Cost cuts lift their earnings—and appeal

HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC. $15 (New York symbol HTZ; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 84.1 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion; No dividends paid; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.hertz.com) rents cars and trucks under the Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty banners at 10,200 locations in over 150 countries. Through its Donlen… Read More

One of these targeted firms is a buy

ARCONIC INC. $18 (New York symbol ARNC; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 483.2 million; Market cap: $8.7 billion; Dividend yield: 1.3%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.arconic.com) is a leading maker of engineered-aluminum products for cars and jet engines.
On November 1, 2016, Arconic spun off Alcoa Corp. (New… Read More

Spinoff Spotlight

VF CORP. $72 (New York symbol VF; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 396.8 million; Market cap: $28.6 billion; Dividend yield: 2.7%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.vfc.com) is one of the world’s largest apparel suppliers.
The company will spin off its Lee and Wrangler jeans business in the first half of… Read More

This split will make pure-play leaders

United Technologies recently completed its acquisition of Rockwell Collins—a rival maker of aircraft parts. Like most big acquisitions, this one adds risk, but it also comes with several long-term benefits. Those include giving United Technologies more clout when negotiating new deals with big aircraft makers… Read More

Invest in hospitality two different ways

Studies show that both a spinoff and its parent company perform better than comparable firms for several years following their split. That’s especially so with industry leaders like these two.
WYNDHAM DESTINATIONS $37.47 (New York symbol WYND; TSI Rating: Extra Risk) (973-753-6000; www.wyndhamdestinations.com; Shares outstanding: 97.5 million; Market… Read More

Updating Symantec Corp., Nissan Motor (ADR), and Stuart Olson Inc.

SYMANTEC CORP. $20.72 (Nasdaq symbol SYMC; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (650-527-8000; www.symantec.com; Shares outstanding: 638.9 million; Market cap: $13.2 billion; Dividend yield: 1.5%) sells computer-security technology, including antivirus and email-filtering software, to businesses and consumers.
The company has now formed a partnership with Fortinet, symbol FTNT on Nasdaq. Both companies… Read More

These retailers face tough competition

BMTC GROUP $13.82 (Toronto symbol GBT; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (514-648-5757; No website; Shares outstanding: 34.7 million; Market cap: $477.9 million; Dividend yield: 2.0%) has 36 outlets and is one of Quebec’s biggest retailers of furniture, electronics and appliances. The company mainly sells these items through two chains:… Read More

Calian expands in health

CALIAN GROUP $27.28 (Toronto symbol CGY; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (613-599-8600; www.calian.com; Shares outstanding: 7.8 million; Market capitalization: $218.2 million; Dividend yield: 4.1%) continues to build its backlog of health services contracts by signing additional agreements with its existing clients.
This latest Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) contract is for a.. Read More

Hold on to these service providers

FIRSTSERVICE CORP. $92.24 (Toronto symbol FSV; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (416-960-9500; www.firstservice.com; Shares outstanding: 34.6 million; Market cap: $3.2 billion; Dividend yield: 0.8%) set up its commercial real estate business, Colliers International Group, as a separate company on June 1, 2015. It then handed out shares to its… Read More

Yamana is a gold buy

YAMANA GOLD $3.19 (Toronto symbol YRI; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (416-815-0220; www. yamana.com; Shares outstanding: 948.9 million; Market cap: $2.9 billion; Dividend yield: 0.8%) owns and operates seven gold mines, in Canada, Brazil, Chile and Argentina.This includes the Cerro Moro gold/silver mine in Argentina. It started up in mid-2018.
Yamana… Read More