MP MATERIALS CORP., $21.57, is a buy. The company, symbol MP on New York, is the owner and operator of the Mountain Pass mine (California), the only significant rare-earth commercial mining and processing site in North America.

Rare-earth elements are used in a variety of modern devices and applications: magnets in small and large motors; glass additives and glass polishing compounds; rechargeable batteries; television and computer screens; lighting; X-ray machines; and lasers.

This week, the company’s flagship Independence facility in Fort Worth, Texas, commenced commercial production of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) metal and trial production of automotive-grade, sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets.

NdFeB magnets—he world’s most powerful and efficient permanent magnets—are essential components in vehicles, drones, robotics, electronics, and aerospace and defence systems....

J.P. MORGAN CHASE & CO., $264.84, New York symbol JPM, is a buy.

Morgan is the largest banking firm in the U.S., with total assets of $4.00 trillion as of December 31, 2024.

With the October 2024, payment, Morgan increased your quarterly dividend by 8.7%, to $1.25 a share from $1.15....

PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., $164.41, New York symbol PG, is a buy.

The company is one of the world’s largest makers of household and personal-care goods. Major brands include Tide (laundry detergent), Pampers (diapers), Gillette (razors), Crest (toothpaste) and Vicks (cold remedies).

In its fiscal 2025 second quarter, ended December 31, 2024, Procter’s sales rose 2.1%, to $21.88 billion from $21.44 billion a year earlier....

LOBLAW COMPANIES LTD., $186.54, Toronto symbol L, is a buy.

The company operates 1,113 supermarkets under several banners, including Loblaws, Zehrs, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore and No Frills. It also operates 1,354 associate-owned Shoppers Drug Mart locations.

Loblaw is now selling its 42 Wellwise by Shoppers outlets to Verillium Health Care....

HOWARD HUGHES HOLDINGS INC. $75 is a hold. The company (New York symbol HHH; Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 49.7 million; Market cap: $3.7 billion; No dividend paid; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.howardhughes.com) was originally part of billionaire businessman Howard Hughes’ real estate holdings....

Why we like spinoffs so much
We think that spinoffs are the closest thing you can find to a sure thing for two main reasons:


1) The management of a parent company will only hand out shares in a subsidiary to its own investors if it’s all but certain that business, and the parent, will be better off after the spinoff.


2) Spinoffs involve a lot of work and legal fees....

FLOWCO HOLDINGS INC. has filed paperwork with U.S. regulators for an initial public offering (IPO) of 17.8 million class A common shares at between $21.00 and $23.00 a share. The shares will trade on the New York exchange under the symbol “FLOC.” Insiders will control roughly 75% of the voting power after the IPO.


Based in Houston, Texas, Flowco makes a variety of equipment to help oil and gas producers capture methane emissions from their wells....

NORDSTROM INC. $24 is a hold. The retailer (New York symbol JWN; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 164.9 million; Market cap: $4.0 billion; Dividend yield: 3.2%; Takeover Target Rating: Highest; www.nordstrom.com) owns and operates 381 stores in the U.S.....

Despite owning some of the world’s best-known personal care brands, the shares of Edgewell are down over 60% since it became a separate company in July 2015.


However, a new cost-cutting plan should improve its profitability and let it pay down its high debt load....

LENNAR CORP. $136 is a spinoff buy. The company (New York symbol LEN; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 271.2 million; Market cap: $36.9 billion; Dividend yield: 1.4%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.lennar.com) is one of the largest homebuilders in the U.S.


The company will spin off its land acquisition business as a separate firm called Millrose Properties Inc....