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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.
TRANSCONTINENTAL INC. $20 (Toronto symbol TCL.A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 78.0 million; Market cap: $1.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 3.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.tctranscontinental.com) recently purchased Brooklyn, New York-based Ultra Flex Packaging, a privately held maker of flexible plastic packages for candy, coffee and other foods.Transcontinental paid $80 million U.S. for Ultra Flex, which will add $72 million U.S. to its annual revenue and $12 million to its gross profits. This purchase looks like a good fit with U.S.-based Capri Packaging, which makes plastic bags and pouches for cheese and other dairy products. Transcontinental paid $146.1 million for Capri in May 2014.
< p>Meanwhile, the company’s earnings rose 30.5% in its 2015 third quarter, which ended July 31, 2015, to $48.8 million, or $0.62 a share. A year earlier, Transcontinental earned $37.4 million, or $0.48 a share. < p>Revenue slipped 0.2%, to $481.9 million from $483.0 million. Contributions from acquisitions offset lower revenue from printing advertising flyers, particularly after Target closed its 133 Canadian stores. The lower Canadian dollar also boosted the value of its U.S. sales....
< p>Meanwhile, the company’s earnings rose 30.5% in its 2015 third quarter, which ended July 31, 2015, to $48.8 million, or $0.62 a share. A year earlier, Transcontinental earned $37.4 million, or $0.48 a share. < p>Revenue slipped 0.2%, to $481.9 million from $483.0 million. Contributions from acquisitions offset lower revenue from printing advertising flyers, particularly after Target closed its 133 Canadian stores. The lower Canadian dollar also boosted the value of its U.S. sales....
TRANSCANADA CORP. $45 (Toronto symbol TRP; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 709.0 million; Market cap: $31.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.0; Dividend yield: 4.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.transcanada.com) is buying the Ironwood gas-fired power plant in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The facility is close to the Marcellus shale region, which gives it access to large supplies of cheap natural gas.
< p>The company will pay $654 million U.S. when it completes the purchase in early 2016. The plant will add $90 million U.S. to $110 million U.S. to TransCanada’s annual gross profits; in 2014, its gross profits totalled $5.5 billion (Canadian). < p>TransCanada is a buy....
< p>The company will pay $654 million U.S. when it completes the purchase in early 2016. The plant will add $90 million U.S. to $110 million U.S. to TransCanada’s annual gross profits; in 2014, its gross profits totalled $5.5 billion (Canadian). < p>TransCanada is a buy....
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORP. $1.41 (Toronto symbol PGF; Aggressive Growth and Income Portfolios, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 540.7 million; Market cap: $762.4 million; Priceto- sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 2.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.pengrowth.com) continues to sell less important properties and focus on more promising operations like its Lindbergh oil sands project in Alberta.
< p>The company has now agreed to sell its Bodo project in eastern Alberta for $95 million. Including this deal, it has now sold $260 million worth of properties in 2015 and expects to reach its full-year goal of $600 million in asset sales. < p>Pengrowth will use the proceeds to pay down its long-term debt, which stood at $1.9 billion on June 30, 2015. That’s a high 2.5 times its currently depressed market cap....
< p>The company has now agreed to sell its Bodo project in eastern Alberta for $95 million. Including this deal, it has now sold $260 million worth of properties in 2015 and expects to reach its full-year goal of $600 million in asset sales. < p>Pengrowth will use the proceeds to pay down its long-term debt, which stood at $1.9 billion on June 30, 2015. That’s a high 2.5 times its currently depressed market cap....
< p> MANITOBA TELECOM SERVICES INC. $29 (Toronto symbol MBT; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 78.9 million; Market cap: $2.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.4; Dividend yield: 4.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.mtsallstream.com) gets 60% of its revenue from its MTS division, which has 1.3 million telephone, wireless and TV customers in Manitoba. < p>The other 40% comes from Allstream, which sells phone and Internet services to businesses across Canada. < p>As part of a plan to make Allstream more profitable, Manitoba Telecom aims to cut 25% of the subsidiary’s workforce and reduce its capital spending by 20% to 30%. These moves should save $50 million annually by the end of 2016 and make it easier for Manitoba Telecom to sell this business....