Updating HOME CAPITAL GROUP INC., HART STORES INC. and SHAWCOR LTD.

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HOME CAPITAL GROUP INC. $28 has adopted a shareholders’ rights plan, or “poison pill.” These plans let existing shareholders buy new shares at a discount if a hostile bidder acquires more than 20% of the outstanding shares. The extra shares would then drive up the cost to a potential buyer. While these plans sometimes protect management more than investors, we feel that the company’s strong prospects offset this risk. Home Capital has also increased its quarterly dividend by 7.7%, to $0.14 from $0.13. The new annual rate of $0.56 yields 2.0%. Best Buy. HART STORES INC. $1.30 will conserve cash for expansion by suspending its annual dividend payments. It last paid $0.10 a share on July 10, 2008. Hart currently operates 90 mid-sized department stores in eastern Canada, and plans to open a new store in Ontario later this year. The company focuses on smaller cities that big retail chains tend to avoid, which cuts its risk. Hold. SHAWCOR LTD. $20 has…