Updates on your Conservative stocks: Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Finning International Inc. and Molson Coors Canada Inc.

Article Excerpt

MAPLE LEAF FOODS INC. $21 (www.mapleleaffoods.com) is still a hold. The processed-meat producer continues to invest heavily in the fast-growing meat substitute market to add value for investors. Annual sales of those products rose 27.3% to $176.4 million in 2019. The company aims to expand yearly plant-based protein sales to $3 billion by 2029. Maple Leaf is also raising your quarterly dividend 10.3%, to $0.16 a share from $0.145. The new annual rate of $0.64 yields 3.0%. However, you should note that higher costs due to the expansion of its plant-based operations will hold back its earnings for the next year or two. FINNING INTERNATIONAL INC. $15 (www.finning.com) is a buy. The stock is down 38% in the past year, as falling prices for oil, copper and other commodities have hurt demand from drillers and mining firms for the company’s heavy equipment. However, Finning’s strong reputation will help it rebound quickly when commodities prices move up again. MOLSON COORS CANADA INC. $59 (www.molsoncoors.com) is still a buy. In response to slowing…