IBM

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORP. $2.28 is still a hold. The company (New York symbol BGG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 42.5 million; Market cap: $96.9 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.1; Dividend suspended in March 2020; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.briggsandstratton.com) makes lawnmower engines, portable power generators, pressure washers, and snowblowers and throwers.


Under a new strategy to protect investor value, Briggs will focus on making engines for industrial and consumer uses, standby power generators and commercial battery systems....

The COVID-19 outbreak could prompt many businesses to cut their spending on important equipment such as video surveillance systems (made by Motorola Solutions) and self-serve cash registers (NCR). However, we believe many other businesses will see that as a false economy because these products help them operate more efficiently....

Cintas investors already expect the COVID-19 pandemic to hurt demand for the company’s uniform services, particularly from restaurants and hotels.


However, invests will benefit from higher demand for uniforms, including scrubs, from hospitals and healthcare providers....

ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO. $33 is a buy. This company (New York symbol ADM; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares o/s: 556.7 million; Market cap: $18.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.3; Divd. yield: 4.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.adm.com) is a leading processor of corn, wheat, soybeans, canola and other crops for flour, oils and other food ingredients....

In response to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, these four fast-food operators have closed their dine-in areas. However, they continue to serve customers with take-out and drive-thru facilities. Recent investments in their home-delivery operations have proven timely, as those upgrades are now helping them cope as more people eat at home.


We feel that all four will rebound quickly in the next few months once they resume normal operations....

Stock prices have dropped sharply in anticipation of a much wider spread of the coronavirus, and the deep and sustained economic setback that could result. That could happen—no one can predict the future. However, most sharp market downturns are temporary. Due to modern medicine and technology, the coronavirus impact is unlikely to get so big that it brings on a long-lasting stock-market decline.


Our advice is that if your stock holdings made sense for you a few weeks ago, in light of your investment goals, financial circumstances and temperament, then you should hang on to them.


The crisis has also highlighted why you should stick with our three-pronged approach to investing.


Meantime, we still see several compelling buys despite the current uncertainty....

TELUS $51.39 is a #1 Buy for 2020. The stock (Toronto symbol T; Shares outstanding: 607.2 million; Market cap: $32.6 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 4.5%; www.telus.com) lets you tap Canada’s third-largest wireless carrier after Rogers Communications (No....

TC ENERGY INC., $73.25, is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol TRP; Shares o/s: 939.0 million; Market cap: $68.8 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 4.4%; www.transcanada.com) generates steady cash flow for investors mainly through its 92,600-kilometre pipeline network; it pumps natural gas from Alberta to eastern Canada and the U.S....

FAIR ISAAC CORP. $390 is a buy, but only for highly aggressive investors. The company (New York symbol FICO; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 28.9 million; Market cap: $11.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 9.5; Dividend suspended June 2017; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.fico.com) is best known for its FICO Scores software....

These two industrial giants are aggressively shrinking their operations. That should improve their outlook as investors tend to prefer smaller, easier-to-understand businesses. Even so, we prefer ABB over GE for your new buying.


ABB LTD. ADRs $22 is a buy. The stock (New York symbol ABB; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs o/s: 2.1 billion; Market cap: $46.2 billion; P.S....