acquisition

In addition to Telus (see page 81), the outlook for BCE is positive: the company continues to attract new wireless and TV customers; and its upcoming acquisition of Manitoba Telecom (see box) will expand its geographic reach and earnings, as well as its wireless business....

EMERA INC. $49 (Toronto symbol EMA; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 198.7 million; Market cap: $9.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.6; Dividend yield: 4.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.emera .com) owns 100% of Nova Scotia Power, that province’s main electricity supplier....

A: Morneau Shepell Inc., $18.40, symbol MSI on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 53.1 million; Market cap: $974.4 million; www.morneaushepell.com), is the largest Canadian firm providing human resource consulting and outsourcing services....

Great-West enjoys a dominant market position in Canada and is also a leading insurer in the U.K. and Ireland. The shares dipped in June 2016 to around $31 from $36 after the “Leave” side won the U.K. Brexit referendum. However, it seems likely that the U.K. and EU will work out new terms, and that should shield firms like Great-West from any long-term negative consequences.

GREAT-WEST LIFECO $33.76 (Toronto symbol GWO; Shares outstanding: 992.9 million; Market cap: $33.4 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Yield: 4.1%; www.greatwestlifeco.com) is Canada’s largest insurance firm, with a top market position in both individual life insurance and in group life and health benefits....

We still think investors will profit most—and with the least risk—by buying shares of well-established, dividend-paying stocks with strong business prospects.



These are companies that have leading positions in healthy industries. They also have strong management that will make the right moves to remain competitive in a changing market.



Stocks like these give investors an additional measure of safety despite today’s volatility....

CISCO SYSTEMS INC. $31 (Nasdaq symbol CSCO; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 5.0 billion; Market cap: $155.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.0; Dividend yield 3.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.cisco.com) is a leading maker of hardware and software that links and manages computer networks....

A: Lockheed Martin Corp., $261.53, symbol LMT on New York (Shares outstanding: 304.4 million; Market cap: $79.6 billion; www.lockheedmartin.com), is the world’s largest defense contractor....

A: Annaly Capital Management, $10.72, symbol NLY on New York, is a New York City-based real estate investment trust that owns and manages a portfolio of mortgage-backed securities.

The trust has agreed to buy Hatteras Financial Corp., $16.29, symbol HTS on New York, for $1.5 billion.

Formed in 2007, Hatteras is also a mortgage REIT: it owns and manages residential mortgage investments, primarily secured by adjustable-rate mortgages on single-family homes.

Most mortgage REITs have been trading at discounts to the value of their assets....

A: Cara Operations Ltd, $30.33, symbol CAO on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 49.2 million; Market cap: $1.5 billion; www.cara.com), both franchises and operates 997 restaurants mostly in Canada. Of these, 88% (879) are operated by franchisees and 12% (118) are company-run....

ALIMENTATION COUCHETARD $59.34 (Toronto symbol ATD.B: TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (1-800-361-2612; www.couchetard. com; Shares outstanding: 567.4 million; Market cap: $32.9 billion; Dividend yield: 0.5%) operates 10,547 convenience stores throughout North America and Europe....