A humorous look at the companies that caught our eye, for better or worse, this week
Bank of Nova Scotia (DOG)
Sorry, Scotiabank shareholders. You’re actually poorer than you think. Already Canada’s worst-performing bank stock in 2018 – down about 6 per cent year to date – Scotiabank got a rough reception from investors this week after its quarterly results came up just shy of expectations. Not even a dividend increase from the country’s third-biggest lender could make investors feel better about the bank’s, er, measly profit of $1.9-billion.
BNS - TSX, $75.53, down $1.83 or 3.06 per cent over the week
GameStop (DOG)
In the old days, kids who were addicted to video games at least got a few minutes of exercise walking to the store when they wanted to buy a new game. Now, they don’t even have to leave their bedroom: With more gamers downloading software and playing free online games such as Fortnite, shares of retailer GameStop have plunged by about two-thirds in the past three years. The company said in June that it was exploring a potential sale, but judging by the stock’s hefty drop this week, investors are throwing in their joysticks.
GME - NYSE, US$13.26, down $3.29 or 19.88 per cent over the week
DSW (STAR)
These boots were made for walking … straight to the bank to deposit a pile of cash. Shares of footwear retailer DSW surged after the owner of Designer Shoe Warehouse, Shoe Company and Shoe Warehouse posted second-quarter results well above expectations, including a same-store sales increase of 9.7 per cent. With DSW also boosting its guidance for the full year, the stock just moved up a couple of sizes.
DSW - NYSE, US$33.26, up US$5.90 or 21.56 per cent over the week
Ballard Power Systems (STAR)
Business quiz! Shares of Ballard Power rose after the maker of fuel cells for transportation and other industries: a) announced a breakthrough technology that converts the foul odour from old socks into clean, green energy; b) said on Twitter that it was considering taking the company private and had “funding secured”; c) agreed to sell a 19.9-per-cent stake to Weichai Power for $163-million, making the Chinese automotive and equipment manufacturer Ballard’s largest shareholder. Answer: c.
BLDP - TSX, US$4.66, up US$0.77 or 19.79 per cent over week
Movado Group (DOG)
What time is it? Time to sell shares of watch maker Movado. After gaining more than 50 per cent this year, the shares plunged this week even as sales topped estimates and the company raised its full-year revenue and earnings guidance, helped by strength in Europe and Latin America. The problem? Earnings in the latest quarter only matched expectations and there was some talk on the conference call that watches could potentially get hit by tariffs. Watch out.
MOV - NYSE, US$42.60, down US$8.35 or 16.39 per cent over week
John Heinzl