Metro’s big acquisition cuts its risk

METRO INC. $48 (Toronto symbol MRU; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 255.7 million; Market cap: $12.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 1.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.metro.ca) operates 600 grocery stores and 650 drugstores, in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick.
In May 2018, Metro acquired Jean… Read More

Emera can handle its debt load

EMERA INC. $44 (Toronto symbol EMA; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares o/s: 233.0 million; Market cap: $10.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; Divd. yield: 5.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.emera.com) has spent $2 billion in the past year on new projects. Those include its 49.5%-owned Labrador Island Link, which… Read More

Teck’s 2019 outlook is bright

TECK RESOURCES LTD. $30 (Toronto symbol TECK.B; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 573.6 million; Market cap: $17.2 billion; Price-to sales ratio: 1.4; Dividend yield: 0.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.teck.com) is a leading producer of metallurgical coal, copper and zinc.
Teck’s new growth projects should fuel… Read More

New businesses enhance their prospects

The shares of Finning and Toromont have moved down lately in response to lower commodity prices. However, recent acquisitions put both companies in a strong position to expand their earnings when commodity prices rebound.
FINNING INTERNATIONAL INC. $25 (Toronto symbol FTT; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry… Read More

CAE’s strong reputation pays off

CAE INC. $26 (Toronto symbol CAE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 266.3 million; Market cap: $6.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.3; Dividend yield: 1.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.cae.com) continues to win pilot-training contracts.
For example, it recently won a deal to train pilots for U.K.-based… Read More

Cost savings spur dividend hike

NUTRIEN LTD. $65 (Toronto symbol NTR; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 612.7 million; Market cap: $39.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.5; Dividend yield: 2.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.nutrien.com) took its current form on January 1, 2018, through the merger of Agrium (old symbol AGU) and rival… Read More

Good time to buy Canada’s big banks

The shares of Canada’s big five banks have moved down recently, mainly due to fears that a slowing economy and rising interest rates will cut demand for new loans. However, each of the five continue to lower their costs and expand outside of Canada. That… Read More

Focus on long-term value

Many investors think of our “stocks of the year” as sure-fire picks that are bound to be among the year’s biggest winners. Some of our past selections have lived up to that billing, but that’s not what I expect of them. Instead, I look for… Read More