, 2014, the company’s sales rose 5.2%, to $13.3 million from $12.6 million a year earlier. It earned $0.17 a share, down 19.0% from $0.21.
AlarmForce’s revenue rose along with its subscriber base and higher monthly revenue per customer. Earnings declined because it spent more on product development and marketing.
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Restaurant Brands is the world’s third-largest fastfood operator, after McDonald’s and Yum Brands, with 14,372 Burger King restaurants and 4,671 Tim Hortons outlets in 100 countries.
In the three months ended December 31, 2014, the company lost $514.2 million, or $2.52 a share, compared to a profit of $66.8 million, or $0.19 (all amounts except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). Excluding merger-related costs and other unusual items, operating earnings rose 23.1%.
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However, Bellatrix can still draw on $85 million from its joint venture partners, bringing total spending to $285 million this year.
As a result of the spending cut, the company now expects to produce an average of 43,000 to 44,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day in 2015. That’s down from its original forecast of 47,000 to 48,000 but about 14% higher than its 2014 average production of 38,100 barrels a day.
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In the three months ended September 30, 2014, the company’s revenue rose 28.9%, to $134.0 million from $104.0 million a year earlier. Pason saw higher sales of its technology in all of its major markets, but especially in the U.S.
The company earned $26.5 million, or $0.32 a share, in the latest quarter, up from $9.1 million, or $0.11. Earnings rose on the higher revenue and an increased contribution from Pason’s U.S. profits because of the stronger U.S. dollar.
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Unconventional producers, using hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, of oil and gas-bearing shale, can also use Computer Modelling’s software to determine optimal drilling locations and depths.
In the three months ended December 31, 2014, Computer Modelling’s revenue rose 31.1%, to $25.2 million from $19.2 million a year earlier. Software licensing revenue (92% of the total) rose 34.8%, and consulting and professional services revenue (8%) was virtually unchanged.
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In its fiscal 2015 first quarter, which ended December 31, 2014, Fair Isaac’s revenue rose 2.8%, to $189.6 million from $184.3 million a year earlier.
Earnings per share fell 6.8%, to $0.68 from $0.73. Fair Isaac spent more on research and marketing, and that hurt profits.
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Most of the company’s silver output comes from its Greens Creek mine in Alaska and its Lucky Friday project in Idaho. Hecla’s Casa Berardi mine in Quebec supplies the majority of its gold production.
In the three months ended December 31, 2014, Hecla produced 3.2 million ounces of silver, up 29.1% from 2.5 million ounces a year earlier. Gold output rose 16.1%, to 54,674 ounces from 47,108. Cash flow per share climbed 18.2%, to $0.13 from $0.11.
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Cameco is also one of the western world’s largest converters of enriched uranium for use in nuclear reactors. In addition, it owns NUKEM, a nuclear-fuel trader and broker.
In the three months ended December 31, 2014, Cameco’s revenue fell 9.0%, to $889 million from $977 million a year earlier. It sold more uranium at higher prices in the latest quarter. However, the yearago quarter included revenue from the company’s 31.6% stake in Ontario’s Bruce Power partnership, which it sold in early 2014.
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After the spinoff, FirstService will carry on with residential property management and improvement, which had $1.1 billion U.S. of revenue in 2014. FirstService shareholders won’t pay income taxes on the transaction until they sell shares of the new FirstService or Colliers International.
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For example, Mentor’s software lets automakers use less wiring in a car, identify potential safety issues, and minimize electromagnetic effects on sensitive components.
The company sells its products and services worldwide, mainly to large firms in the communications, technology, military and transportation industries.
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