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It is important to note that some types of investments provide more security than others. Investors seeking safe investment options should look for well-established companies with hidden assets among other key characteristics.
Top pick Yum Brands Inc. gives you sales growth, steady EPS growth, and a solid dividend
Nutrien Ltd. offers exposure to potash and nitrogen prices, a stable retail base and strong profitability.
Groupe Dynamite Inc. is a high‑quality specialty retailer with gains ahead.
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Investing in agriculture ETFs could be a smart move if you choose the right investments for the right reasons
When investing in rare earth metals, you need to look at the unique geographical and political environment the mining company produces in.
FORTIS INC. $38 (Toronto symbol FTS; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 279.9 million; Market cap: $10.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; Dividend yield 3.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.fortisinc.com) owns electrical utilities across Canada and in the U.S. and Caribbean. It also distributes natural gas in British Columbia.
< p>The company recently raised its quarterly dividend by 10.3%, to $0.375 a share from $0.34. The new annual rate of $1.50 yields 3.9%. Fortis has raised its payout every year for the past 43 years. The company also plans to increase the payout by around 6% each year through 2020. < p>Fortis is a buy....
< p>The company recently raised its quarterly dividend by 10.3%, to $0.375 a share from $0.34. The new annual rate of $1.50 yields 3.9%. Fortis has raised its payout every year for the past 43 years. The company also plans to increase the payout by around 6% each year through 2020. < p>Fortis is a buy....
ATCO LTD. (Toronto symbols ACO.X [class I non-voting] $40 and ACO.Y [class II voting] $40; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 115.1 million; Market cap: $4.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.1; Dividend yield: 2.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.atco.com) holds 53.2% of Canadian Utilities and 75.5% of ATCO Structures & Logistics, which makes temporary buildings for construction, mining and energy-exploration firms. Canadian Utilities owns the other 24.5%.
< p>In the three months ended June 30, 2015, ATCO earned $8 million, or $0.06 a share, down 87.9% from $66 million, or $0.57. Revenue declined 15.0%, to $947 million from $1.1 billion. < p>Excluding unusual items, earnings were flat at $57 million. Based on current prices, you can buy an ATCO share for $40 and get roughly $45 worth of Canadian Utilities. You might say this means you get the structures business, which provides around 20% of ATCO’s earnings, for free....
< p>In the three months ended June 30, 2015, ATCO earned $8 million, or $0.06 a share, down 87.9% from $66 million, or $0.57. Revenue declined 15.0%, to $947 million from $1.1 billion. < p>Excluding unusual items, earnings were flat at $57 million. Based on current prices, you can buy an ATCO share for $40 and get roughly $45 worth of Canadian Utilities. You might say this means you get the structures business, which provides around 20% of ATCO’s earnings, for free....
CANADIAN UTILITIES LTD. (Toronto symbols CU [class A non-voting] $37 and CU.X [class B voting] $37; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 265.2 million; Market cap: $9.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.9; Dividend yield: 3.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.canadian utilities.com) distributes electricity and natural gas in Alberta and Australia. It also operates 18 power plants in Canada, Australia and the U.K. ATCO Ltd. owns 53.2% of the company.Between 2015 and 2017, Canadian Utilities plans to spend $5.8 billion on its utility operations, including building a 485- kilometre power line in eastern Alberta. This $1.8-billion project should start up by the end of 2015.
< p>Other projects include a new gas pipeline and power plant in Mexico and four underground gas-storage facilities in Alberta. Meanwhile, lower gas prices and demand cut Canadian Utilities’ revenue by 8.9% in the three months ended June 30, 2015, to $780 million from $856 million a year earlier. < p>Overall earnings dropped 62.6%, to $43 million from $115 million, while per-share profits declined 69.2%, to $0.12 from $0.39, on more shares outstanding....
< p>Other projects include a new gas pipeline and power plant in Mexico and four underground gas-storage facilities in Alberta. Meanwhile, lower gas prices and demand cut Canadian Utilities’ revenue by 8.9% in the three months ended June 30, 2015, to $780 million from $856 million a year earlier. < p>Overall earnings dropped 62.6%, to $43 million from $115 million, while per-share profits declined 69.2%, to $0.12 from $0.39, on more shares outstanding....
TORSTAR CORP. $4.12 (Toronto symbol TS.B; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 80.3 million; Market cap: $330.8 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.4; Dividend yield: 12.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.torstar.com) has purchased 56% of VerticalScope, a private firm that operates over 600 online forums and a variety of websites, including AutoGuide.com, Motorcycle.com, ATV.com and PetGuide.com. This purchase should help Torstar offset slowing advertising revenue at its newspapers as advertisers shift their spending to the Internet.
< p>The company paid $200 million, but VerticalScope plans to pay a distribution to its shareholders later this year. That would cut Torstar’s purchase price to $178 million. Meantime, Torstar recently launched a digital version of The Toronto Star, its flagship newspaper, for tablet computers. In addition to newspaper content, this free app, called Star Touch, gives users quick access to related information like photos, maps and videos.
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< p>The company paid $200 million, but VerticalScope plans to pay a distribution to its shareholders later this year. That would cut Torstar’s purchase price to $178 million. Meantime, Torstar recently launched a digital version of The Toronto Star, its flagship newspaper, for tablet computers. In addition to newspaper content, this free app, called Star Touch, gives users quick access to related information like photos, maps and videos.
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