ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD, $66.62, is a buy. This retailer (Toronto symbol ATD; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (couchetard.com; Shares o/s: 1.1 billion; Market cap: $67.9 billion; Dividend yield: 0.8%) has now agreed to acquire retail assets in Europe from French energy giant TotalEnergies SE for 3.1 billion euros ($4.5 million Cdn.).


Under the proposed deal, Couche-Tard will take over TotalEnergies’ retail networks in Germany and the Netherlands, comprising more than 1,500 service stations....

AltaGas took on a lot of risk with a huge U.S. acquisition in July 2018. The company nonetheless stuck to its promise of selling non-core assets to pay down the debt it took on. At the same time, its regulated cash flows expanded. We still believe in this leader’s strong prospects and its bright outlook....

A: Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF, $156.07, symbol VIG on New York (Units outstanding: 425.0 million; Market cap: $66.3 billion; www.vanguard.com), aims to track the S&P U.S....

A: Church & Dwight Co. Inc., $89.06, symbol CHD on New York (Shares outstanding: 244.0 million; Market cap: $22.0 billion; www.churchdwight.com), is a manufacturer of leading personal care, household, and specialty products.

Founded in 1846, the company is the leading U.S....

A: MarineMax Inc., $27.93, symbol HZO on New York (Shares outstanding: 21.9 million; Market cap: $615.4 million; www.marinemax.com), operates as a recreational boat and yacht retailer, and a services firm for yacht owners in the U.S.

The company sells new and used recreational boats, including pleasure and fishing boats, mega- and small yachts, sport cruisers, ski boats, jet boats, and other recreational boats.

It offers marine parts and accessories comprising marine electronics; dock and anchoring products that include boat fenders, lines, and anchors; boat covers; trailer parts; water sport accessories, which comprise tubes, lines, wakeboards, and skis; engine parts; steering and control systems; corrosion control products and service products; high-performance accessories, including propellers and instruments; and a line of boating accessories such as life jackets, inflatables, and water sports equipment.

MarineMax also provides novelty items, such as shirts, caps, and licence plates; marine engines and equipment; maintenance, repair, and slip and storage accommodation services; and boat or yacht brokerage services.

The company has more than 125 locations worldwide, including 78 dealerships and 57 marinas.

Its businesses include IGY Marinas, which operate luxury marinas in yachting and sport fishing destinations around the world; Fraser Yachts Group and Northrop & Johnson, two leading luxury yacht brokerage and services firms; Cruisers Yachts, one of the world’s premier manufacturers of premium sport yachts and motor yachts; and Intrepid Powerboats, a premier manufacturer of powerboats.

Meanwhile, MarineMax also offers financing and insurance services as well as digital technology products to connect boaters to a network of marinas, dealers, and marine professionals.

In addition, it operates MarineMax Vacations in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, which offers luxury boating adventures to vacationers.

MarineMax has also made 14 acquisitions since April 2019.

On January 5, 2023, the company announced completion of its latest deal: Boatzon is a retail technology platform dedicated to the marine industry....

A: Stella-Jones Inc., $52.97, symbol SJ on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 59.5 million; Market cap: $3.1 billion; Manufacturing sector; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.stella-jones.com), is a manufacturer of pressure-treated wood products....

Last week in this space, I mentioned that beginning investors may develop an unrealistic idea of how much money they can make by delving into short-term stock trading. It seems obvious to them that all it takes is some good advice from an expert.

However, any true investing expert understands that random factors play a big role in short-term stock price fluctuations....

MIDDLEBY CORP., $139.01, symbol MIDD on Nasdaq, designs, manufactures, markets, distributes and services a broad line of (i) foodservice equipment for all types of commercial restaurants and institutional kitchens, (ii) food preparation, cooking, baking, chilling and packaging equipment for food-processing operations, and (iii) premium kitchen equipment, including ranges, ovens, refrigerators, ventilation, dishwashers and outdoor cooking equipment, primarily used in the residential market.

The company owns over 100 brands, including TurboChef, Follett, Star, Viking Range, AGA, and Armor Inox.

Founded in 1888 as a manufacturer of baking ovens, Middleby Marshall Oven Company was acquired in 1983 by TMC Industries Ltd., a publicly traded company that changed its name in 1985 to The Middleby Corporation.

In April 2021, Middleby announced a $4.3 billion takeover bid for Welbilt Inc....

SHOPIFY INC., $61.99, remains a buy. The company (symbol SHOP on Toronto) offers merchants of all sizes Internet-based software to design, set up and manage e-commerce stores across multiple sales channels. It also handles digital payments and shipping.

The stock moved up this week after major U.S....

GREAT-WEST LIFECO INC., $37.28, Toronto symbol GWO, remains a hold.

The company is Canada’s second-largest life insurer, after Manulife Financial. Power Corp. (Toronto symbol POW) owns 68.2% of the firm.

With the March 2023 payment, Great-West raised your quarterly dividend by 6.1%....