Top pick up 43.0%

Article Excerpt

SYMANTEC CORP. $22.92 (Nasdaq symbol SYMC; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (650-527- 8000; www.symantec.com; Shares outstanding: 615.5 million; Market cap: $14.2 billion; Dividend yield: 1.3%) sells computer-security technology, including antivirus and emailfiltering software, to businesses and consumers. With Symantec you’re up 43.0% (including a $4-a-share special dividend) since we recommended it in our February issue as a top pick for 2016. We made three top picks this year. In a period of rising market volatility and international tension, we felt it was more important than ever to diversify, rather than focus on a single pick for the year. Our other two top picks for 2016 were WestJet and AGT Food & Ingredients (see page 67). Symantec has now completed the purchase of privately held Blue Coat for $4.65 billion. That business contributes leadingedge software to protect clients from cyberattacks. As well, Blue Coat’s CEO Greg Clark has taken over at Symantec. We think the stock, and our other two top picks, still…