Updating Canadian Tire Corp., Canadian National Railway Co., and Torstar Corp.

Article Excerpt

CANADIAN TIRE CORP. $134 (www.canadiantire.ca) has opened a new store in Edmonton that’s three times the size of its typical outlet. The company plans to use this location to test new features, such as a car simulator that lets customers test drive tires in different weather conditions. Other innovations include interactive display screens, and a drive-through area that makes it easier for customers to pick up online orders. Best Buy. CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY CO. $73 (www.cn.ca) faces several challenges, including falling crude-by-rail volumes and higher safety-related costs. However, CN continues to improve its efficiency with new locomotives and tracks. That should help it reach its goal of increasing its dividend payout ratio to 35% of its earnings before one-time items, up from 27% in 2014. Buy. TORSTAR CORP. $6.04 (www.torstar.com) owns 16.1% of ecommerce website Shop.ca, which provides an online platform for over 500 merchants. Shop.ca doesn’t carry inventory or fulfill orders. Instead, it earns commissions on sales of merchandise…