acquisition

GEN DIGITAL INC. $18 is a buy. The company (Nasdaq symbol GEN; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 639.1 million; Market cap: $11.5 billion; Dividend yield: 2.8%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Average; www.gendigital.com) changed its name from NortonLifeLock (old symbol NLOK) following its September 2022 acquisition of European cybersecurity firm Avast plc for $8.1 billion....

Fears that higher interest rates and inflation will hurt loan demand and credit card use have hurt the shares of Canada’s big banks in the past few months. However, those banks remain well capitalized. In fact, in a sign of confidence, these two banks just raised their dividends.


BANK OF MONTREAL $118 is a buy. The bank (Toronto symbol BMO; Income-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 677.1 million; Market cap: $79.9 billion; Dividend yield: 5.0%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.bmo.com) will raise your quarterly dividend with the August 2023 payment, by 2.8%, to $1.47 a share from $1.43....

ABB LTD. ADRs $37 (www.abb.com) remains a buy. This Swiss-based company is a leading maker of electrical transformers, transmission systems and circuit breakers for electrical utilities....

In 2018, Campbell Soup shifted its focus to its most-profitable products. A key acquisition also gave it a big presence in the fast-growing snack food market. These moves paid off as the COVID-19 lockdowns forced people to eat more of their meals at home. Even though restaurants have re-opened, demand for Campbell’s brands remains solid....

A: Republic Services Inc., $148.95, symbol RSG on New York (Shares outstanding: 316.3 million; Market cap: $46.7 billion; www.republicservices.com), is a U.S....

Automakers are shifting away from traditional gasoline-powered vehicles to battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs). That’s partly due to government mandates—Ottawa wants 20% of all passenger cars, SUVs and trucks sold in Canada by 2026 to run on electricity. The requirement will rise to 60% in 2030, and 100% by 2035....

FLOWSERVE CORP., $35.71, symbol FLS on New York, manufactures industrial pumps, valves, and other machinery, for several industries that use difficult-to-handle or corrosive fluids. These include power, oil and gas, chemicals, and several others. It operates facilities in more than 300 locations worldwide, selling its products in over 50 countries.

In February 2023, Flowserve announced that it would acquire Velan Inc....

CANADIAN PACIFIC KANSAS CITY LTD., $105.57, Toronto symbol CP, is your #1 Conservative Buy for 2023.

The company took its current form on April 14, 2023, when Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. completed its acquisition of U.S.-based railway Kansas City Southern.

CP paid $31 billion U.S....

CAVA GROUP INC., $38.15, symbol CAVA on New York, is a U.S. fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in Mediterranean-focused food. The chain has 263 restaurants in 22 states and Washington D.C.

Cava was founded in 2006 and opened its first fast-casual location in 2011, modelling its build-your-own Mediterranean meals, focused on bowls and pitas, after the formula made popular by Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Cava then expanded in 2018 when it acquired Zoe’s Kitchen, a rival Mediterranean chain, for $300 million....

RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC., $76.43, is a buy. The stock (symbol QSR on New York) gives you exposure to the world’s third-largest fast-food operator. That’s after McDonald’s (No. 1) and Yum Brands (No. 2). The company has 30,722 outlets in over 100 countries: 19,789 Burger King, 5,600 Tim Hortons (coffee and donuts), 4,091 Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (fried chicken) and 1,242 Firehouse Subs.

Tim Hortons is launching a credit card that can be used through its mobile app.

Tims Financial is a new division of Tim Hortons that will offer a no-annual-fee Mastercard powered by Neo Financial....