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

Baxter’s restructuring lifts forecast

BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. $67 (New York symbol BAX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 534.3 million; Market cap: $35.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.3; Dividend yield: 1.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.baxter.com) makes a variety of medical devices, including intravenous pumps and kidney-dialysis equipment.
The company gets… Read More

Strong U.S. economy will spur them higher

These three U.S. lenders continue to benefit as the improving American economy lifts demand for new loans at higher interest rates. As well, more borrowers are repaying their loans on time. What’s more, all three continue to trade at low multiples to their projected earnings.
J.P…. Read More

Global gains lift MCD

MCDONALD’S CORP. $177 (New York symbol MCD; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector, Shares outstanding: 775.8 million; Market cap: $137.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 6.4; Dividend yield: 2.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.mcdonalds.com) operates over 37,500 fast-food restaurants in 120 countries.
In the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the company’s… Read More

Procter shifts focus for new growth

Procter & Gamble recently completed a major transformation that saw it shed about two-thirds of its brands. That has let it focus on a much smaller portfolio of products, most of which are market leaders.
The company also continues to enjoy the benefits of its multi-year… Read More

New investments enhance Suncor’s outlook

SUNCOR ENERGY INC. $49 (Toronto symbol SU; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 1.6 billion; Market cap: $78.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.2; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.suncor.com) is Canada’s largest integrated oil company, with major projects in the Alberta oil sands. It also owns… Read More

Sale helps Encana’s shift from gas

ENCANA CORP. $15 (Toronto symbol ECA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 956.3 million; Market cap: $14.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.2; Dividend yield: 0.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.encana.com) has agreed to sell its shale oil properties in the San Juan Basin in northern New Mexico. In… Read More

Updating BCE Inc., Bank of Montreal and Emera Inc.

BCE INC. $51 (Toronto symbol BCE; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 898.0 million; Market cap: $45.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.0; Dividend yield: 5.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.bce.ca) stands to gain from the new trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada (called… Read More

Expect rebound as oil prices rise

SHAWCOR LTD. $24 (Toronto symbol SCL; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 70.1 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion; Price-to- sales ratio: 1.1; Dividend yield: 2.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.shawcor.com) is a leading producer of sealants and coatings to keep oil and gas pipelines from… Read More

Heavy-equipment dealers see higher demand

These two distributors of Caterpillar heavy equipment continue to see strong cyclical demand for their products. That has pushed up their share prices, but these stocks are still attractive in relation to their projected earnings.
FINNING INTERNATIONAL INC. $32 (Toronto symbol FTT; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing &… Read More