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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The stock dipped as low as $19.65 in July, but it went on to rise to an all-time high of $28.99. It’s now up 21.1%.
The company has a modern, fuel-efficient fleet and a low cost structure. Its new Canadian regional airline, WestJet Encore, adds growth prospects.
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The company continues to introduce more-profitable products at its North American stores, including improved fresh and takeout food. There is lots of potential to sell similar items through the Statoil chain in Norway, which it bought in June 2012.
Alimentation Couche-Tard is still a buy.
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In the quarter ended September 30, 2013, the sluggish global economy cut Goodyear’s sales by 5.0%, to $5.0 billion from $5.3 billion a year earlier. North American sales fell 9.1%, to $2.2 billion from $2.4 billion. Sales also declined 9.2% in Asia. That offset a slight increase in Europe and a 1.3% rise in Latin America.
However, earnings per share climbed sharply, to $0.68 from $0.45. The higher profits came from the company’s North American operations, which sold more replacement tires (they’re more profitable than new factory-installed car tires), and cut its costs.
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Unlike other credit card companies, such as Visa and MasterCard, Amex is also a lender. That lets it collect interest payments on its cardholders’outstanding balances.
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Last year, the company starting selling its Creative Cloud package of photo-editing and desktop-publishing programs as a subscription instead of a one-time purchase. Adobe added 402,000 Creative Cloud subscribers during the quarter, to bring its total to 1.44 million. That beat its goal of 1.25 million users.
The stock is up 57% in the past year and now trades at 53.6 times the $1.10 a share that Adobe will likely earn in fiscal 2014. That’s a high p/e ratio for a company that mainly serves customers in cyclical businesses like publishing. However, its switch to sale-by-subscription could generate a lot of long-term growth.
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The company’s fee income rises and falls with the value of the mutual funds and other securities it manages. Thanks to improving stock markets and new contracts, State Street’s earnings rose 13.5% in the three months ended September 30, 2013, to $537 million from $473 million a year earlier.
The company spent $560 million buying back its shares in the quarter. As a result, earnings per share gained 20.2%, to $1.19 from $0.99. Revenue increased 3.4%, to $2.5 billion from $2.4 billion.
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The two companies will also take advantage of PepsiCo’s alliances with the National Football League and Major League Baseball to develop sports-related marketing campaigns.
In addition, Buffalo Wild Wings will develop new menu items that use PepsiCo’s snack foods, including Frito-Lay and Doritos chips. PepsiCo didn’t say how much the deal is worth or how long it will last.
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