A humorous look at the companies that caught our eye, for better or worse, this week
AGF MANAGEMENT - DOG
Things that fall often:
1) leaves;
2) really drunk people;
3) AGF’s stock price.
Hammered by chronic retail redemptions from its mutual funds, the asset manager’s shares have shed more than two-thirds of their value in the past four years. And with another $406-million of net redemptions in the second quarter, the stock once again landed flat on its face.
AGF.B (TSX), $6.20, down 58¢ or 8.5% over week
HIGH LINER FOODS - STAR
For months, High Liner Foods investors weren’t getting any nibbles at all. But this week, they finally reeled in some gains: Helped by a recent 14-per-cent dividend increase and a deal to supply McDonald’s for its national McLobster sandwich promotion, shares of the seafood processor clawed their way higher. Investors are going back for seconds.
HLF (TSX), $22.87, up $1.41 or 6.6% over week
SONIC CORP. - DOG
Going to a drive-in restaurant is great – until the car-hop accidentally spills a chocolate milkshake in your lap. Sonic shareholders know the feeling: Even as the U.S.-based drive-in chain posted a 27-per-cent jump in third-quarter profit, the shares plunged as Sonic’s full-year guidance came in below expectations and same-store sales growth slowed. Get the napkins!
SONC (Nasdaq), $29.72 (U.S.), down $3.64 or 10.9% over week
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES - STAR
Not fun: Trying to parallel park a Winnebago.
Fun: owning shares of Winnebago Industries.
The maker of motorhomes and trailers moved into the passing lane after the company posted a 7.6-per-cent jump in revenue to $266-million (U.S.) in its third quarter. With profits coming in above expectations and the stock up sharply, investors might actually be able to afford a tank of gas.
WGO (NYSE), $24.46 (U.S.), up $4.59 or 23.1% over week
GREEN DOT - STAR
Now we know what the “Green” stands for in Green Dot: money. Investors made plenty of green stuff this week after the company signed a new five-year agreement to issue and manage Wal-Mart’s MoneyCard reloadable prepaid debit cards. Green Dot’s announcement of a $150-million (U.S.) share buyback also put some greenbacks in investors’ pockets.
GDOT (NYSE), $19.95 (U.S.), up $4.70 or 30.8% over week