merger

Generally, investors are right to welcome share buyback plans, which help to give them a bigger stake in the company, but also tend to push up the price of their shares.


However, depending on the company, there are better ways to reward shareholders....

Most experienced investors understand the idea that “A rising stock market climbs a wall of worry”, because they’ve seen it happen many times. Worrisome news items and developments come along in an irregular pattern. Many are serious enough to raise worries about how they will impact the stock market....

Here are short answers to a couple of issues you may have wondered about lately.

This economic statistic deserves a closer look.

We look at lots of economic statistics, but rarely find any worth talking about. Most stats represent random fluctuations in economic data, without revealing any meaningful shift in economic trends.

However, last Friday’s release of U.S....

Alcon began trading as a new spinoff last spring. At current prices, the stock is not inexpensive in relation to this year’s earnings. But we think trends now underway—including the company’s strong position in its key markets—have set its sales, profit and share price on a strong growth path.

Our Successful Investor research department has drawn up this Inner Circle Spotlight report on Alcon to explain why we think the stock will keep paying off for you as an investment, and why now is a good time to buy....

TEGNA INC. $17 is still a buy. The company (New York symbol TGNA, Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector: Shares o/s: 216.9 million; Market cap: $3.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; Divd. yield: 1.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.tegna.com) owns 62 TV and four radio stations in 51 markets....

Once again, we’ve singled out three stocks—one from each of our portfolios: Conservative, Aggressive and Income—as your top choices for new buying in 2020. All three offer highly attractive growth prospects that will pay off for investors for many years to come.


You’ll notice that United Technologies is once again our #1 Conservative pick, even after the 31% gain it handed our readers in 2019....

These two firms are using acquisitions to expand. While that adds risk for investors, their new businesses are solid and will spur your dividend increases for years to come.


INNERGEX RENEWABLE ENERGY INC. $19 is a buy. The stock (Toronto symbol INE; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 139.4 million; Market cap: $2.6 billion; Dividend yield 3.7%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.innergex.com) lets you tap 37 hydroelectric plants, 26 wind farms and five solar power fields....

Pfizer’s reorganization paves your way to blockbuster-drug gains

Drug stocks hold special appeal for investors: Many assume that as the baby-boom generation moves into retirement, demand for pharmaceuticals will skyrocket. That’s undoubtedly true.

However, as we’ve often pointed out, this high potential can lead investors to underestimate the risks in drug stocks....

TENNECO INC. $10 is a buy for aggressive investors. The stock (New York symbol TEN; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 80.9 million; Market cap: $809.0 million; Dividend yield: 9.5%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.tenneco.com) lets you tap a leading maker of auto parts....

Canada’s Big Five banks continue to generate healthy profits for you, their shareholders. That’s despite their move to set aside more funds to cover potentially bad loans should the economy sour. Higher loan-loss provisions have nonetheless slowed earnings growth for some of the banks although we feel their decision to increase reserves helps protect investor value....