Gains ahead for these publishers

Article Excerpt

Torstar and Transcontinental should continue to benefit from rising advertising revenue as the economy improves. As well, both companies have bought new, efficient presses that have lowered their operating costs. Moreover, both are cheap in relation to their earnings. TORSTAR CORP. $15 (Toronto symbol TS.B; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 79.1 million; Market cap: $1.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 2.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.torstar.com) publishes The Toronto Star, which is Canada’s largest daily newspaper by circulation. The company also publishes three other daily newspapers and over 100 weeklies, mainly in southern Ontario. Newspapers account for about 70% of Torstar’s revenue, and 60% of its earnings. The company’s other main business is wholly owned Harlequin Enterprises Ltd., the world’s leading publisher of romance novels. Torstar recently received $291.6 million from the sale of its 20% stake in CTVglobemedia to BCE Inc. (Toronto symbol BCE). This business owns CTV Television and other broadcasting businesses. The company will probably use some…