acquisition

A: Cardinal Energy, $9.12, symbol CJ on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 73.5 million; Market cap: $639.8 million; www.cardinalenergy.ca), produces oil and gas in Alberta.


Cardinal’s output rose by 33.3% in the three months ended September 30, 2016, to an average 14,957 barrels of oil equivalent per day (87% oil and 13% gas) from 11,220 a year earlier.


The jump came mostly from the company’s $129 million purchase of production sites in the Mitsue area of Alberta....

A: NorthWest HealthCare Properties REIT, $9.86, symbol NWH.UN on Toronto (Units outstanding: 69.3 million; Market cap: $681.5 million; www.nwhp.ca), owns 135 properties, with a focus on medical office buildings and clinics....

A: DH Corp., $14.90, symbol DH on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 106.8 million; Market cap: $1.6 billion; www.dh.com), was primarily a printer of cheques until 2013. Then, in light of falling demand for paper cheques, it began to focus on electronic banking systems....

While Imperial Oil (see page 111) is our top oil stock, we also like the outlook for these three industry firms.


They have all cut their costs, which should rapidly expand their earnings and cash flow as crude prices continue to recover. Moreover, their high-quality reserves should last decades.


SUNCOR ENERGY INC....

These two leading industrial companies face weaker demand for their products. In response, Finning has cut costs, while Linamar has made acquisitions. We feel each strategy will lead to long-term gains.


FINNING INTERNATIONAL INC. $25 (Toronto symbol FTT; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 168.1 million; Market cap: $4.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.finning....

GREAT-WEST LIFECO INC. $33 (Toronto symbol GWO; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 986.1 million; Market cap: $32.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend Yield: 4.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www....

FORTIS INC. $43 (www.fortisinc.com) owns electrical utilities across Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean; it also distributes natural gas in British Columbia. The company completed the purchase of ITC Holdings on October 14, 2016, for $11.3 billion U.S. This firm owns 25,100 kilometres of high-voltage power lines in the U.S....

ENERPLUS CORP. $9.05 (Toronto symbol ERF; Shares outstanding: 240.5 million; Market cap: $2.3 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative; Dividend yield: 1.3%) produces oil and gas from properties in Western Canada—Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C.—as well as North Dakota and Montana in the western U.S....

TRANSCANADA CORP. $57.82 (Toronto symbol TRP; Shares outstanding: 799.8 million; Market cap: $48.5 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 3.9%; www.transcanada.com) operates 90,300 kilometres of natural gas pipelines and generates over 3,100 megawatts of power in Canada and the U.S.


The company recently completed its acquisition of Texas-based Columbia Pipeline Group for $13.0 billion U.S....

These top technology firms are leaders in their industries. That gives them plenty of cash flow for developing new products and services. It also positions them to increase share buybacks and dividends.


INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP. $152 (New York symbol IBM; Conservative Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 955.8 million; Market cap: $145.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.8; Dividend yield: 3.7%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.ibm.com) is one of the world’s largest computer companies, with operations in over 175 countries.


IBM recently raised its quarterly dividend by 7.7%, to $1.40 a share from $1.30....