Information providers shrink in order to grow

Article Excerpt

These three information providers continue to adjust as technology disrupts their business models. In particular, the Internet has cut demand for their print offerings. In response, Thomson and Torstar have aggressively cut costs and shifted to digital offerings. In Transcontinental’s case, it continues to apply its printing expertise to the business of plastic packaging. We feel those moves will improve their long-term prospects. However, only two of them are buys right now. THOMSON REUTERS CORP. $55 (Toronto symbol TRI; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 709.8 million; Market cap: $39.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.5; Dividend yield: 3.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.thomsonreuters. com) sells specialized information products to financial clients such as banks and brokerages. In 2016, this business supplied 54% of its revenue. The company also sells specialized information to professionals in the legal (30%), and tax and accounting (13%) fields. Its Reuters news division supplied the remaining 3%. In the past few years, the company has sold many of…