Top pick Barrick Mining just raised its dividend a whopping 140% as it generates record earnings and continues its strategic asset reorganization.
Warner Music Group Corp. is well-positioned for higher-margin catalog revenues, added streaming adoption, and new AI monetization opportunities.
ARC Resources keeps returning its cash flow to shareholders through a growing dividend and substantial share buybacks.
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GANNETT CO., INC. $18 (New York symbol GCI; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector: Shares outstanding: 116.5 million; Market cap: $2.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 3.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.gannett.com) publishes daily newspapers in 107 U.S. markets, including its flagship newspaper, USAToday. It also has 19 papers in the U.K., and over 200 magazines and other publications. The company has offered to buy Tribune Publishing Co. (New York symbol TPUB). This firm owns 11 daily papers, including the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, as well as 160 weekly papers and 120 websites. Including Tribune’s debt, the offer is worth $815 million. Eliminating overlapping operations would let Gannett cut $50 million from its annual costs; it earned $209.1 million, or $1.79 a share, in 2015....
TOYOTA MOTOR CO. ADRs $106 (New York symbol TM; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 1.5 billion; Market cap: $159.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.6; Dividend yield: 3.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.toyota.com) is the world’s largest carmaker. In its fiscal 2016 third quarter, which ended December 31, 2015, Toyota sold 2.22 million vehicles worldwide, down 2.1% from a year earlier. North American sales rose 2.2%. However, sales fell 4.5% in Europe, 1.0% in Japan and 3.2% in other parts of Asia. Revenue gained 1.9%, to $61.0 billion from $59.9 billion. Revenue in Japanese yen rose 2.4%. Cost cuts and favourable exchange rates boosted earnings per ADR by 4.7%, to $3.32 from $3.17 (each American depositary receipt equals two Toyota common shares)....
Increasingly health-conscious consumers are switching away from processed foods. In response, these top food producers are developing healthier products. But they are also restructuring to cut their costs. That should continue to expand their earnings. KRAFT HEINZ CO. $79 (Nasdaq symbol KHC; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.2 billion; Market cap: $94.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 5.2; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.kraftheinzcompany.com) makes condiments and sauces (such as Heinz Ketchup) as well as other packaged foods. These include Velveeta and Philadelphia Cream Cheese, processed meats (such as Oscar Meyer hot dogs) and beverages (such as Maxwell House coffee). Kraft Heinz took its current form on July 2, 2015, through the merger of Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz. The combined firm is the fifth-largest food and beverage producer globally....
HONDA MOTOR CO. LTD. ADRs $28(New York symbol HMC; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 1.8 billion; Market cap: $50.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.1; Dividend yield: 2.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.honda.com) is Japan’s second largest carmaker and the world’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer. In its fiscal 2016 third quarter, which ended December 31, 2015, Honda sold 1.23 million vehicles, up 4.6% from a year earlier. The launch of new models in China increased Asian sales by 16.7%. Sales in Europe also jumped 19.4%. However, sales fell 1.7% in North America and 6.8% in Japan. Motorcycle sales declined 3.9% due to weaker demand in Japan and other parts of Asia. For the quarter, revenue rose 4.4%, to $30.1 billion from $28.9 billion. Due to costs related to fixing faulty airbags and unfavorable exchange rates, earnings per ADR declined 6.6%, to $0.61 from $0.57 (each ADR equals one common share)....