Activist targets: 2 holds and 1 buy

We pay close attention to the moves of activist investors as they tend to seek companies that can boost their value by spinning off or selling undervalued assets. We advise against buying Freshpet or Shake Shack right now, but activist pressure improves the prospects of… Read More

Strong brands boost earnings

KRAFT HEINZ CO. $40 is a buy. The company (Nasdaq symbol KHC; Income Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.2 billion; Market cap: $48.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.9; Dividend yield: 4.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.kraftheinzcompany.com) is a leading producer of processed foods. Its top brands include Velveeta and… Read More

Maple Leaf re-formulates fake meat

MAPLE LEAF FOODS INC. $26 is still a hold. The company (Toronto symbol MFI; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 123.7 million; Market cap: $3.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 3.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.mapleleaffoods.com) sells fresh and prepared meats under the Maple Leaf and Schneider… Read More