ETF Performance Highlights

October 2018 was a month that investors in risky assets would rather forget. Some of the top-performing ETFs over the preceding months lost considerable value in October. For example, the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF (HMMJ) dropped 30%, although it remains up 76% over a year earlier… Read More

Manulife cuts its risk

MANULIFE FINANCIAL CORP. $21.44 (Toronto symbol MFC; Shares o/s: 2.0 billion; Market cap: $42.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 4.7%; www.manulife.ca) is Canada’s largest life insurer.
Manulife has entered into agreements with three reinsurers on $13 billion of its riskiest annuity and universal life policies in… Read More

Allied’s new project lands a big tenant

ALLIED PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $42 (Toronto symbol AP.UN; Cyclical-Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Units o/s: 103.8 million; Market cap: $4.4 billion; Dividend yield: 3.7%; Divd. Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.alliedreit.com) owns 147 office buildings, mainly in major Canadian cities.
With the January 2018 payment,… Read More

Updating Gannett Co. Inc., Kraft Heinz Co., and Diebold Nixdorf Inc.

GANNETT CO., INC. $9.45 (New York symbol GCI; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector: Shares outstanding: 112.8 million; Market cap: $1.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.4; Dividend yield: 6.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.gannett.com) publishes over 100 U.S. daily newspapers and their associated websites. That includes the company’s flagship daily USAToday… Read More

New ethanol rules a plus for Archer

ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO. $48 (New York symbol ADM; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares o/s: 559.7 million; Market cap: $26.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.4; Divd. yield: 2.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.adm.com) processes corn, wheat, soybeans, flaxseed, peanuts and other crops to make a.. Read More

Sale frees up cash for buybacks

CHEVRON CORP. $110 (New York symbol CVX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares o/s: 1.9 billion; Market cap: $209.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.5; Divd. yield: 4.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.chevron.com) continues to sell some of its less-important assets to focus on its main oil and gas operations.
As… Read More

Adobe makes a big buy

ADOBE SYSTEMS INC. $258.91 (Nasdaq symbol ADBE; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (408-536-6000; www.adobe.com; Shares o/s: 488.1 million; Market cap: $126.4 billion; No dividends paid) has agreed to buy marketing-automation firm Marketo for $4.75 billion.
Marketo helps brands track their customers’ actions online, from the time they get an email to… Read More

Drilling rebound will spur their gains

MAJOR DRILLING $4.90 (Toronto symbol MDI; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (1-866-264-3986; www.majordrilling.com; Shares outstanding: 80.3 million; Market cap: $393.5 million; No dividends paid) is a large contract driller that mainly serves the mining industry.
Major believes that mining activity continues to deplete the world’s more easily accessible mineral reserves. That… Read More

Nissan picks Android

NISSAN MOTOR (ADR) $17.95 (Nasdaq symbol NSANY; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average) (310-771-3111; www.nissan-global.com; ADRs o/s: 2.1 billion; Market cap: $38.0 billion; Dividend yield: 3.3%) will now adopt Android infotainment systems by Alphabet’s Google for its next generation of in-car systems and dashboard displays. They launch in 2021.
Drivers will… Read More

Cost cutting sets these two up for gains

WAJAX CORP. $25.29 (Toronto symbol WJX; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (905-212-3300; www.wajax.ca; Shares outstanding: 20.0 million; Market cap: $506.5 million; Dividend yield: 4.0%) sells and services cranes, forklifts and other heavy equipment. It also provides related parts and systems such as ball bearings, hoses, diesel engines and… Read More