commodity

The outlook for a wide range of commodities continues to improve as the world’s economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The ongoing shift to electric-powered vehicles continues to spur demand for key metals such as copper and nickel.


These three leading commodity producers are preparing for the expected increase in demand with acquisitions and big new projects....

CCL INDUSTRIES INC., $69.15, symbol CCL.B on Toronto, mainly makes packaging products for the food, healthcare, automotive and personal-care industries. Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson are among its major customers. CCL also makes radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and banknotes.

The company has four main businesses:

• CCL (62% of total revenue) makes pressure-sensitive labels for plastic bottles and other forms of packaging....

MCDONALD’S CORP., $281.95, New York symbol MCD, is your #1 Conservative Buy for 2024.

The company is the world’s largest fast-food chain with over 40,000 restaurants in 119 countries. It serves a wide variety of food but is best known for its hamburgers and french fries.

McDonald’s has formed a new, exclusive alliance with Krispy Kreme Inc....

Top pick Finning is reporting surging demand for its heavy construction equipment and maintenance services.

Finning’s earnings generally depend on cyclical commodities, particularly crude oil and copper. We think their prices will resume their upward direction in the next few years. Moreover, increasing government spending on infrastructure projects helps offset that cyclical risk.


FINNING INTERNATIONAL INC....

Smaller companies can generate higher returns than their larger counterparts, but their shares are often riskier and less liquid, and may underperform for long periods.


Small cap stocks are also more volatile in times of unsettled or falling markets.


Still, if you focus on the best-quality small companies—or ETFs that hold those stocks—they can be a worthwhile addition to a well-balanced portfolio


Do small companies have an edge?


Small companies trading on U.S....

The Chilean economy will likely emerge from recession in 2024, further reducing joblessness and lifting wages. Consumer purchasing power will improve as inflation falls. Longer-term, as the world transitions to greener technologies, the global demand for copper, lithium, and renewable energy should rise....

Most top global markets have rebounded since their big drop at the outbreak of the pandemic. Going forward, we think the outlook remains positive for quality stocks. One way to profit from that—while cutting your risk—is to invest in top ETFs.


Here’s a look at four international funds that we believe are well suited to new buying....

Commodity prices have weakened in the past few months, partly due to China’s slower-than-expected post-pandemic recovery. Even so, we still like the long-term prospects of these two leading resources stocks.


BHP GROUP LTD. (ADR) $62 is a buy. This company (New York symbol BHP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; ADRs outstanding: 2.5 billion; Market cap: $155.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.9; Dividend yield: 5.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.bhp.com) is a leading producer of iron ore, copper, nickel and coal.


The company reported 16.9% lower metallurgical coal production for the first half of its fiscal year ending June 30, 2024....

PATRICK INDUSTRIES INC., $98.23, symbol PATK on Nasdaq, is based in Elkhart, Indiana, the unofficial home of the U.S. recreational vehicle (RV) industry. The company manufactures decorative vinyl and paper laminated panels, bath and shower moldings, and hardwood profiles....