Analysts follow as many as 20 stocks, most of which are rated “buys”. Of those buys, an analyst has one or two special favorites seen as most suitable for new   Read More

U.S. Key stock PepsiCo earned more in 2014, excluding currency changes and one-time items. It expects to earn more in 2015. This gives this global consumer goods stock the means   Read More

Many retailers have closed all, or trimmed the number of, their Canadian stores. This gives the successful survivors room to expand. Continue to invest in consumer goods stocks such as   Read More

Johnson & Johnson has gone through a spate of recent problems, but its size, earnings record, dividend record, productivity and R & D still make this healthcare solutions giant a   Read More

In mid-2015 Baxter will split into two companies. One will focus on medical products for healthcare solutions; the other on developing and marketing biopharmaceuticals.
On March 9, there was an anniversary   Read More

New digital initiatives, such as the “buy online, pick up in store” sales channel, are important drivers in attracting long-term, repeat customers.
After speaking with Home Depot Inc.’s (NYSE─HD) management, equity   Read More

Metro Inc. (TSX─MRU) did well in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. Its sales and earnings per share climbed. The company is expected to earn more for the full year.   Read More

Often a small mutual fund is able to outperform large funds by getting a couple of big winners early on. This may attract the attention of investors who can quickly   Read More

 In fiscal 2014, Richelieu Hardware (TSX─RCH) earned record profits for the fifth year in a row. It’s expected to earn record profits again in fiscal 2015 (fiscal years end November   Read More

New Look Eyewear Inc. (TSX─BCI) brought in results for the third quarter of fiscal ’14 that were mainly in line with Toronto-based analyst Doug Cooper’s own forecast. Mr. Cooper is   Read More

 In the first quarter of fiscal 2016, Shaw Communications’ existing businesses generated lower revenue and operating income than a year earlier. But newly-acquired ViaWest offset the shortfall.

The company has   Read More

Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. (TSX─WB) showed some pretty impressive slope side action during its fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 according to Sheila Broughton, managing director and head of research at   Read More

 Alimentation Couche-Tard (TSX—ATD.B), one of our Key stocks, is acquiring The Pantry in the U.S. That company operates 1,512 convenience stores in 13 states. This transaction is large. But given   Read More

Sometimes when the outlook for growth at a company stalls, it can present an opportunity to scoop up valuable shares at bargain prices. On the other hand, it may be   Read More

This past year, 2014, was a difficult one for Europe. According to estimates provided by The Economist, the euro area is likely to have grown just 0.8 per cent for   Read More

Montreal-based Gildan Activewear Inc. (TSX—GIL; NYSE—GIL) earned more in the year to October 5. It expects to earn more in the year ahead. This supplier of branded basic family apparel   Read More

Alimentation Couche-Tard is earning record profits again. We expect the company to earn record profits this year and next. It remains a buy for further long-term gains and small but   Read More

Metro Inc. earned more in fiscal 2014, which sent its share up. This supermarket chain is expected to earn more in fiscal 2015 (which began on September 28) and fiscal   Read More

Wall Street strategists have started to issue their 2015 forecasts. And if a report by Goldman Sachs is any indication of the forecasts to follow, you might want to forget   Read More

We’ve always held a high opinion of dollar-cost averaging. That’s because we’ve often seen this investment strategy richly reward those who follow it.

To dollar-cost average, of course, you invest equal   Read More

American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs, give you ownership in companies based outside of Canada and the U.S. This can give you several benefits. One is diversification—geo-political and industrial. It’s tempting   Read More

Corus Entertainment (TSX—CJR.B) earned more in fiscal 2014. But since it earned less than expected and lowered its expectations for 2015, its share price fell.

Corus is expected to earn more   Read More

What impresses Barry Schwartz about Gerald Soloway, CEO of Home Capital Group Inc. (HCG–TSX) is his commitment — and, obviously his love of what he does.

After all, Mr. Soloway may   Read More

Key market indicators are back in a ‘buy’ mode and it’s time to buy says Keith Richards, a portfolio manager at ValueTrend Wealth Management in Barrie, Ontario.

“It’s no secret that   Read More

Hardwoods Distribution (TSX—HWD) is doing better than it seems. We expect it to earn more this year and next. It remains a buy for long-term share price gains and dividends.

In   Read More

Headquartered in Montreal, Quebecor Inc. (TSX–QBR.B) focuses primarily—but not only—on the Quebec market. Its sprawling communications and media empire includes cell phone, cable and Internet services, as well as a   Read More

Technology and health care analyst Steven Zicherman of Vancouver-based Odlum Brown reiterates his “buy” recommendation and 12-month target price of $117 for health-care giant Johnson & Johnson (JNJ—NYSE).

The company, which   Read More

Tim Hortons, one of our Key stocks, has agreed to its acquisition by Burger King to form a new company. You’ll receive much more than Tim Hortons’ former market price.   Read More

Sometimes things just go on and on and on. Take, for example, the loonie’s duel with the greenback.

So observes Keith Richards, Barrie, Ontario-based portfolio manager of Value Trend/Wealth Management, who   Read More

          Saputo Inc. earned more in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. It has raised its dividend for 15 years in a row. The company is also paying a stock   Read More

Between now and 2016, Montreal-based Dollarama Inc. (DOL-TSX) reportedly wants to open from 70 to 80 new stores a year in Canada. Does that make it recklessly ambitious?

No, it doesn’t,   Read More

Analyst Sheila Broughton, head of research for Western Canadian-based PI Financial, was pleasantly surprised when Premium Brands Holdings Corp. (PBH-TSX) reported stronger than forecast first quarter results.

Saying the company’s outlook   Read More

Apple Inc. – both the business and the stock – has fanatically devoted fans, but Credit Suisse analyst Kulbinder Garcha is not among them.

His maintaining a “neutral” recommendation almost looks   Read More

THE MARKET THIS MONTH: June is in the weakest six-month period for stock prices. Ongoing rising stocks and a long time with no stock market setback are risks. If a   Read More

A look back at some investment hits and misses

When I worked for a major brokerage firm many years ago, I was always amazed to see how few of the Investment   Read More

Analysts follow as many as 20 stocks, most of which are rated “buys.” Of those buys, an analyst has one or two special favorites seen as most suitable for new   Read More

Analysts follow as many as 20 stocks, most of which are rated “buys.” Of those buys, an analyst has one or two special favorites seen as most suitable for new   Read More

Nova Scotia-based Clearwater Seafoods is one of 10 food stocks that we regularly examine on The Back Page. Since we published our December 13, 2013 issue, its shares have inched   Read More

Not too long ago, this advisory sold its remaining stake in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT-NYSE, $77.11) at the $56 US level for a tidy profit. As editor Barry S. Arnold   Read More

This overly bullish market may be expecting a pullback this summer. Time to.. Get Defensive!

There has been a noticeable rotation lately out of higher-risk securities such as biotech, U.S. Small   Read More

Building an investment portfolio is a particularly difficult task at potential turning points in the market.

At market lows, investors not only have to be aware of additional downside risk, but   Read More

We update you on each of our Recommended Common Stocks on a rotating basis every three months, as well as in between those regular updates where events warrant. The following   Read More

In view of our previous recommendation to ETF investors that they buy unhedged ETFs when investing in the U.S., we now recommend such an ETF for investors seeking exposure to   Read More

Correction will coincide with six-month seasonal downswing

We’re still tiptoeing through queasy stock markets. So, don’t rest easy just yet.

A correction of some sort is under way — one that neatly   Read More

Worries over emerging markets continue, but North America looks poised for a recovery

The stock market has been in quite a funk these last few weeks.

Expectations of a reduction in stimulus   Read More

When you buy stocks in sectors and sub-sectors of the market, keep your goals in mind. If you’re a conservative, income-seeking investor, focus on utilities, financial stocks and consumer goods   Read More

We’ve added Gildan Activewear to our Key stocks. It gives you a manufacturer, of which the Canadian market has relatively few.
Gildan manufactures family apparel including sports shirts, T-shirts, fleece, socks   Read More

This $99,516 portfolio for income shows how you can buy stocks and trusts to receive a regular paycheque. Seven stocks pay dividends at different times of the year. Cycle 1   Read More

It’s best to diversify across the five main sectors of the economy: finance, utilities, consumer products and services, manufacturing and resources. Each of these broad sectors is made up of   Read More

Our Investment Planning Committee believes the stocks in the column below have little appeal and should underperform the market over the next six months. We view them as holds or   Read More

At first glance, it appears that small stocks do much better than big stocks.

But look closer and both groups do about the same most of the time.

From 1926 through 2006,   Read More

The Toronto market is up in peaceful fashion.

Please note the below data is to February 21, and the Toronto market has risen since then,

We are far enough into the New   Read More