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TOYOTA MOTOR CO. ADRs $84 (New York symbol TM; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 1.7 billion; Market cap: $142.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; Dividend yield: 1.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.toyota.com) is the world’s largest carmaker based on sales. Japan is the company’s largest market, accounting for 28% of its revenue, followed by North America (26%), Asia (19%), Europe (9%) and the rest of the world (18%).

Toyota continues to recover from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which cut its production in Japan. In its fiscal 2013 second quarter, which ended September 30, 2012, Toyota sold 2.25 million vehicles, up 24.5% from 1.8 million a year earlier.

The higher car sales pushed up Toyota’s revenue by 32.7%, to $55.2 billion from $41.6 billion a year earlier. Earnings soared 255.7%, to $2.6 billion, or $1.66 per ADR (Each American Depositary Receipt represents two Toyota common shares). A year earlier, it earned $730.9 million, or $0.47 per ADR.

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DUN & BRADSTREET CORP. $76 (New York symbol DNB; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 44.6 million; Market cap: $3.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.0; Dividend yield: 2.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.dnb.com) shot up to around $84 in August 2012 on speculation that the company may sell itself. However, reports that it has stopped looking for a buyer caused the stock to fall to its current price.

Meanwhile, the slow economy is hurting demand for Dun & Bradstreet’s credit reports. In the third quarter of 2012, its revenue fell 6.0%, to $413.2 million from $439.4 million a year earlier. However, savings from a cost-cutting plan pushed up its earnings by 13.4%, to $79.4 million from $70.0 million. Due to fewer shares outstanding, earnings per share rose 23.9%, to $1.76 from $1.42.

Dun & Bradstreet is still a hold.

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D.E. MASTER BLENDERS 1753 N.V. 8.88 euros (Amsterdam Exchange symbol DE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 594.9 million; Market cap: 5.3 billion euros (1 euro = $1.28 Canadian); Price-to-sales ratio:1.9; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.demasterblenders1753.com) makes coffee and tea under a variety of brands, including Senseo, Pickwick and Douwe Egberts.

In its fiscal 2013 first quarter, which ended September 30, 2012, D.E. Master’s sales rose 1.1%, to 626 million euros from 619 million euros a year earlier. D.E. Master raised its prices to offset rising costs for coffee beans. That offset a 2.7% decline in sales volumes. The company did not report earnings.

D.E. Master recently began a restructuring that includes closing a plant in Denmark and outsourcing its accounting and other administrative functions. This should cut 55 million to 75 million euros from its annual costs by 2015.

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HILLSHIRE BRANDS CO. $27 (New York symbol HSH; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 122.3 million; Market cap: $3.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 1.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.hillshirebrands.com) makes a variety of packaged meat products. Its main brands include Ball Park hot dogs, Jimmy Dean sausages and Hillshire Farm deli meats. Its other foods include Sara Lee frozen desserts and Chef Pierre pies.

If you disregard costs related to the breakup and other unusual items, Hillshire would have earned $62 million in its fiscal 2013 first quarter, which ended September 29, 2012. That’s up 65.9% from $38 million a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 59.4%, to $0.51 from $0.32, on more shares outstanding. Sales rose 2.0%, to $1.0 billion from $991 million.

The higher earnings are partly due to savings from plant closures and job cuts. These moves should lower its annual costs by $100 million by the end of fiscal 2015.

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NVIDIA CORP. $12 (Nasdaq symbol NVDA; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 624.9 million; Market cap: $7.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; Dividend yield: 2.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.nvidia .com) is down 20% in the past year. That’s mainly because slowing sales of traditional computers are hurting demand for its graphic chips, which make computer video run more smoothly and appear more lifelike.

Nvidia continues to invest a high 24% of its revenue in research. That’s helping it expand into new areas, particularly chips for mobile devices. Its new Tegra chips now power Google and Microsoft’s new tablet computers.

As the world’s leading make of video chips, Nvidia will also benefit from several long-term trends. These include new video games with faster, more realistic characters and action. Device makers are also upgrading their smartphones and tablets with higher quality displays.

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MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL INC. $25 (Nasdaq symbol MDLZ; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.8 billion; Market cap: $45.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 2.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.mondelezinternational.com) is one the world’s largest snack food makers. The company’s name means “delicious world” in Latin.

Mondelez makes cookies and biscuits (Oreo, Chips Ahoy, Ritz), chocolate bars (Cadbury, Toblerone) and gum and candy (Trident Chiclets, Halls cough drops). It also makes beverages, including coffee (Tassimo) and powdered fruit drinks (Tang), as well as grocery and cheese products for markets outside North America. Cookies and biscuits account for 30% of Mondelez’s sales, followed by chocolate (27%), beverages (17%), gum and candy (16%) and grocery products (10%). It gets 44% of its sales from developing markets, 37% from Europe and 19% from North America.

Mondelez is now restructuring its operations, including shutting down less-profitable plants and sales offices. Severance and other costs will total $925 million. The company also expects to pay $150 million in expenses related to the breakup from Kraft.

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CAE INC. (Toronto symbol CAE; www.cae.com) is the world’s leading maker of flight simulators for commercial airlines, with 70% of the market. It also makes simulators for military clients. The company began training pilots for its customers in 2001; it now has over 100 flight schools in 30 countries. CAE gets 50% of its revenue from military clients. That cuts its exposure to cyclical commercial airlines, which supply 45% of its revenue....

Even when stock markets are in an upward trend, they are still subject to sharp setbacks, such as the one triggered by the re-election of Barack Obama as president last week. Many investors seek to protect their profits against such reverses though the use of stop-loss orders. Before you try this approach, you should keep in mind that stop-loss orders have a number of risks that can cost you money. Here’s a look at this investing strategy, and some of the dangers you may be exposed to with stop-loss orders....

Pat McKeough responds to many personal questions about specific stocks and other investment topics from the members of his Inner Circle. Every week, his comments and recommendations on the most intriguing questions of the past week go out to all Inner Circle members. And each week, we offer you one of the highlights from these Q&A sessions. While we reserve our buy-hold-sell advice for Inner Circle members, these excerpts provide a great deal of information and analysis on stocks we’ve covered for the Inner Circle. This week, one question from an Inner Circle member concerned a fund that holds gold stocks. The fund’s high distributions give it a substantial dividend yield. Pat examines whether it can sustain its yield and also looks at its policy of using call options to boost returns....

TEMPUR-PEDIC $24.77 (New York symbol TPX; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (800-878-8889; www.tempurpedic.com; Shares outstanding: 59.6 million; Market cap: $1.5 billion; No dividends paid) makes and distributes Swedish mattresses and neck pillows made from its proprietary Tempur material, which conforms to the body to provide support and help alleviate pressure points.

Tempur-Pedic’s shares are down 69.7% since they hit an all-time high of $87.43 in April 2012. Competitors have introduced many new products and supported them with aggressive promotions. That has steadily pushed down Tempur-Pedic’s results.

In the three months ended September 30, 2012, revenue fell 9.2%, to $347.9 million from $383.1 million a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, earnings per share fell 22.2%, to $0.70 from $0.90.

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INTUITIVE SURGICAL $526.46 (Nasdaq symbol ISRG; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (515-507-5000; www.intuitivesurgical.com; Shares outstanding: 39.8 million; Market cap: $21.0 billion; No dividends paid) makes the da Vinci, a computerized surgical system.

Guided by a miniature camera connected to a 3-D monitor, surgeons use the da Vinci to operate by remotely manipulating tiny robotic arms. This process is safer and much less invasive than regular surgery, and helps cut a patient’s recovery time and post-operative discomfort. It also reduces scarring and infection risk.

In the three months ended September 30, 2012, Intuitive earned $183.3 million, or $4.59 a share. That’s up sharply from $122.4 million, or $3.13 a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 20.4%, to $537.8 million from $446.7 million. Intuitive is debt-free, and holds cash of $2.7 billion, or $67.67 a share.

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FORTRESS PAPER $7.00 (Toronto symbol FTP; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (1-888- 820-3888; www.fortresspaper.com; Shares outstanding: 14.5 million; Market cap: $101.5 million; No dividends paid) lost $18.1 million, or $1.26 a share, in the three months ended September 30, 2012. A year earlier, it lost $7.7 million, or $0.54. Cash flow was negative $9.5 million, or $0.66 a share, in the latest quarter, compared to negative $3.7 million, or $0.26 a share.

The company’s Dresden wallpaperproducts plant is profitable, but the Landqart security-paper operation is losing money because of the high Swiss franc. Increased competition is also making it difficult for Fortress to attract customers. As well, the Thurso dissolving pulp plant is having startup problems, and rising global production has pushed down selling prices sharply.

Fortress holds cash of $83.8 million or $5.88 a share, but its long-term debt of $245 million is a very high 241% of its $101.5- million market cap. That’s a big risk factor, especially in a company that’s reporting negative cash flow.

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TIM HORTONS $45.75 (Toronto symbol THI; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (905-845-6511; www.timhortons.com; Shares outstanding: 154.4 million; Market cap: $7.1 billion; Dividend yield: 1.8%) operates 3,365 coffee and donut stores in Canada and 755 in the U.S. It also has 16 outlets in the Persian Gulf.

New menu items, such as lattes and panini sandwiches, are selling well. In addition, the company now offers free Wi-Fi Internet at its Canadian outlets. That’s helping it compete with fast-food chains like McDonald’s, which is aggressively expanding its coffee sales in Canada. Sales of Tim Hortons singleserve cups for Tassimo coffee machines are also rising.

These factors pushed up Tim Hortons sales by 10.3% in the three months ended September 30, 2012, to $802.0 million from $726.9 million a year earlier. Same-store sales rose 2.3% at its U.S. outlets and 1.9% in Canada. Earnings per share rose 4.6%, to $0.68 from $0.65.
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SYMANTEC CORP. $17.53 (Nasdaq symbol SYMC; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (1-408-517-8000; www.symantec.com; Shares outstanding: 693.9 million; Market cap: $12.2 billion; No dividends paid) sells computer-security technology, including anti-virus and email-filtering software, to businesses and consumers.

In the company’s 2013 second quarter, which ended September 28, 2012, its earnings per share rose 15.4%, to $0.45 from $0.39. Revenue rose 1.1%, to $1.70 billion from $1.68 billion.

Symantec is selling more of its products to businesses, partly because it is now offering its salespeople higher incentives for bringing in new contracts than for renewals.
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ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK $36.75 (Nasdaq symbol ATNI; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (340- 777-8000; www.atni.com; Shares outstanding: 15.6 million; Market cap: $573.3 million; Yield: 2.7%) reported strong earnings in the latest quarter, even though revenue declined.

In the three months ended September 30, 2012, Atlantic’s revenue fell 2.9%, to $188.8 million from $194.3 million a year earlier. However, earnings jumped 40.8%, to $16.0 million, or $1.03 a share, from $11.3 million, or $0.74 a share.

The company stands to make further gains as it sells more smartphones, which generate higher fees than regular cellphones. As well, it is upgrading its wireless networks to 4G long-term evolution (LTE) standards. LTE is up to five times faster than current networks, and should help it attract new subscribers.
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AIMIA INC. $14.80 (Toronto symbol AIM; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (514-205-7315; www.aimia.com; Shares outstanding: 172.3 million; Market cap: $2.6 billion; Dividend yield: 4.3%) has agreed to raise its stake in Club Premier Loyalty & Marketing, the loyalty program of Grupo Aeromexico, Mexico’s biggest airline. This move is part of Aimia’s plan to diversify its operations geographically.

Aimia will pay $88 million U.S. to increase its interest to 49% from 29%. Grupo Aeromexico will continue to own 51%.

Club Premier is Mexico’s leading loyalty program, with more than 2.8 million members and 50 partners. Club Premier members can earn and redeem points on Aeromexico, which offers 550 daily flights throughout the Americas and to Europe and Asia. As well, members can earn points on 14 other airlines, including Delta and Air France-KLM.

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ALARMFORCE INDUSTRIES $11.23 (Toronto symbol AF TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (1-800- 267-2001; www.alarmforce.com; Shares outstanding: 12.2 million; Market cap: $137.0 million; Dividend yield: 0.9%) sells twoway voice alarm systems and monitoring services in Canada and increasingly in the U.S. It’s also adding to its prospects with its VideoRelay system, which it launched in October 2011.

In the three months ended July 31, 2012, Alarm- Force’s sales rose 10.9%, to $11.4 million from $10.3 million a year earlier. Even so, AlarmForce lost $6,589, or nil per share, compared to a profit of $831,342, or $0.07.

AlarmForce’s earnings fell because it increased its advertising spending as it expanded into Florida. It also invested more in its VideoRelay system, which lets subscribers watch their homes through their computers and smartphones. Users can either view live video or receive alerts when the system detects motion. VideoRelay also lets you establish two-way voice communication through the camera.

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STANTEC INC. $36.68 (Toronto symbol STN; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (780-917-7288; www.stantec.com; Shares outstanding: 45.9 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion; Dividend yield: 1.6%) sells a range of consulting, project delivery, design and technology services. Stantec’s clients operate in a variety of industries, including transportation, construction and oil and gas.

In the three months ended September 30, 2012, Stantec’s revenue rose 12.4%, to $483.7 million from $430.4 million a year earlier. Acquisitions were one reason for the gains. Stantec is also working on several new projects. Earnings rose 17.9%, to $34.1 million, or $0.74 a share, from $28.9 million, or $0.63.

Stantec continues to grow by acquisition. In 2011, it bought five companies. Its purchases this year include engineering-consulting firm Cimarron Engineering, which develops, designs, installs and maintains oil and gas pipeline systems and station facilities. Demand for these services is growing quickly.

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WESTJET AIRLINES $18.55 (Toronto symbol WJA; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (1- 877-493-7853; www.westjet.com; Shares outstanding: 126.9 million; Market cap: $2.4 billion; Dividend yield: 1.7%) reports that its revenue rose 11.8% in the three months ended September 30, 2012, to $866.5 million from $775.3 million a year earlier.

Earnings jumped 79.9%, to $70.6 million from $39.3 million. That’s a new record for the second quarter. The higher revenue pushed up the company’s earnings.

WestJet aims to start up its new shorthaul Canadian regional airline, which it has now named WestJet Encore, by the end of 2013. Encore will serve smaller centres with Bombardier turboprop planes.

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FIRSTSERVICE CORP. $28.69 (Toronto symbol FSV; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (416-960-9500; www.firstservice.com; Shares outstanding: 28.7 million; Market cap: $823.4 million; No dividends paid) provides services to the real estate industry. It sells and manages commercial real estate, manages residential buildings such as condos and rental apartments and provides property services like inspections, maintenance and repairs.

The company’s revenue rose slightly in the three months ended September 30, 2012, to $589.8 million from $585.4 million a year earlier (all figures except share price in U.S. dollars). Excluding one-time items, earnings per share fell 1.6%, to $0.60 from $0.61.

Revenue rose at two of FirstService’s three divisions: commercial real estate (up 17%) and residential property management (up 9%).

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REITMANS (CANADA) LTD. $11.98 (Toronto symbol RET.A; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (514- 384-1140; www.reitmans.com; Shares outstanding: 65.5 million; Market cap: $784.7 million; Dividend yield: 6.7%) owns 918 women’s clothing stores across Canada.

The chain consists of 360 Reitmans, 154 Penningtons, 152 Smart Set, 110 Addition Elle, 74 Thyme Maternity and 68 RW & Co. stores.

In the three months ended July 28, 2012, Reitmans earned $27.4 million, or $0.42 a share. That was down 12.5% from $31.7 million, or $0.48 a share, a year earlier. Revenue was down 2.2%, to $279.5 million from $286.1 million. Same-store sales declined 1.3%.

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IAMGOLD $11.98 (Toronto symbol IMG; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (1-888-464- 9999; www.iamgold.com; Shares outstanding: 376.5 million; Market cap: $4.5 billion; Dividend yield: 2.1%) fell 23% after it reported cash flow of $0.30 a share in the three months ended September 30, 2012. That was down sharply from $0.46 a share a year earlier.

Gold prices remained steady, but production fell 7.7%, to 205,000 ounces from 225,000 ounces. IAMGold gets 85% of its production from mines it owns and operates, but output continues to lag at its other mines.

IAMGold’s longer-term prospects are strong—new mines will double its production within five years. It also holds cash of $1.1 billion. However, its short-term growth prospects have slowed.

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DUNDEE REIT $34.37 (Toronto symbol D.UN; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (416-365-3535; www.dundeereit.com; Shares outstanding: 97.0 million; Market cap: $3.3 billion; Dividend yield: 6.4%) owns and manages 22.9 million square feet of office and retail space. The trust has a 95.1% occupancy rate.

In the three months ended September 30, 2012, Dundee REIT’s revenue jumped 71.6%, to $187.3 million from $109.2 million a year earlier. Most of the increase came from properties the trust recently purchased.

Cash flow jumped 67.5%, to $61.3 million from $36.6 million. Cash flow per unit rose 5.2%, to $0.61 from $0.58, on more units outstanding (the trust issued new units to pay for the acquired properties). The units yield 6.4%.

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CHEMTRADE LOGISTICS INCOME FUND $15.49 (Toronto symbol CHE.UN; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (416-496-5856; www.chemtradelogistics. com; Units outstanding: 41.7 million; Market cap: $645.9 million; Dividend yield: 7.8%) is one of North America’s largest providers of removal services for resource firms, such as oil refineries and base-metal processors. These companies create sulphur, acid and other by-products as part of their activities. Chemtrade converts these substances into useful chemicals, like sulphuric acid.

In June 2011, Chemtrade bought Marsulex Inc. for $419.5 million. Marsulex provides a range of environmental services, including improving air quality and treating and handling industrial waste.

In the three months ended September 30, 2012, Chemtrade’s revenue fell 10.3%, to $240.9 million from $268.5 million a year earlier. Cash flow per unit fell 25.0%, to $0.72 from $0.96. However, the decline was mostly due to a one-time accounting charge. The 2011 quarter was also particularly strong.

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DELPHI ENERGY $1.16 (Toronto symbol DEE; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (403- 265-6171; www.delphienergy.ca; Shares outstanding: 131.2 million; Market cap: $152.2 million; No dividends paid) has raised $33 million in two share issues: the company sold 17.2 million shares at $1.45 each and 4.6 million shares for $1.75 each.

The company produces and explores for oil (about 75% of production) and natural gas (25% of production).

Delphi plans to use the proceeds from the share issues to pay down debt. As of June 30, 2012, its long-term debt was $134.4 million. That’s a high 88% of its $152.2-million market cap (or the value of all of its outstanding shares). However, that mainly reflects the drop in the company’s share price due to lower natural gas prices.

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