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Baxter International Inc. has been under pressure from a skeptical market as it continues its turnaround strategy.
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.
Signet Jewelers Ltd. is still subject to changes in consumer confidence, but it’s making smart moves to spur growth
Activist investors are circling: uncover dividend-paying companies with resilient payouts and strong fundamentals from TSI’s latest Globe and Mail feature.
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TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, $52.91, Toronto symbol TD, reported that its earnings rose 5.4% in its fiscal 2015 third quarter, which ended July 31, 2015, to $2.3 billion from $2.2 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share rose at a slower rate of 4.3%, to $1.20 from $1.15, on more shares outstanding. These figures exclude several unusual items, such as investment gains and a recovery of costs related to a lawsuit settlement. On that basis, the latest earnings beat the consensus estimate of $1.18. Earnings at the Canadian banking division (63% of the total) rose 7.9%, thanks to strong loan demand and gains from its wealth-management and insurance businesses. The U.S. banking division’s earnings (27%) jumped 16.5%, largely because the low Canadian dollar enhanced this business’s profits. The wholesale banking division (10%) saw its earnings rise 10.6% on higher trading volumes, stronger demand for corporate loans and higher advisory fees on mergers and acquisitions....
3M has made a number of acquisitions in the past few years. Expanding this way is riskier than internal growth, as the buyer of something rarely knows as much about it as the seller. Hidden problems can lead to big writedowns, as Microsoft found out with its recent purchase of Nokia’s mobile phone operations (see page 88). However, 3M’s recent purchases of companies that make medical supplies and safety equipment help offset the cyclical nature of its main businesses. Moreover, 3M is a leader in most of its markets. That means it can charge higher prices, particularly for new products that face little competition. 3M COMPANY $143 (New York symbol MMM; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 624.8 million; Market cap: $89.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.8; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.3m.com) started up in 1902, when it was called the Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company....
MONSANTO CO. $97 (New York symbol MON, Aggressive Growth Portfolio; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 467.8 million; Market cap: $45.4 billion; Price-tosales ratio: 2.7; Dividend yield: 2.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.monsanto.com) has dropped its takeover offer for Switzerland-based rival Syngenta AG, the world’s largest maker of pesticides, herbicides and other agricultural chemicals. A merger would have let Monsanto and Syngenta jointly develop new genetically modified seeds for corn, soybeans and other crops. Syngenta’s expertise would also improve Monsanto’s pesticide products. In addition, the new firm could cut costs and improve its efficiency by combining distribution networks. Monsanto recently increased its bid by 5%, to $47 billion in cash and shares....
Spinoffs are a great way for companies to unlock hidden value, as the former parent and newly independent firm tend to outperform groups of comparable stocks for several years. But in the cases of Agilent and NCR, we prefer the parent companies to their former subsidiaries for new buying. AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. $36 (New York symbol A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 332.0 million; Market cap: $12.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.6; Dividend yield: 1.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.agilent.com) split into two publicly traded firms on November 1, 2014. One company kept the Agilent name and stock symbol and focuses on testing equipment for medical research labs. The other firm, called Keysight Technologies (see right), makes testing systems for electronics....