Two Large-cap Buys With a Finance Focus

BMO Dividend and RBC Canadian Dividend hold mostly high-quality stocks. These stocks sometimes run into trouble and go through lengthy struggles, just like lesser investments. Eventually, though, most solve their problems and go on to thrive anew.

Both funds hold a high proportion of their assets… Read More

TransAlta Attracts Interest

TRANSALTA CORP. $29.89 (Toronto symbol TA; SI Rating: Average) jumped as high as $32.36 in July on speculation that the company may follow BCE and Alcan as a takeover target. Luminus Management, a New York-based private equity firm, now owns 6.7% of TransAlta.

The recent stock… Read More

TransAlta May Be Next

TRANSALTA CORP. $29 (Toronto symbol TA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 202.6 million; Market cap: $6.1 billion; SI Rating: Average) has gained 15% since late June due to growing speculation that the company may follow BCE and Alcan as a takeover target. Luminus… Read More

Alcan Agrees to Merge with Rio Tinto

ALCAN INC. $103 (Toronto symbol AL; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 360.0 million; Market cap: $32.8 billion; SI Rating: Average) has accepted a $101 U.S.-a-share ($106.40 Canadian) all-cash takeover offer from Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto Ltd. The new offer is roughly 33%… Read More

Scotia Canadian Growth Fund $72.43

SCOTIA CANADIAN GROWTH FUND $72.43 (CWA Rating: Conservative) (Scotia Securities, 40 King Street West, 6th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1H1. 1-800-268-9 269; Website: www.scotiabank.com. No load — deal directly with the company.) uses fundamental analysis to identify what the managers see as investments that have… Read More

CIBC Canadian Equity Fund $27.77

CIBC CANADIAN EQUITY FUND $27.77 (CWA Rating: Conservative) (CIBC Securities, 5140 Yonge Street, Suite 900, Toronto, Ontario M2N 6X7. 1-800-631-7008; Website: www.cibc.com. No load — deal directly with the company.) uses a “bottom-up” approach (using fundamentals such as earnings, cash flow and low debt) to… Read More

BMO Equity Fund $33.88

BMO EQUITY FUND $33.88 (BMO Mutual Funds, 77 King Street West, Suite 4200, Royal Trust Tower, Toronto, Ont., M5K 1J5, 1-800-665-7700; Web site: www.bmo.com. No load — deal directly with the bank) (CWA Rating: Conservative) generally invests mostly in ‘blue-chip” Canadian companies. These stocks are… Read More

RBC Canadian Equity Fund $29.54

RBC CANADIAN EQUITY FUND $29.54 (CWA Rating: Conservative) (RBC Funds, P.O. Box 7500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario. M5W 1P9. 1-800-463-3863; Web site: www.royalbank.com. No load — deal directly with the bank) invests mostly in larger-capitalization stocks, but also looks for opportunities in small and mid-cap… Read More

TD Canadian Equity Fund $32.70

TD CANADIAN EQUITY FUND $32.70 (CWA Rating: Conservative) (TD Asset Management, P.O. Box 7500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario. M5W 1P9. 1-800-463-3863; Web site: www.tdcanadatrust.ca. No load — deal directly with the bank) uses a “bottom-up” approach (using fundamentals such as earnings, cash flow and low… Read More