Topic: How To Invest

Pat: I have a stock pick that I really want to buy. You have recommended CP and CNR on Toronto. What is your view on Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.?

Article Excerpt

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., $85.59, symbol BNI on New York (Shares outstanding: 340.0 million; Market cap: $29.1 billion), owns one of the largest railroad networks in the U.S., with about 51,500 kilometres of track. The recession has hit the company hard. The economy is recovering, but construction and manufacturing, two segments that are very important to Burlington Northern, may be slower to bounce back. Consumer and industrial products make up 55% of the Burlington Northern’s shipments. The shares have risen from $50.58 in March, but they may have trouble moving higher. We don’t recommend Burlington Northern. If you are looking to invest in a railway, we still prefer Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd., $49.96, symbol CP on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 168.2 million; Market cap: $8.4 billion), and Canadian National Railway Co., $54.79, symbol CNR on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 469.5 million; Market cap: $25.7 billion). Both stand to gain from their focus on shipping resources and commodities. For example, 60% of CN’s…