dividends paid
NCR CORP. $24 (New York symbol NCR; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 159.9 million; Market cap: $3.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.6; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.ncr.com) has won a contract to install 10,000 of its self-checkout systems at more than 1,200 Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. These devices let shoppers pay for their purchases without a cashier. That cuts the retailer’s labour costs, speeds up checkout times and encourages repeat visits.
The company did not say how much this contract is worth. However, Wal-Mart’s purchase should make it easier for NCR to sell its systems to other big retailers.
NCR is a buy.
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The company did not say how much this contract is worth. However, Wal-Mart’s purchase should make it easier for NCR to sell its systems to other big retailers.
NCR is a buy.
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EBAY INC. $49 (Nasdaq symbol EBAY; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 1.3 billion; Market cap: $63.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.6; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.ebay.com) aims to profit from rising demand for online shopping in China through a new alliance with Xiu.com, a leading Chinese seller of luxury goods.
Under the deal, the partners will launch a new website, ebay.xiu.com, which will let certain U.S. retailers sell their goods at fixed prices. The sellers will then send the orders they receive from the site to eBay’s Dallas warehouse, which will forward the goods to China. Xiu.com will handle local shipping and customer service.
eBay is a buy.
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Under the deal, the partners will launch a new website, ebay.xiu.com, which will let certain U.S. retailers sell their goods at fixed prices. The sellers will then send the orders they receive from the site to eBay’s Dallas warehouse, which will forward the goods to China. Xiu.com will handle local shipping and customer service.
eBay is a buy.
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D.E. MASTER BLENDERS 1753 N.V. 8.88 euros (Amsterdam Exchange symbol DE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 594.9 million; Market cap: 5.3 billion euros (1 euro = $1.28 Canadian); Price-to-sales ratio:1.9; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.demasterblenders1753.com) makes coffee and tea under a variety of brands, including Senseo, Pickwick and Douwe Egberts.
In its fiscal 2013 first quarter, which ended September 30, 2012, D.E. Master’s sales rose 1.1%, to 626 million euros from 619 million euros a year earlier. D.E. Master raised its prices to offset rising costs for coffee beans. That offset a 2.7% decline in sales volumes. The company did not report earnings.
D.E. Master recently began a restructuring that includes closing a plant in Denmark and outsourcing its accounting and other administrative functions. This should cut 55 million to 75 million euros from its annual costs by 2015.
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In its fiscal 2013 first quarter, which ended September 30, 2012, D.E. Master’s sales rose 1.1%, to 626 million euros from 619 million euros a year earlier. D.E. Master raised its prices to offset rising costs for coffee beans. That offset a 2.7% decline in sales volumes. The company did not report earnings.
D.E. Master recently began a restructuring that includes closing a plant in Denmark and outsourcing its accounting and other administrative functions. This should cut 55 million to 75 million euros from its annual costs by 2015.
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DELPHI ENERGY $1.16 (Toronto symbol DEE; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (403- 265-6171; www.delphienergy.ca; Shares outstanding: 131.2 million; Market cap: $152.2 million; No dividends paid) has raised $33 million in two share issues: the company sold 17.2 million shares at $1.45 each and 4.6 million shares for $1.75 each. The company produces and explores for oil (about 75% of production) and natural gas (25% of production). Delphi plans to use the proceeds from the share issues to pay down debt. As of June 30, 2012, its long-term debt was $134.4 million. That’s a high 88% of its $152.2-million market cap (or the value of all of its outstanding shares). However, that mainly reflects the drop in the company’s share price due to lower natural gas prices....
REITMANS (CANADA) LTD. $11.98 (Toronto symbol RET.A; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (514- 384-1140; www.reitmans.com; Shares outstanding: 65.5 million; Market cap: $784.7 million; Dividend yield: 6.7%) owns 918 women’s clothing stores across Canada. The chain consists of 360 Reitmans, 154 Penningtons, 152 Smart Set, 110 Addition Elle, 74 Thyme Maternity and 68 RW & Co. stores. In the three months ended July 28, 2012, Reitmans earned $27.4 million, or $0.42 a share. That was down 12.5% from $31.7 million, or $0.48 a share, a year earlier. Revenue was down 2.2%, to $279.5 million from $286.1 million. Same-store sales declined 1.3%....
ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK $36.75 (Nasdaq symbol ATNI; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (340- 777-8000; www.atni.com; Shares outstanding: 15.6 million; Market cap: $573.3 million; Yield: 2.7%) reported strong earnings in the latest quarter, even though revenue declined.
In the three months ended September 30, 2012, Atlantic’s revenue fell 2.9%, to $188.8 million from $194.3 million a year earlier....
In the three months ended September 30, 2012, Atlantic’s revenue fell 2.9%, to $188.8 million from $194.3 million a year earlier....
FORTRESS PAPER $7.00 (Toronto symbol FTP; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (1-888- 820-3888; www.fortresspaper.com; Shares outstanding: 14.5 million; Market cap: $101.5 million; No dividends paid) lost $18.1 million, or $1.26 a share, in the three months ended September 30, 2012. A year earlier, it lost $7.7 million, or $0.54. Cash flow was negative $9.5 million, or $0.66 a share, in the latest quarter, compared to negative $3.7 million, or $0.26 a share. The company’s Dresden wallpaperproducts plant is profitable, but the Landqart security-paper operation is losing money because of the high Swiss franc. Increased competition is also making it difficult for Fortress to attract customers. As well, the Thurso dissolving pulp plant is having startup problems, and rising global production has pushed down selling prices sharply. Fortress holds cash of $83.8 million or $5.88 a share, but its long-term debt of $245 million is a very high 241% of its $101.5- million market cap. That’s a big risk factor, especially in a company that’s reporting negative cash flow....
INTUITIVE SURGICAL $526.46 (Nasdaq symbol ISRG; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (515-507-5000; www.intuitivesurgical.com; Shares outstanding: 39.8 million; Market cap: $21.0 billion; No dividends paid) makes the da Vinci, a computerized surgical system. Guided by a miniature camera connected to a 3-D monitor, surgeons use the da Vinci to operate by remotely manipulating tiny robotic arms. This process is safer and much less invasive than regular surgery, and helps cut a patient’s recovery time and post-operative discomfort. It also reduces scarring and infection risk. In the three months ended September 30, 2012, Intuitive earned $183.3 million, or $4.59 a share. That’s up sharply from $122.4 million, or $3.13 a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 20.4%, to $537.8 million from $446.7 million. Intuitive is debt-free, and holds cash of $2.7 billion, or $67.67 a share....
TEMPUR-PEDIC $24.77 (New York symbol TPX; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (800-878-8889; www.tempurpedic.com; Shares outstanding: 59.6 million; Market cap: $1.5 billion; No dividends paid) makes and distributes Swedish mattresses and neck pillows made from its proprietary Tempur material, which conforms to the body to provide support and help alleviate pressure points.
Tempur-Pedic’s shares are down 69.7% since they hit an all-time high of $87.43 in April 2012. Competitors have introduced many new products and supported them with aggressive promotions. That has steadily pushed down Tempur-Pedic’s results.
In the three months ended September 30, 2012, revenue fell 9.2%, to $347.9 million from $383.1 million a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, earnings per share fell 22.2%, to $0.70 from $0.90.
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Tempur-Pedic’s shares are down 69.7% since they hit an all-time high of $87.43 in April 2012. Competitors have introduced many new products and supported them with aggressive promotions. That has steadily pushed down Tempur-Pedic’s results.
In the three months ended September 30, 2012, revenue fell 9.2%, to $347.9 million from $383.1 million a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, earnings per share fell 22.2%, to $0.70 from $0.90.
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INTUITIVE SURGICAL $526.46 (Nasdaq symbol ISRG; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (515-507-5000; www.intuitivesurgical.com; Shares outstanding: 39.8 million; Market cap: $21.0 billion; No dividends paid) makes the da Vinci, a computerized surgical system.
Guided by a miniature camera connected to a 3-D monitor, surgeons use the da Vinci to operate by remotely manipulating tiny robotic arms. This process is safer and much less invasive than regular surgery, and helps cut a patient’s recovery time and post-operative discomfort. It also reduces scarring and infection risk.
In the three months ended September 30, 2012, Intuitive earned $183.3 million, or $4.59 a share. That’s up sharply from $122.4 million, or $3.13 a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 20.4%, to $537.8 million from $446.7 million. Intuitive is debt-free, and holds cash of $2.7 billion, or $67.67 a share.
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Guided by a miniature camera connected to a 3-D monitor, surgeons use the da Vinci to operate by remotely manipulating tiny robotic arms. This process is safer and much less invasive than regular surgery, and helps cut a patient’s recovery time and post-operative discomfort. It also reduces scarring and infection risk.
In the three months ended September 30, 2012, Intuitive earned $183.3 million, or $4.59 a share. That’s up sharply from $122.4 million, or $3.13 a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 20.4%, to $537.8 million from $446.7 million. Intuitive is debt-free, and holds cash of $2.7 billion, or $67.67 a share.
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