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TD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FUND $13.49 (CWA Rating: Aggressive) (TD Asset Management, P.O. Box 7500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario. M5W1P9. 1-800-386-375 7; Web site: www.tdcanadatrust.com. No load — deal directly with TD) invests mostly in U.S. firms engaged in the research, development and production of products or services related to science and technology. TD Science & Technology’s top holdings include: Microsoft Corporation, Google, Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, American Tower, Qualcomm, IBM, Corning Inc., Nintendo Co., Oracle Corp., Samsung Electronics, Nokia, Intel and Apple Inc. The fund’s loss in Canadian dollars over the last year was 15.8%. The Nasdaq index lost 16.1% in Canadian funds. The $90.5 million fund’s manager is well-respected U.S. mutual fund manager T. Rowe Price Associates. Its MER is 2.70%....

ALTAMIRA SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FUND $8.13 (CWA Rating: Aggressive) (Altamira Investment Services, The Exchange Tower, 130 King St. West, Suite 900, Toronto, Ont. M5X 1K9. 1-800-263-2824; Web site: www.altamira.com. No load — deal directly with the company) invests in the telecommunications, biotechnology, environmental technology, health care and computer industries. Top holdings are Apple, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Nokia, Intel, Microchip Technology, Google, Research in Motion and Cisco Systems. The $52.5 million fund lost 7.2% in Canadian dollars over the last year. The Nasdaq index lost 16.1% in Canadian funds. The fund’s MER is 2.70%....

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA $47.82 (Toronto symbol BNS: SI Rating: Above average) is the second-largest of Canada’s five big banks, with assets of $449.4 billion. It has 1,000 branches in Canada. In the three months ended January 31, 2008, Bank of Nova Scotia earned $835 million or $0.82 a share, down 18.1% from $1.02 billion or $1.01 a share a year earlier. The latest earnings included $238 million in pre-tax writedowns and other charges. Without those charges, the bank would have earned about $1.00 a share. Revenue fell 9.7%, to $2.8 billion from $3.1 billion. The bank’s shares currently yield 3.8%. Bank of Nova Scotia has among the lowest remaining exposure to writedowns of asset-backed securities among Canadian banks. Future writedowns are likely to be minimal. Lower interest rates should spur demand for new loans. The bank is also doing a good job controlling non-interest costs....

SUN LIFE FINANCIAL $48.69 (Toronto symbol SLF; SI Rating: Above-average) offers savings, retirement, pension and life and health insurance products and services to individuals and corporations. The company has assets under administration of $425.3 billion....

GREAT-WEST LIFECO $31.29 (Toronto symbol GWO; SI Rating: Above-average) is a leading Canadian insurance company. As well, it provides wealth management and other financial services. Great-West also operates in the U.S. and Europe. The 2007 purchase of Putnam Investments Trust for $3.9 billion doubled its assets under administration, to $394 billion....

MANULIFE FINANCIAL $39.37 (Toronto symbol MFC; SI Rating: Above-average) sells life and other forms of insurance, as well as mutual funds and investment management services. It operates in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Manulife has assets under administration of $396.3 billion....

AT&T INC. $39 (New York symbol T; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 6.0 billion; Market cap: $234.0 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) provides traditional local and long-distance services to over 61 million customers in 22 states. It also has 70 million wireless subscribers nationwide, and 14.2 million high-speed Internet customers. AT&T recently paid $6.6 billion for 700-MHz wireless spectrum licenses in a government auction. That’s equal to 39% of the $17.0 billion or $2.76 a share it earned in 2007. These airwaves can travel longer distances and penetrate thicker walls than regular 1,900-MHz cellular frequencies. That means AT&T needs fewer towers to cover the same area. The new spectrum will help the company take advantage of growing consumer and business demand for faster wireless downloads. New wireless services should generate higher profits for AT&T than regular voice calls....

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. $36 (New York symbol VZ; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 2.9 billion; Market cap: $104.4 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) has over 140 million traditional phone customers in 28 states. It also has 59 million wireless service customers in 50 states. Subsidiary Verizon Wireless paid $9.4 billion for its 700-MHz spectrum licenses. Verizon owns 55% of this business, so its share of the purchase works out to $5.2 billion. That’s equal to 75% of its 2007 earnings of $6.9 billion or $2.37 a share. Verizon is starting to enjoy the benefits of its FiOS (Fiber-Optic Service) project, which gives customers a bundle of TV signals and other services. FiOS now has over one million subscribers, which makes it the 10th-largest cable provider in the United States....

MTS SYSTEMS CORP. $32 (Nasdaq symbol MTSC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 17.5 million; Market cap: $560.0 million; WSSF Rating: Average) makes equipment and software that carmakers and other manufacturers use to test the mechanical behavior of materials, machines and structures. This helps them reduce production errors and costs. Testing systems provide 80% of MTS’s revenue. The company also makes sensors that improve the performance of automated industrial machinery. MTS operates in a narrow field and gets most of its revenue from customers in cyclical industries, such as automotive and aerospace. That makes it riskier than Genuine Parts and Snap-On. MTS spends around 5% of its revenue of $24 a share on research. That helps it maintain its leading share of its niche markets. Overseas markets also supply two-thirds of its revenue, which cuts its exposure to the struggling North American auto industry....

GENUINE PARTS CO. $42 (New York symbol GPC; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 165.3 million: Market cap: $6.9 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) distributes automotive replacement parts to over 4,800 independent outlets in North America. It also operates 1,100 retail stores under the NAPA banner. Automotive parts supply nearly half of its revenue and earnings. Genuine Parts also distributes industrial replacement parts (30% of revenue), office products (15%) and electrical equipment and supplies (5%). Most of Genuine Parts’ recent growth has come from its industrial and electrical businesses. Many North American plant operators are investing in automated production equipment, which helps cut their operating costs. Expanding sales at these businesses also help cut Genuine Parts reliance on auto parts for growth....

SNAP-ON INC. $55 (New York symbol SNA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 57.6 million; Market cap: $3.2 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) makes hand and power tools for auto mechanics. The company distributes its products through a fleet of franchised vans that visit garages and service shops. This way, dealers can build long-term relationships with their customers. This business supplies 35% of Snap-On’s total revenue. The company also makes tools and equipment for non-automotive customers, including the construction, electrical and agricultural industries (40% of revenue). Most of the remaining 25% of Snap-On’s revenue comes from computerized diagnostic equipment and software. This business includes Snap-On’s 2006 acquisition of the Business Solutions division of ProQuest Co., which helps car dealers electronically access information about auto parts, warranties and service bulletins. These services help over 35,000 car dealers improve their billing and inventory management systems....

BECKMAN COULTER INC. $64 (New York symbol BEC; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 62.7 million; market cap: $4.0 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) makes lab equipment that doctors and medical researchers use to detect substances in bodily fluids. The company sells most of its products to big hospitals and research laboratories. It has now installed more than 200,000 of its systems in over 130 countries. Beckman’s products aim to simplify and speed up complex tests. In fact, some of these systems can process over 1,400 chemical tests an hour. More timely and accurate information leads to faster treatment and can reduce a patient’s hospital stay....

CHEVRON CORP. $94 (New York symbol CVX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 2.1 billion; Market cap: $197.4 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) has gained just 24% since January 2008. Oil is up 40% since then. In general, oil stocks have lagged because oil prices rise or fall in response to short-term changes in oil supply or demand, which can reverse overnight. Despite the recent gains, a slowing U.S. economy could spur a large drop in oil prices. We recommend conservative investors stick to industry leaders like Chevron. Its wide sources of revenue (production, refining and retail gas stations) helps shield it from volatile oil prices....

WYNDHAM WORLDWIDE $19.91 (New York symbol WYN; SI Rating: Extra risk) (973-753-6000; www.wyndhamworldwide.com; Shares outstanding: 177.0 million; Market cap: $3.5 billion) is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies. Wyndham Hotel Group has almost 6,540 franchised hotels and almost 550,600 hotel rooms worldwide. Wyndham’s RCI Global Vacation Network has 3.6 million members who have exchange access to over 67,000 vacation properties located in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its network of approximately 145 vacation ownership resorts serving over 800,000 owners in North America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. The company keeps reporting increased revenues and earnings, despite higher fuel prices and lower consumer confidence in the wake of the housing market slowdown. In the three months ended December 31, 2007, revenues rose 6.4%, to $1.03 billion from $970 million a year earlier. Earnings rose 13%, to $104 million from $92 million. Earnings per share rose 22.9%, to $0.59 from $0.48, on 7.8%fewer shares outstanding....

NOVA CHEMICALS CORP. $24 (Toronto symbol NCX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 83.1 million; Market cap: $2.0 billion; SI Rating: Extra risk) makes industrial plastics that manufacturers use to make a wide variety of products including auto parts, construction materials and packaging. Nova’s plant in Joffe, Alberta is the world’s largest producer of ethylene and polyethylene, and benefits from its proximity to Alberta’s large oil and gas reserves. The stock peaked at $43.70 in July 2007, but has dropped since due to fears that a slowing economy in the United States would hurt demand for its products. The U.S. accounts for roughly 45% of sales. Nova’s cyclical operations and exposure to volatile oil and gas prices adds risk. However, last year’s merger of its money-losing foam cup operations into a 50:50 joint venture cuts its costs....

AGRIUM INC. $72 (Toronto symbol AGU; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 158.0 million; Market cap: $11.4 billion; SI Rating: Average) is a leading producer of fertilizers and crop protection products. The company uses natural gas to make ammonia, the basic ingredient in fertilizers. Most of Agrium’s facilities are near large gas suppliers in Alberta, which helps keep its input costs down. Agrium will soon close its fertilizer plant in Kenai, Alaska, since it couldn’t find a reliable source of natural gas for the plant. The company looked into a plan to convert coal to natural gas. However, Agrium feels the project’s $2 billion U.S. cost is too expensive. It earned $3.25 U.S. a share (total $441 million U.S.) in 2007. Requests for more information from U.S. competition regulators have delayed Agrium’s planned $2.7 billion U.S. takeover of U.S.-based agricultural products distributor UAP Holding Corp. The addition of UAP will make Agrium the biggest agriculture retailer in North America. Selling seeds and other products to farmers also gives Agrium steadier revenue streams than bulk fertilizer sales....

GENNUM CORP. $9.05 (Toronto symbol GND; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 35.6 million; Market cap: $322.2 million; SI Rating: Above average) makes equipment that lets broadcasters store, manipulate and transport video signals without losing picture quality. This business accounts for 75% of Gennum’s total revenue. The company also makes chips for computer networks. Gennum recently completed a major realignment of its operations. It sold its slow-growing hearing aid and headset businesses, as well as part of its video chip operations. The company used the proceeds of around $25 million U.S. to finance its $25.3 million U.S. purchase of privately held Snowbush Microelectronics, a Toronto-based developer of technologies that help chip-makers improve the speed and reliability of data transmissions inside computers and other electronic devices. Snowbush’s expertise will help Gennum design better high-speed data and video chips....

NORTEL NETWORKS CORP. $7.26 (Toronto symbol NT; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 437.2 million; Market cap: $3.2 billion; SI Rating: Speculative) is one of the world’s largest makers of telecommunications equipment. The company sells its products mainly to telephone companies, cable TV operators and large organizations. The telecom industry is highly competitive, and recent mergers among telecom equipment suppliers have driven down prices. The slowing economy has also prompted telephone companies and corporations to maintain their current networks instead of investing in new equipment. In 2007, Nortel lost $957 million or $1.98 a share (all amounts except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). That figure included a $1.1 billion (pre-tax) non-cash writedown of a deferred tax asset. Excluding all one-time items, Nortel earned $0.37 a share in 2007. The company earned $28 million or $0.06 a share in 2006....

CGI GROUP INC. $12 (Toronto symbol GIB.A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 323.6 million; Market cap: $3.9 billion; SI Rating: Speculative) is one of the largest independent information technology and business process services firms in North America. CGI provides day-to-day maintenance and improvement for clients’ business applications, and integrates and customizes technologies and software applications. The company also manages back-office business processes and transactions. North America accounts for over 90% of its revenue. CGI is a former subsidiary of BCE Inc., and BCE is its largest client at roughly 14% of total revenue....

SAPUTO INC. $29 (Toronto symbol SAP; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 205.8 million; Market cap: $6.0 billion; SI Rating: Average) is Canada’s largest producer of dairy products. It accounts for around 35% of Canada’s cheese production, and 25% of milk output. Major brands include Saputo, Armstrong, Stella and Dairyland. Canada supplies 60% of its total sales. The company is also one of the top five cheese producers in the United States, with roughly 5% of that market. Saputo’s U.S. businesses account for 30% of its sales. The remaining 10% of its sales come from dairy operations in the UK, Germany and Argentina. Heavy regulation limits expansion opportunities in Canada, so Saputo has focused on expanding its U.S. and international operations through acquisitions. That’s riskier than internal growth, but Saputo has a strong history of identifying operations that can benefit from its economies of scale and marketing expertise. The high Canadian dollar also makes foreign purchases more affordable....

MAPLE LEAF FOODS $13 (Toronto symbol MFI; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 127.0 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion; SI Rating: Average) owns 88% of Canada Bread Company. This investment accounts for 91% of its market value....

TORSTAR CORP. $17 (Toronto symbol TS.B; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 78.7 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion; SI Rating: Above average) gets 70% of its earnings from newspapers. This includes The Toronto Star, the biggest daily paper in Canada, and a top choice for advertisers. Torstar has expanded its Internet properties in the past few years, which helps cut its exposure to declining newspaper circulation. Torstar’s $0.74 a share dividend (4.4% yield) seems secure. The company could also unlock some of its value by spinning off its Harlequin book publishing subsidiary....

TEMPLETON EMERGING MARKETS FUND $20.55 (New York symbol EMF; CWA Fund Rating: Speculative) is a closed-end fund that invests in equities from emerging economies. The fund’s manager is Franklin Templeton. Templeton Emerging Market Fund provides broad geographic diversification. Although volatile, it provides access to fast-growing economies such as Brazil, China, India and others. The $418.1 million fund’s regional allocation is Asia (58.9%), Europe (17.2%) and Latin America (23.9%)....

NEW GERMANY FUND $15.92 (New York symbol GF; CWA Fund Rating: Speculative) is a closed-end fund that invests mostly in middle-market (small and mid-cap) German equities. The fund’s manager is Deutsche Asset Management. The $451 million fund’s 50 holdings are currently in Germany (93%) and the Netherlands (6%). The New Germany Fund’s focus on mid-tier German stocks provides investors with access to some of Germany’s fastest-growing companies. The New Germany Fund’s top holdings are K+S (chemicals), 6.9%; Fresenius (health care equipment & supplies), 5.6%; Q-Cells (solar cell manufacturing), 5.3%; European Aeronautical Defense (Dutchbased aerospace and defense), 4.7%; SGL Carbon (electrical equipment), 3.8%; GEA Group (chemicals), 3.7%; Solarworld (solar power manufacturing), 3.4%; IVG Immobilien (real estate), 3.2%; United Internet (Internet service provider), 3.1%; and Software (software), 3.0%....

KOREA FUND $24.05 (New York symbol KF; CWA Fund Rating: Speculative) is a closed-end fund that invests at least 80% of its assets in Korean equities. Currently, 99% of its assets are in South Korean stocks. The fund’s manager is RCM Asia Pacific. The fund’s top holdings are Samsung Electronics at 7.3%; Posco (steel), 7.0%; Hyundai Heavy Industries (shipbuilding), 6.6%; Shinhan Financial, 4.3%; GS Engineering and Construction, 3.4%; Shinsegae Co. Ltd. (investment and credit research), 3.3%; NHN Corporation (online media & web sites), 3.1%; Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine, 3.1%; KT&G Corporation (cigarette maker), 3.0%; and LG Corporation (conglomerate), 2.9%. The industry exposure of the 38 stocks in the fund’s $832 million portfolio is as follows: Industrials, 37%; Financials, 16%; Information technology, 14%; Materials, 10%; Consumer staples, 6%; and Consumer discretionary, 5%....