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 November 30, 2011, Ruby Tuesday’s sales rose 5.9%, to $307.5 million from $290.5 million a year earlier. However, same-restaurant sales fell 4.2%, mostly due to stiff competition from other chains, many of which spent heavily on TV advertising.
Ruby Tuesday’s overall sales were helped by its new menu items and specials, including its lunch offer of soup, a salad bowl or garden bar, and garlic cheese biscuits starting at $5.99 to $6.99. Even so, the company lost $0.03 a share, compared to a profit of $0.07 a share a year earlier.
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In the three months ended December 31, 2011, Dundee’s revenue jumped 73.2%, to $136.3 million from $78.7 million a year earlier. Most of the increase came from properties the trust recently purchased.
The best way to assess a real estate investment trust’s operating performance is to look at its cash flow, and Dundee’s cash flow rose 62.6% in the latest quarter, to $41.0 million from $25.2 million. Cash flow per unit rose 12.7%, to $0.62 from $0.55, due to more units outstanding (the trust issued new units to pay for the acquired properties).
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In the three months ended December 31, 2011, the company’s revenue rose 12.6%, to $432.0 million from $383.7 million a year earlier. Acquisitions were part of the reason for the gains. Stantec is also working on a number of new projects. Before one-time items, earnings rose 4.3%, to $24.3 million, or $0.53 a share, from $23.3 million, or $0.51 a share.
Stantec continues to grow by acquisition. In 2011, it bought five companies. Together, these firms added 725 staff to Stantec’s workforce.
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The company earned $18 million, or $0.07 a share, compared with a loss of $177.0 million, or $0.73. Earnings benefited from the record sales and the company’s cost cuts, as well as a shift toward higher-priced tires.
Rising costs for raw materials, especially rubber, could limit Goodyear’s earnings growth in the near term. However, its long-term outlook is positive.
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Guided by a miniature camera connected to a 3-D monitor, surgeons use the da Vinci to operate by remotely manipulating tiny robotic arms. This process is safer and much less invasive than regular surgery, and helps cut a patient’s recovery time and post-operative discomfort. It also reduces scarring and infection risk.
In the three months ended December 31, 2011, Intuitive earned $151.2 million, or $3.86 a share. That’s up 24.8% from $121.2 million, or $3.10 a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 27.6%, to $496.8 million from $389.3 million. Intuitive is debt-free, and holds cash of $2.2 billion, or $55.98 a share.
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Tempur-Pedic now sells its products in over 80 countries.
In the three months ended December 31, 2011, Tempur-Pedic’s sales rose 25.3%, to $366.8 million from $292.7 million. North American sales rose 26%, and international sales gained 25%.
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Tim Hortons operates 3,295 coffee-and-donut stores in Canada and 714 in the U.S. That’s up from 3,148 Canadian outlets and 602 U.S. stores a year ago.
The company’s earnings per share before one-time items rose 25.8% in the latest quarter, to $0.65 from $0.52 a year earlier. Sales rose 21.2%, to $779.8 million from $643.5 million.
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In the three months ended December 31, 2011, Chemtrade’s cash flow per unit jumped 52.5%, to $0.61 from $0.40 a year earlier. Revenue rose 63.4%, to $247.2 million from $151.3 million. That mostly reflects the contribution of Marsulex Inc., which Chemtrade bought for $419.5 million in June 2011.
Marsulex provides a range of environmental services, including improving air quality and treating and handling industrial by-products and hazardous waste. Revenue also rose due to rising industrial demand and higher market prices for sulphuric acid.
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