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stars and dogs

A humorous look at the companies that caught our eye, for better or worse, this week

NETFLIX (DOG)

“Ungrandfathering.” That’s what we called it when Gramps told us he was moving to the trailer park with his 19-year-old girlfriend. It’s also what Netflix called its attempt to hike prices on long-time customers who were grandfathered into old low-cost deals. Seems many of them suddenly realized that, hey, they could simply cancel the frigging thing. This ungrandfathering thing isn’t working out so well for Netflix (or for Gramps, thanks for asking).

NFLX (Nasdaq), $85.89 (U.S.)

down $12.50 or 12.7% over week




EBAY (STAR)

Sometimes when the missus and I are lounging in our Crocs, listening to our Spice Girl CDs and shopping for Beanie Babies on eBay, we worry that we’re no longer – how do the kids put it? – cool. But I just point to eBay stock, which took off this week after reporting surprisingly strong earnings. The good times are back, baby! And so are we! Must be that Atkins diet we’re on.

EBAY (Nasdaq), $30.49 (U.S.)

up $4.15 or 15.8% over week




NORBORD (STAR)

It can now be revealed: The ultimate Jedi mind trick consists of saying “oriented strand board.” Whisper the phrase and ordinary mortals fall into a deep, long-lasting slumber – until that is, they wake up and realize that if U.S. home construction is picking up speed, so is demand for OSB, plywood’s cheaper and even more boring cousin. Suddenly, the force is with Norbord and other OSB makers.

OSB (TSX), $30.98

up $3.52 or 12.8% over week




NICKEL (STAR)

Best metal headline of the week comes from The Australian newspaper. “Philippines flips the pig nickel finger at China,” it said. Seems some folks Down Under believe the Philippines government isn’t closing down nickel mines out of a sudden outburst of environmental fervour, but rather to gain a bargaining chip in a territorial tussle with China. Either way, that flipped finger is pointing straight up for nickel investors.

Nickel, $10,410 (U.S.)/tonne

up 1.3% over week




CP RAILWAY (STAR)

How do you light a fire under CP Rail stock? By promising the status quo! Chief executive Hunter Harrison, who’s slashed costs at the railway, announced this week he’ll be stepping down – but only sort of. He’ll pass the job to long-time protégé Keith Creel next year but stick around on a consulting gig. So nothing really changes. Which is just how CP Rail investors like things.

CP (TSX), $195.98

up $13.13 or 7.2% over week

Editor's note: An earlier version of this column incorrectly stated the weekly gain for Norbord. The stock was up $3.52 or 12.8% over the week.