Constellation Software Inc. (DOG)
For years, making money on Constellation Software was as easy as taking candy from a baby. Since the company went public in 2006, the stock’s annualized returns have averaged north of 30 per cent, turning a $10,000 investment into more than $3-million. But lately, the baby has been fighting back with its rattle. With AI threatening to upend the software industry and Constellation founder Mark Leonard resigning as president this week for unspecified health reasons, some investors are taking the candy they’ve accumulated and going home.
Global X MSCI Argentina ETF (STAR)
Knock knock
Who’s there?
Javier
Javier who?
Javier any cash to bail me out of this mess?
With Argentine President Javier Milei’s right-wing government mired in corruption allegations and markets tumbling ahead of October’s midterm elections, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent promised that the U.S. is “fully prepared to do what is necessary” to stabilize Argentina’s finances and help Donald Trump’s buddy in Buenos Aires. Argentine stocks, bonds and the peso all rallied on the news – but rescuing Mr. Milei’s plunging political support may be the trickiest task of all.
Dentalcorp Holdings Ltd. (STAR)
Business quiz! Shares of Dentalcorp Holdings rose after the acquirer of dental practices: a) unveiled a new loyalty program, in which patients can earn a free bitewing exam for every five cavities filled; b) announced that it would no longer use a string tied to a doorknob to remove rotten teeth, citing “recent advancements in extraction technology”; c) agreed to be acquired by Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR LLC for $11 a share, or about $2.2-billion, excluding debt. Answer: c.
Lithium Americas Corp. (STAR)
Uncle Sam used to say, “I want YOU for U.S. Army.” Now, he wants YOU to pass him your share certificates. Weeks after taking a 10-per-cent stake in Intel, the Trump administration is seeking an equity interest in Lithium Americas as the government renegotiates terms of a US$2.2-billion loan for the company’s Thacker Pass mine in Nevada. With shares of the Vancouver-based miner soaring on the news, investors are now speculating about which company the U.S. government will target next. Given Donald Trump’s diet, a joint venture with McDonald’s seems like a no-brainer.
Sezzle Inc. (DOG)
You might say Sezzle has lost its sizzle. After soaring more than 300 per cent earlier this year, shares of the “buy now, pay later” financing company have suffered a sharp reversal as it faces growing competition from rivals including Shopify. Sezzle sued the Canadian company in June, alleging it is stifling competition and violating antitrust laws, but Shopify recently asked a U.S. judge to throw out the lawsuit, arguing that “all of Sezzle’s antitrust theories are implausible and built on nothing but Sezzle’s dissatisfaction with its own lost business.” With Sezzle’s stock down more than 50 per cent from its July record high, investors are more than a little dissatisfied, too.