acquisition

MICROSOFT CORP., $296.03, Nasdaq symbol MSFT, is a buy.

The company is the world’s largest software provider. Its Windows operating system powers about 85% of the world’s personal computers.

Microsoft has now agreed to buy Activision Blizzard Inc....

SHOPIFY INC., $1,110.40, is still a buy. The company (symbol SHOP on Toronto) offers merchants of all sizes Internet-based software to design, set up and manage e-commerce stores across multiple sales channels. The company also partners with others to handle digital payments and shipping.

Shopify announced this week a strategic cooperation agreement with JD.com Inc., China’s biggest online retailer....

First, the good news: widening cannabis legalization will eventually lead to some great business successes. The bad news is that only a few of the multitude of cannabis stocks today will pay off for investors. Consumer cannabis demand is high, but growing and distributing it across multiple markets is more difficult....

Twilio benefited from increased demand during the pandemic. But its business model and leading-edge technology also set it up for longer-term success. We recommend this stock as a Power Buy.


TWILIO INC., $203.69, is a buy. The company (Nasdaq symbol TWLO; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (www.twilio.com; Shares outstanding: 168.4 million; Market cap: $37.0 billion; No dividends paid) offers a key service to software developers who create mobile apps....

Twilio Inc. lifted revenues 65.2% and subscriber numbers 15.4% in its most recent quarter as it continues growing with acquisitions and R&D spending.

Here’s the text of my latest letter to our Portfolio Management clients, sent in October 2021:

“You may be surprised to learn that the percentage of Americans who own stocks has been going down for some time.

The Gallup organization carries out an annual Economy and Personal finance survey....

FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS INC., $427.11, symbol FDS on New York, is a leading provider of financial data and portfolio analytics to investment firms worldwide.

On December 27, 2021, FactSet announced that it would acquire CUSIP Global Services for $1.93 billion in cash....

NUTRIEN LTD., $90.31, Toronto symbol NTR, remains a buy.

The company is the world’s largest producer of agricultural fertilizers. It took its current form on January 1, 2018, when Agrium Inc. (old symbol AGU) merged with rival Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (old symbol POT).

Potash Corp....

Bank of Montreal just announced the biggest acquisition in its 205-year history. While expanding by acquisition makes us wary, this purchase strengthens the banking giant’s U.S. retail operations and should spur its earnings for years to come. That will give the bank more room to reward investors, particularly now that Canada’s banking regulator has lifted the restrictions it imposed on capital distributions in March 2020....

Restaurant Brands has recovered strongly from its March 2020 low, largely because its focus on drive-thru lanes and home delivery service helped offset lost sales from COVID-19 store closures. It now aims to spur its long-term growth, and your returns, with a new acquisition and by expanding its popular Popeyes brand in overseas markets.


RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC....