A humorous look at the companies that caught our eye, for better or worse, this week
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Harley-Davidson
Riding a motorcyle at high speed is exhilarating – except for the part where you crash and die. For a safer thrill, consider investing in Harley-Davidson’s stock. Even as the company posted weaker third-quarter earnings, the shares did a pop-a-wheelie amid signs that a restructuring is bearing fruit and more women, young people and ethnic minorities are embracing its iconic bikes. Rumble rumble rumble.
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Apple
In the old days, the world would stop to watch a man landing on the moon. Now, the world stops to watch Apple unveil an overpriced gadget with a slightly larger – or smaller – screen. Despite the hype surrounding the iPhone 5 and iPad mini, investors booed the tech giant’s fourth-quarter results as iPad sales slipped and earnings missed expectations, battering Apple’s already bruised stock.
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Canfor Pulp Products
Everybody loves dividend stocks these days – well, at least the ones that keep paying dividends. Hammered by lower pulp prices, weaker shipments and maintenance issues at its mills, Canfor Pulp swung to a net loss of $4.6-million for the third quarter from a profit of $23.9-million a year earlier, prompting the board to suspend the dividend. You might say the stock was beaten to a pulp.
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Rogers Communications
Whether it’s the company’s excellent cable package prices, attentive customer service or always-accurate billing statements, everyone has a reason to love Rogers. Here’s one more: The company is making buckets of money. Lifted by data revenue growth of 18 per cent in the third quarter, Canada’s biggest wireless carrier posted better-than-expected profit of $466-million, sending the stock to its highest since 2008. Hurray Rogers!
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Tempur-Pedic
How to lose money quickly: 1) Fall asleep on a park bench with your wallet hanging out of your pants; 2) Wire $5,000 to the “widow of a wealthy Nigerian businessman” to help spirit his fortune out of the country. 3) Invest in Tempur-Pedic. The mattress maker’s shares plunged after the company cut its outlook for a second time this year, citing competition and weaker-than-expected international growth. Investors have a bad case of insomnia.
