Latest Stock Advice
Top pick Yum Brands Inc. gives you sales growth, steady EPS growth, and a solid dividend
Teck Resources Ltd. is a solid bet on higher copper prices with its big merger winning approvals
Toromont Industries Ltd. should see continued earnings growth thanks to its leading market share and Canada’s plan to increase spending on infrastructure projects.
Top pick Barrick Mining just raised its dividend a whopping 140% as it generates record earnings and continues its strategic asset reorganization.
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How to identify the top copper mining stocks—and how to best to fit them into your portfolio
A Member of Pat McKeough’s Inner Circle asked for his advice on an ETF that focuses on Canadian finance firm common shares, preferred shares and corporate bonds.
Pat likes the high distribution rate but warns that rate may be unsustainable....
Pat likes the high distribution rate but warns that rate may be unsustainable....
TECK RESOURCES LTD. $10 (Toronto symbol TCK.B; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 576.3 million; Market cap: $5.8 billion; Price-to sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 1.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.teck.com) is a leading producer of metallurgical coal, a key ingredient in steel making. Its six coal mines (five in B.C. and one in Alberta) account for 11% of global demand. Asian customers buy 75% of the company’s coal. In 2015, coal accounted for 37% of its revenue and 34% of its earnings. Teck also produces zinc (34%, 31%), which prevents rusting when added to steel. The company is a major supplier of copper (29%, 35%), and produces other metals, including gold, lead and molybdenum (which is used in steelmaking)....
IMPERIAL OIL LTD. $44 (Toronto symbol IMO; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Shares outstanding: 847.6 million; Market cap: $37.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.5; Dividend yield: 1.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.imperialoil.ca) is selling its 497 company-owned Esso gas stations to independent operators for $2.8 billion. Following the sale, franchisees will operate all of its 1,700 Esso stations across Canada. The buyers include Alimentation Couche-Tard (Toronto symbol ATD.B). It is purchasing 279 stations in Ontario and Quebec. (Alimentation Couche- Tard is a recommendation of Stock Pickers Digest, our newsletter that focuses on aggressive investments.) In addition, 7-Eleven Canada is getting 148 stations in Alberta and British Columbia. Parkland Fuel (Toronto symbol PKI), will buy 17 stations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba....
GREAT-WEST LIFECO INC. $35 (Toronto symbol GWO; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 993.4 million; Market cap: $34.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.0; Dividend Yield: 3.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.greatwestlifeco.com) is Canada’s second-largest insurance company, after Manulife Financial (Toronto symbol MFC). It also offers mutual funds, retirement planning and wealth management. Power Financial (Toronto symbol PWF) owns 71.4% of Great-West. As of December 31, 2015, the company had $1.2 trillion of assets under administration, up 14.0% from a year earlier. Great-West gets 43% of its earnings from Canada, where it operates under well-known labels Great-West Life, Canada Life and Freedom 55. The European division (42% of earnings) mainly sells group insurance and annuity products in the U.K., Ireland and Germany....
TORONTO-DOMINION BANK $55 (Toronto symbol TD; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 1.9 billion; Market cap: $104.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.3; Dividend yield: 4.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.td.com) earned $2.4 billion, or $1.18 a share, in its fiscal 2016 first quarter, which ended January 31, 2016. That’s up 5.8% from $2.1 billion, or $1.12, a year earlier. Earnings for its Canadian banks (62% of the total) rose 4.4%, thanks to strong loan demand and gains from the wealthmanagement and insurance businesses. Earnings from U.S. banking (31%) jumped 20.2%. That’s largely because the low Canadian dollar enhanced its profits. However, earnings from wholesale banking (7%) fell 16.1%. Lower stock trading volumes offset higher advisory fees on mergers and acquisitions. Revenue rose 13.1%, to $8.6 billion from $7.6 billion. However, TD set aside $642 million to cover potential future loan losses, up 77.3% from $362 million. That’s mainly because it recently acquired the U.S. credit card portfolio of department store Nordstrom’s (New York symbol JWN). As well, low oil prices could hurt the ability of energy producers to repay their loans. These borrowers represent less than 1% of TD’s overall loan portfolio....