recent acquisitions

SAPUTO INC. $33 is still a hold. The dairy producer (Toronto symbol SAP; High-Growth Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 418.1 million; Market cap: $13.8 billion; Dividend yield: 2.2%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.saputo.com) last raised its quarterly dividend by 2.9% with the September 2021 payment....

DREAM OFFICE REIT, $14.90, is still a buy. The REIT (symbol D.UN on Toronto), sold 138 properties in 2016 as part of a new strategic plan. Due to those sales, in July 2017, Dream cut its monthly distribution to $0.0833 a unit from $0.125. The new annual rate of $1.00 yields a high 6.7%.

Dream now has 27 office properties, including two under development....

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, $130.91, Toronto symbol RY, is a buy.

The bank is raising its quarterly dividend by 3.1%. Starting with the February 2023 payment, investors will receive $1.32 a share instead of $1.28. The new annual rate of $5.28 yields a solid 4.0%.

Royal has also agreed to pay $13.5 billion in cash for the Canadian operations of U.K.-based HSBC Holdings plc (New York symbol HSBC)....

The long-term outlook for these two leading food makers remains solid. Their strong brands are also making it easier for them to raise selling prices to cover rising costs. However, the shares of both companies will likely remain in a narrow range while they restructure their operations.


MAPLE LEAF FOODS INC....

SPIN MASTER CORP., $34.50, symbol TOY on Toronto, designs and markets children’s toys, games and puzzles. It outsources the manufacturing to third parties.

The company’s best-known brands include PAW Patrol, Bakugan, Kinetic Sand, Air Hogs, Hatchimals, Rubik’s Cube and Gund....

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, $134.21, Toronto symbol RY, is still a buy.

The bank has agreed to pay $13.5 billion in cash for the Canadian operations of U.K.-based HSBC Holdings plc (New York symbol HSBC). Those include 130 branches, which mainly cater to businesses in industries that trade and bank internationally....

Chevron rebounded strongly as re-opening of the global economy lifted crude oil prices—the stock is up 62% in the past year compared to the 14% drop for the S&P 500 Index.


While oil prices could suffer if the economy weakens, higher profits from Chevron’s refining operations (which need crude oil) would help offset that decline....

These spinoffs have surged since becoming independent firms. Their recent acquisitions also position them for more gains as the economy continues to recover.


CARRIER GLOBAL CORP. $44 is a buy. This company (New York symbol CARR; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 836.3 million; Market cap: $36.8 billion; Dividend yield 1.4%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.carrier.com) is a leading maker of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment.


In April 2020, Raytheon Technologies Corp....

SAPUTO INC. $33 is still a hold. The dairy producer (Toronto symbol SAP; High-Growth Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 418.1 million; Market cap: $13.8 billion; Dividend yield: 2.2%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.saputo.com) last raised its quarterly dividend by 2.9% with the September 2021 payment....

A: Sensata Technologies Holding plc, $39.54, symbol ST on New York (Shares outstanding: 155.3 million; Market cap: $6.1 billion; www.sensata.com), is a U.K.-based developer, maker and seller of sensors and controls.

Through its Performance Sensing business (73% of revenues), the company supplies a wide array of automotive/heavy vehicle sensors (pressure, speed, temperature) that are embedded in transmission, air conditioning, and other key systems....