More gains ahead

Article Excerpt

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY $74.58 (Toronto symbol CP; Shares outstanding: 170.9 million; Market cap: $12.7 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 1.9%; www.cpr.ca) is the 2012 “Stock of the Year” for The Successful Investor, our conservative growth advisory. We chose CP early this year because we liked its plan to increase its efficiency. As well, a prominent U.S.-based activist investment firm, Pershing Square Capital Management, had acquired 14.2% of CP and was pushing for more changes. We thought that would further boost the company’s earnings and share price. Despite a market downturn, CP’s stock is up 8.1% since our Successful Investor recommendation. We think it has further gains ahead. The company’s shareholders have just voted in favour of Pershing Square’s proposals. As well, Pershing Square has now replaced seven of CP’s 16 directors with its own nominees. CP’s chairman, John Cleghorn, and chief executive officer, Fred Green, have also resigned. Pershing will probably try to install Hunter Harrison, the successful former CEO of rival CN…