Latest Stock Advice
Long-time favourite TC Energy Inc. yields 3.9% and generates stable cash flows from almost 94,000 kilometres of natural gas pipelines plus large-scale gas storage and power generation assets.
Stantec Inc. boosts its growth prospects with savvy acquisitions
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
Become a Successful Investor
Aiming for dividend capture strategy returns may look like a simple way to make money. But there are risks you need to watch out for
Some investors think that short-term stock trading will lead them to quick profits, but the opposite is more often true.
H&R REIT $22.20 (Toronto symbol HR.UN; Units outstanding: 276.5 million; Market cap: $6.2 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; Dividend yield: 6.1%; www.hr-reit.com) owns or has stakes in 506 office buildings, industrial properties and shopping malls in Canada and the U.S. In all, these holdings include 46.1 million square feet of leasable space.

In December 2014, the REIT sold part ownership of 101 industrial properties, or a total of 19.5 million square feet, in Canada and the U.S. for $731 million. The buyers included the Canadian Public Sector Pension Investment Board.

H&R has kept a 50% interest in the Canadian properties and a 49.5% stake in the U.S. portfolio. It continues to manage these assets and receives fees for doing so. The trust also held on to full ownership of 14 other industrial properties.

...
CANADIAN REIT $41.55 (Toronto symbol REF.UN; Units outstanding: 72.8 million; Market cap: $3.1 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; Dividend yield: 4.3%; www.creit.ca) owns 198 properties, including retail, industrial and office buildings, across Canada and in Chicago. These holdings contain 24.9 million square feet of leasable area. The trust’s occupancy rate is 94.7%.

In the three months ended June 30, 2015, Canadian REIT’s revenue rose 5.5%, to $111.5 million from $105.7 million a year earlier. Cash flow per unit gained 2.7%, to $0.76 from $0.74.

Canadian REIT generally aims to grow by developing its own properties rather than through large acquisitions. Over the next few years, it’s spending $660 million to add about 3.1 million square feet of space. To cut its risk, the trust takes on partners to help it carry out big projects.

...
TORSTAR $4.45 (Toronto symbol TS.B; Shares outstanding: 79.9 million; Market cap: $351.4 million; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 11.8%; 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.

The online forums attract 80 million unique visitors and 500 million page views per month. Much of VerticalScope’s website traffic comes from the U.S.

This purchase should help Torstar offset slowing advertising revenue at its newspapers as advertisers shift their spending to the Internet.

...
MANITOBA TELECOM $28.80 (Toronto symbol MBT; Shares outstanding: 78.9 million; Market cap: $2.3 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 4.5%; www.mts.ca) gets 60% of its revenue from its MTS division, which has 1.3 million TV, telephone and wireless users in Manitoba. The other 40% comes from Allstream, which sells phone and Internet services to businesses across Canada.

In May 2015, the company completed a strategic review of its operations. As a result, it now plans to cut 25% of Allstream’s workforce and reduce the subsidiary’s capital spending by 20% to 30% in 2015. These moves should save Manitoba Telecom $50 million annually by the end of 2016.

In addition, the company will contribute $120 million to its underfunded employees’ pension plan, eliminating the need for additional payments over the next two years. It has also cut its dividend by 23.5%: the new annual rate of $1.30 a share yields 4.5%.

...