value

Consumer-products-giant Procter & Gamble continues to benefit from its 2014 plan to unload about 100 of its slower-growing products and focus on a more manageable 65 brands. Its strong commitment to improving quality also helps it compete with cheaper generic brands and drive its earnings higher....

Fee income at these two firms rises and falls with the value of the mutual funds and other securities they manage. Today’s rising stock market has pushed up their earnings, at the same time it helps to support their high yields.


IGM FINANCIAL INC....

The Bank of Canada and other central banks are now cutting their benchmark lending rates as inflation returns to pre-pandemic levels.

That’s good news for utility stocks like Fortis, which carry large debt loads to finance investments in new power plants and other projects....

RUSSEL METALS INC., $44.24, is a buy. Through their shares, investors tap one of North America’s largest metals distribution companies, with a growing focus on value-added processing.

The company carries on business in three segments: metals service centres, energy field stores and steel distributors....

WALMART INC., $90.44, New York symbol WMT, is a buy.

The company is the world’s biggest retailer, with over 10,660 outlets in 19 countries.

Walmart continues to benefit as inflation draws more shoppers to its value-focused stores, particularly for groceries and health products....

Investing in copper stocks works best for you when the focus is on well-established mining companies with high-quality reserves.

DYE & DURHAM LTD. $18 is a hold. The company (Toronto symbol DND, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 66.9 million; Market cap: $1.2 billion; Dividend yield: 0.4%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.dyedurham.com) is a cloud-based software provider for legal and business professionals.


On July 17, 2020, Dye & Durham completed an initial public offering of 17 million shares at $7.50 each.


Activist firm Engine Capital, which owns 7.1% of the company, now wants to replace six of Dye & Durham’s seven directors with its own nominees at the annual meeting on December 17, 2024....

These two medical-related spinoffs have struggled since they became separate companies. That has attracted the interest of activist investors. While that attention improves the prospects of both firms, we see better opportunities elsewhere.


KENVUE INC....

Diversified manufacturer Honeywell recently announced that it will spin off its Advanced Materials business as a separate firm. That unit make a variety of products, ranging from body armour and pharmaceutical packaging to air-conditioning refrigerants and packaging films.


Activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which owns $5 billion of Honeywell’s shares, instead wants the company to split another way, with one of the new businesses focused on automation, energy and sustainability solutions; the other would be focused on aerospace....

CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL INC., $58.63, is a buy. The stock (symbol CMG on New York) lets you tap this Mexican restaurant chain, headquartered in Denver. The company is a fast-food leader charging slightly higher prices than its competitors but offering better quality food, including naturally raised meat.

The company recently lost CEO Brian Niccol to Starbucks, where he has taken over as its CEO.

Meanwhile, Chipotle has just announced its new CEO as Scott Boatwright....