acquisition

Oil and gas stocks have moved up lately as the U.S. and other economies recover. We continue to recommend that most investors maintain some exposure to the oil and gas industry as part of a balanced portfolio. But to cut risk, you should stick with producers that have positive cash flow even at low energy prices....

Supermarket operator Metro has performed nicely for us—up 1,725.4%—since we first recommended the stock in June 1998 at $3.54 (adjusted for splits). Metro also held up well during the pandemic as governments designated its supermarkets and drugstores essential services for consumers stocking up on food and other goods.

We feel Metro’s new initiatives, which the pandemic accelerated, set it up for more growth....

In addition to the big Canadian and U.S. banks, we also like other firms in the Finance sector. Here we have Intact and T. Rowe Price, which continue to offer investors dependable dividends and strong growth prospects.


INTACT FINANCIAL CORP. $174 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol IFC; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 176.1 million; Market cap: $30.6 billion; Dividend yield: 1.9%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.intactfc.com) gives you exposure to Canada’s largest provider of property and casualty insurance.


The company last raised its quarterly dividend with the March 2020 payment....

Mondelez is approaching the ninth anniversary of its October 2012 split from Kraft Foods Group. The breakup let Mondelez focus on its faster-growing snack foods business, particularly in developing countries. The stock is now up around 120% since the split, and we feel it still has plenty of growth ahead....

A: Graphic Packaging Holding Company, $20.04, symbol GPK on New York, (Shares outstanding: 307.0 million; Market cap: $6.0 billion; www.graphicpkg.com), is a provider of paper-based packaging for food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer product companies....

A: Henry Schein Inc., $76.08, symbol HSIC on New York (Shares outstanding: 139.7 million; Market cap: $10.6 billion; www.henryschein.com), is the world’s largest provider of health-care products and services to doctors and dentists....

SLACK TECHNOLOGIES $45.58 (formerly symbol WORK on New York) provides firms with an online platform to help their teams of workers communicate through chat and direct messaging.


Salesforce.com has now completed its acquisition of Slack for $27.7 billion....

The pandemic presented this industrial stock with unique challenges. However, the company remains profitable and is well positioned to keep weathering the crisis and prosper anew. We see the stock as a buy.


GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER $15.31 (Nasdaq symbol GT; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (www.goodyear.com; Shares o/s: 235.0 million; Market cap: $4.4 billion; No divds.) is one of the world’s largest tire makers....

Intact Financial dropped along with the market when COVID-19 first hit—the stock fell to as low as $104.81 in March 2020. But the shares have now rebounded 66% as investors again take note of Intact’s underlying business strength. We think this Power Buy is poised to keep moving even higher for our subscribers.


INTACT FINANCIAL, $174.10, is a buy. The insurer (Toronto symbol IFC; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (www.intactfc.com; Shares outstanding: 176.1 million; Market cap: $30.6 billion; Dividend yield: 1.9%) is Canada’s largest provider of property and casualty coverage: it insures more than five million individuals and businesses....

A: MasTec Inc., $90.83, symbol MTZ on New York (Shares outstanding: 74.3 million; Market cap: $6.8 billion; www.mastec.com), is a leading infrastructure construction company operating mainly throughout North America and across a range of industries.

The business’s primary activities include the engineering, installation, maintenance and upgrade of communications, energy, utility and other infrastructure....