stock investing

Stock investing has grown in popularity with the advent of discount brokerages that reduced the fees involved in trading individual stocks. Along with investing, the appetite for stock advice surged, spawning books, newsletters and televisions shows related to the topic.

2 Canadian stocks with different acquisition strategies
DOREL INDUSTRIES (Toronto symbol DII.B; www.dorel.com) makes a range of items, including ready-to-assemble home and office furniture; juvenile products, such as car seats, strollers, high chairs, toddler beds and cribs; and recreational goods, mainly bicycles....
Selling flavors and fragrances to big consumer firms has this stock rising
INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES INC. (New York symbol IFF; www.iff.com) makes over 36,000 unique compounds that improve the taste of foods and the smell of a wide variety of consumer products. Major clients include Procter & Gamble, Nestle, Kraft, Unilever and General Mills....
Overseas growth helps Baxter overcome Obamacare tax
YUNUS ARAKON
BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. (New York symbol BAX; www.baxter.com) continues to expand overseas, which helps cut its exposure to the 2.3% excise tax it must pay on sales of medical devices as part of the Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare). In 2012, overseas markets supplied 58% of Baxter’s revenue....
Sealy acquisition gives Tempur a new name and a wider product line
TEMPUR SEALY (New York symbol TPX; www.tempursealy.com) is the world’s largest bedding provider. The company completed its $1.3-billion purchase of rival Sealy in March 2013. In May the company announced that shareholders had approved a change in its name, from Tempur-Pedic to Tempur Sealy....
Efficiency drive and acquisitions are Metro’s answer to rising competition
METRO INC. (Toronto symbol MRU; www.metro.ca) operates about 600 supermarkets in Quebec and Ontario. It also has over 250 drugstores under the Brunet, The Pharmacy and Drug Basics banners....
Focus on investment quality, and favour growth over momentum, and you’ll improve your chances of success with aggressive stock investing.
Nordstrom aims to combat discount chains with clearance outlets and innovative sales strategies
NORDSTROM INC. (New York symbol JWN; www.nordstrom.com) mainly sells clothing, accessories and footwear. The company owns and operates 248 stores in 33 states. In the second quarter of its 2014 fiscal year, which ended August 3, 2013, Nordstrom’s sales rose 6.3%, to $3.2 billion from $3.0 billion a year earlier. Same-store sales rose 4.2% on strong demand for men’s apparel, men’s shoes and children’s clothing. Online sales jumped 37%....
FedEx may be in the sights of activist investor Pershing Square
FEDEX CORP. (New York symbol FDX; www.fedex.com) delivers packages and documents in the U.S. and over 220 other countries and territories. The stock has moved up in the past few weeks, partly due to speculation that activist investment firm Pershing Square Capital Management will soon make a significant investment in FedEx....
Israeli acquisition brings valuable new software to ATM and cash register specialist NCR
NCR CORP. (New York symbol NCR; www.ncr.com) is a leading maker of automated teller machines (ATMs), checkout scanners, cash registers and self-serve kiosks.

In February 2013, the company paid $791 million for Israel-based Retalix, whose software helps retailers manage their sales and track inventories. Retailers with a combined 70,000 locations in over 50 countries use Retalix’s products. NCR feels Retalix’s expertise will improve its point-of-sale terminals and self-serve kiosks.

In the three months ended March 31, 2013, Retalix contributed $50 million to NCR’s revenue. That helped push up the total by 13.3% in the latest quarter, to $1.4 billion from $1.2 billion a year earlier. The acquisition should add $255 million to the company’s full-year revenue.

...
Baxter strengthens dialysis products with new acquisition
The new U.S. health care law (“Obamacare”) will force Baxter International to pay a 2.3% tax on certain medical devices it sells in the country. However, the law will also expand health insurance to more Americans, which should spur demand for the company’s products. It is also increasing its overseas sales. The U.S. accounts for just 40% of Baxter’s sales....