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ASTERA LABS INC. $73 is a hold. The company (Nasdaq symbol ALAB; Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 155.5 million; Market cap: $11.4 billion; No dividend paid; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.asteralabs.com) designs computer chips that speed up the transfer of data between cloud-based networks and artificial intelligence (AI) software applications.


On March 22, 2024, the company completed an initial public offering of 19.8 million common shares at $36.00 a share....

INDIGO BOOKS & MUSIC INC. $2.46 is a hold. The company (Toronto symbol IDG; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 27.8 million; Market cap: $68.4 million; No dividend paid; Takeover Target Rating: Lowest; www.chapters.indigo.ca) operates 172 bookstores, mainly under the Chapters and Indigo banners.


Indigo’s major shareholders, Gerald W....
Medical device maker Enovis (formerly called Colfax) spun off its non-medical businesses in 2022 as a separate firm called ESAB.


So far, the former parent is down 19% while the new firm is up an impressive 113%. We feel Enovis will turn around given it benefits from the aging population....
VISTA OUTDOOR INC. $32 is a hold. The company (New York symbol VSTO; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 58.1 million; Market cap: $1.9 billion; No dividends paid; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.vistaoutdoor.com) is a leading maker of consumer products for the outdoor sports and recreation markets....
These two global leaders now plan to shrink their operations. That’s good news for investors, as stock markets tend to prefer—and reward—companies with easy-to-understand businesses rather than those with complex conglomerate structures. Even so, we prefer Unilever over Sony for your new buying.


UNILEVER PLC (ADR) $47 is a spinoff buy. The company (New York symbol UL; Consumer sector; ADRs outstanding: 2.5 billion; Market cap: $117.5 billion; Dividend yield: 4.0%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.unilever.com) is one of the world’s largest makers of branded and packaged consumer goods....

AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO. INC. $81 is a hold. Formed in 1906, this Columbus, Ohio-based company (New York symbol AEP; Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 526.6 million; Market cap: $42.7 billion; Dividend yield: 4.4%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.aep.com) generates and distributes electricity to 5.6 million customers in 11 U.S....
These two stocks have moved up recently in response to activist pressure. However, we feel Disney is in a better position to keep moving higher for its investors.


WALT DISNEY CO. $113 is still a buy. The company (New York symbol DIS; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.8 billion; Market cap: $203.4 billion; Dividend yield: 0.8%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.thewaltdisneycompany.com) is an entertainment and media conglomerate headquartered in Burbank, California....

On October 3, 2023, the old Kellogg Company split into two independent firms: WK Kellogg and Kellanova.


Investors received one WK Kellogg share for every four Kellogg shares they held. The former parent then changed its name to Kellanova....
ALAMOS GOLD INC. $21 is a buy. The gold miner (Toronto symbol AGI; Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 397.8 million; Market cap: $8.4 billion; Dividend yield: 0.7%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.alamosgold.com) is now buying Argonaut Gold Inc....
On November 9, 2016, foodmaker Conagra Brands spun off its potato-processing operations as Lamb Weston. Investors received one share of the new firm for every three Conagra shares they held.


Just in April, Lamb Weston’s shares dropped 20% after the company reported disappointing quarterly results....