Pat: What is your view on buying the Canadian Vector Equity Fund? I believe it’s tilted towards value stocks and small cap stocks. Its MER is higher than an ETF, but maybe the value and small-company approach over long periods of time will add value. What are your thoughts on going with this mutual fund or a small-cap ETF such as the iShares S&P/TSX SmallCap Index ETF?

A: On a broad level, funds that specialize in small-cap stocks are always more volatile. However, some small caps do offer above-average potential—like those we recommend in Stock Pickers Digest.
Incidentally, we think it’s a mistake to generalize about small cap stocks. Some small caps are… Read More

Profit and share price soar for Norsat International

Profit and share price soar for Norsat International

Earnings for this data communications company shot up in the latest quarter on stronger sales for its high-profit-margin systems.

NORSAT INTERNATIONAL (symbol NII on Toronto; www.norsat.com) designs and makes satellite and ground equipment to transmit data, audio and video signals through commercial and military networks.

Norsat… Read More

Big shift pays off for Texas Instruments

Big shift pays off for Texas Instruments

Investments in manufacturing are now paying off for Texas Instruments as its earnings, share buybacks and dividend rise.

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC. (Nasdaq symbol TXN; www.ti.com) continues to benefit from its 2008 decision to quit making chips for cellular phones and focus instead on analog chips. Those… Read More

China’s prospects look bright

Chinese stocks are up 27% in the past year, as the country’s economy keeps growing at a still-strong annualized rate of 7% or more. China is exporting more goods to a recovering U.S., which is offsetting slower exports to Europe and weaker Chinese property markets… Read More