Growth Stocks
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.
Make better stock picks when you read this FREE Special Report, Canadian Growth Stocks: WestJet Stock, RioCan Stock and More.
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INTEL CORP. $34 (Nasdaq symbol INTC; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 4.7 billion; Market cap: $159.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.9; Dividend yield: 3.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.intel.com) is the world’s leading chip maker. Its products power 80% of all personal computers.
In the three months ended September 26, 2015, Intel’s earnings fell 6.3%, to $3.1 billion from $3.3 billion a year earlier. The company repurchased $1.0 billion of its shares during the quarter, so per-share profits declined just 3.0%, to $0.64 from $0.66. Overall revenue slipped 0.6%, to $14.47 billion from $14.55 billion.
Revenue from chips for computers and mobile devices (59% of the total) fell 7.5%, partly because Intel is offering fewer subsidies to mobile-device makers.
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In the three months ended September 26, 2015, Intel’s earnings fell 6.3%, to $3.1 billion from $3.3 billion a year earlier. The company repurchased $1.0 billion of its shares during the quarter, so per-share profits declined just 3.0%, to $0.64 from $0.66. Overall revenue slipped 0.6%, to $14.47 billion from $14.55 billion.
Revenue from chips for computers and mobile devices (59% of the total) fell 7.5%, partly because Intel is offering fewer subsidies to mobile-device makers.
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PFIZER INC. $33 (New York symbol PFE; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 6.2 billion; Market cap: $204.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.1; Dividend yield: 3.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.pfizer.com) has agreed to merge with Irish drug maker Allergan plc (New York symbol AGN).
Allergan makes a variety of drugs, including treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, depression, dry eye, enlarged prostate, overactive bladder, cystic fibrosis and bacterial infections. It also makes the anti-wrinkle drug Botox.
Under the deal, Allergan shareholders will receive 11.3 Pfizer shares for each share they hold. That will give them a 44% stake in the combined company, which will be the world’s biggest pharmaceutical maker.
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Allergan makes a variety of drugs, including treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, depression, dry eye, enlarged prostate, overactive bladder, cystic fibrosis and bacterial infections. It also makes the anti-wrinkle drug Botox.
Under the deal, Allergan shareholders will receive 11.3 Pfizer shares for each share they hold. That will give them a 44% stake in the combined company, which will be the world’s biggest pharmaceutical maker.
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CAMPBELL SOUP CO. $53 (New York symbol CPB; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 309.8 million; Market cap: $16.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.0; Dividend yield: 2.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.campbellsoupcompany.com) is the world’s largest maker of canned soups. It also makes Prego canned pasta and sauces, Pepperidge Farm cookies and V8 vegetable juices. Campbell’s sales were flat, at $7.7 billion, in 2011 and 2012 (fiscal years end July 31). In 2013, it cut its reliance on canned foods through two acquisitions: a $1.55-billion deal for Bolthouse Farms, a producer of carrots, dressings and fruit juices; and $249 million for organic food maker Plum.
These additions increased sales to $8.3 billion in 2014. However, unfavourable currency rates cut sales to $8.1 billion in 2015.
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These additions increased sales to $8.3 billion in 2014. However, unfavourable currency rates cut sales to $8.1 billion in 2015.
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CONAGRA FOODS INC. $42 (New York symbol CAG; Income Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 432.9 million; Market cap: $18.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.1; Dividend yield: 2.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.conagrafoods.com) makes packaged foods, including Chef Boyardee canned pasta, Hunt’s tomato sauce, Peter Pan peanut butter, Orville Redenbacher popcorn and Reddi-wip whipped cream.
Consumers supply 70% of ConAgra’s sales. Businesses, including restaurants and other food makers, provide the remaining 30%. ConAgra’s sales jumped 44.2%, from $12.3 billion in 2011 to $17.7 billion in 2014 (fiscal years end May 31). That’s mainly due to its $4.75-billion acquisition of Ralcorp Holdings, the largest privatelabel food maker in the U.S., in January 2013.
However, the purchase didn’t work out as ConAgra hoped, so the company agreed to sell most of the Ralcorp business to TreeHouse Foods (New York symbol THS) for $2.7 billion in November 2015. Excluding Ralcorp, ConAgra’s overall sales fell to $15.8 billion in fiscal 2015.
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Consumers supply 70% of ConAgra’s sales. Businesses, including restaurants and other food makers, provide the remaining 30%. ConAgra’s sales jumped 44.2%, from $12.3 billion in 2011 to $17.7 billion in 2014 (fiscal years end May 31). That’s mainly due to its $4.75-billion acquisition of Ralcorp Holdings, the largest privatelabel food maker in the U.S., in January 2013.
However, the purchase didn’t work out as ConAgra hoped, so the company agreed to sell most of the Ralcorp business to TreeHouse Foods (New York symbol THS) for $2.7 billion in November 2015. Excluding Ralcorp, ConAgra’s overall sales fell to $15.8 billion in fiscal 2015.
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Top regional airline Chorus Aviation is a rising growth stock, but its affiliation with Air Canada may prove to bring as much risk as reward.
AASTRA TECHNOLOGIES $37.48 (Toronto symbol AAH; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (905-760-4200; www.aastra.com; Shares outstanding: 11.8 million; Market cap: $430.6 million; Dividend yield: 2.1%) has jumped over 80% since we recommended it in our last issue.
< br /> The stock surged because Aastra agreed to a friendly takeover offer from business communications products and software rival Mitel Networks (symbol MNW on Toronto).
< br /> Mitel is offering $6.52 U.S. in cash and 3.6 of its common shares for each share of Aastra. Based on today’s price for Mitel stock, the offer is worth $38.60 per Aastra share.
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< br /> The stock surged because Aastra agreed to a friendly takeover offer from business communications products and software rival Mitel Networks (symbol MNW on Toronto).
< br /> Mitel is offering $6.52 U.S. in cash and 3.6 of its common shares for each share of Aastra. Based on today’s price for Mitel stock, the offer is worth $38.60 per Aastra share.
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WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL $26.61 (New York symbol WTW; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (212-589-2700; www.weightwatchers.com; Shares outstanding: 57.2 million; Market cap: $1.5 billion; No dividends paid) declined steadily from over $80 a share in 2012 to a recent low of just under $7. However, the shares jumped on October 19, 2015, when Oprah Winfrey said she had purchased 10% of the company.
Oprah bought 6.4 million shares for $6.79 each and has an option to purchase 3.5 million more at $6.97. She will also join the company’s board of directors.
Founded in 1961, Weight Watchers offers weightloss services in 23 countries. The company promotes a program of lifestyle changes through 36,000 weekly meetings and online. It gets 80% of its revenue through meeting fees and 20% from product sales.
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Oprah bought 6.4 million shares for $6.79 each and has an option to purchase 3.5 million more at $6.97. She will also join the company’s board of directors.
Founded in 1961, Weight Watchers offers weightloss services in 23 countries. The company promotes a program of lifestyle changes through 36,000 weekly meetings and online. It gets 80% of its revenue through meeting fees and 20% from product sales.
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INTACT FINANCIAL $88.20 (Toronto symbol IFC; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (416-341- 1464; www.intactfc.com; Shares outstanding: 131.5 million; Market cap: $11.5 billion; Dividend yield: 2.4%) is Canada’s largest provider of property and casualty insurance, based on premiums. Its brands include Intact Insurance, Canada BrokerLink and belairdirect.
In the three months ended September 30, 2015, Intact’s revenue rose 9.4%, to $2.09 billion from $1.91 billion a year earlier. Revenue improved across all of the company’s insurance lines and geographic regions.
Earnings rose 7.6%, to $199 million, or $1.47 a share, from $185 million, or $1.37.
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In the three months ended September 30, 2015, Intact’s revenue rose 9.4%, to $2.09 billion from $1.91 billion a year earlier. Revenue improved across all of the company’s insurance lines and geographic regions.
Earnings rose 7.6%, to $199 million, or $1.47 a share, from $185 million, or $1.37.
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AGT FOOD & INGREDIENTS $31.83 (Toronto symbol AGT; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (306-525- 4490; www.agtfoods.com; Shares outstanding: 23.1 million; Market cap: $737.8 million; Dividend yield: 1.9%) buys and processes a range of pulses, which include peas, beans, lentils and chickpeas, as well as other specialty crops....
FIRSTSERVICE CORP. $48.83 (Toronto symbol FSV; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (416-960-9500; www.firstservice.com; Shares outstanding: 34.6 million; Market cap: $1.8 billion; Dividend yield: 1.1%) is a leading North American provider of residential property management and property improvement services.
In the three months ended September 30, 2015, the company’s revenue gained 12.0%, to $349.5 million from $312.0 million a year earlier (all figures except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). Excluding one-time items, earnings per share jumped 28.2%, to $0.50 from $0.39. The second and third quarters are FirstService’s busiest.
The company’s outlook remains strong. However, the stock trades at a high 30.5 times the $1.20 a share FirstService will likely earn this year.
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In the three months ended September 30, 2015, the company’s revenue gained 12.0%, to $349.5 million from $312.0 million a year earlier (all figures except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). Excluding one-time items, earnings per share jumped 28.2%, to $0.50 from $0.39. The second and third quarters are FirstService’s busiest.
The company’s outlook remains strong. However, the stock trades at a high 30.5 times the $1.20 a share FirstService will likely earn this year.
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