Updating ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD, FAIRFAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS and WYNDHAM WORLDWIDE

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ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD $23.22 (Toronto symbol ATD.B: SI Rating: Extra Risk) (1-800-361-2612; www.couche-tard.com; Shares outstanding: 183.6 million; Market cap: $4.3 billion; Dividend yield: 0.7%) has dropped its $2-billion U.S. hostile takeover bid for Casey’s General Stores (symbol CASY on Nasdaq). Couche-Tard allowed its tender offer for all of Casey’s shares to expire at 5:00 p.m. on September 30. Couche-Tard, which was offering $38.50 U.S. a share, decided not to compete with convenience-store operator 7-Eleven’s offer of $40 a share, or $2.1 billion. Casey’s now trades at $42.24, which suggests that investors expect a still higher offer, even though Couche-Tard has dropped out of the bidding. Even without the takeover, we still like Couche-Tard’s growth prospects. Meanwhile, the company has enhanced its reputation as a disciplined bidder that does not overpay for acquisitions. Alimentation Couche-Tard is still a buy. FAIRFAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS $415.10 (Toronto symbol FFH: SI Rating: Average) (416-367-2612; www.fairfax.ca; Shares outstanding: 19.9 million; Market cap: $8.3 billion; Dividend yield: 2.4%) plans to buy an…