Hot Canadian Companies To Own In Right Now

NASA will be hitching rides on Russian rockets for at least three more years.

Last week, NASA announced the signing of a $424 million extension of its contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency, also known as Roscosmos, hiring the latter to transport U.S., Canadian, European, and Japanese astronauts to the International Space Station through 2016. The contract also extends a deal for Roscosmos to bring said astronauts back from the ISS through June 2017.�

NASA hopes to bring U.S. domestic space transport back on line by 2017, with private contractors including Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) , Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT  ) , Sierra Nevada, and SpaceX all vying to provide a "space taxi" service to ISS for the USA. Until then, however, NASA must piggyback on Russian rockets and ride in Soyuz space capsules.

Hot Canadian Companies To Own In Right Now: Joe's Jeans Inc.(JOEZ)

Joe?s Jeans Inc. designs, produces, and sells apparel and apparel-related products worldwide. Its product line comprises women?s and men?s denim jeans, pants, shirts, sweaters, jackets, and other apparel products under the Joe?s brand. The company also offers women?s handbags and clutches, shoes, belts, and leather goods under various license agreements. In addition, it provides children?s products consisting of denim bottoms, tops, T-shirts, and jackets for infants, toddlers, girls, and boys. The company sells its products to various retailers, including department stores, specialty stores, and distributors, as well as through its retail stores; and through the Internet site, joesjeans.com/shop. As of November 30, 2011, it operated 17 outlet stores and 5 full price retail stores. The company was formerly known as Innovo Group Inc. and changed its name to Joe?s Jeans Inc. in October 2007. Joe?s Jeans Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Commerce, California.

Hot Canadian Companies To Own In Right Now: John B. Sanfilippo & Son Inc.(JBSS)

John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. engages in the processing and marketing of tree nuts and peanuts in the United States. It offers raw and processed nuts, including peanuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, pecans, pistachios, filberts, cashews, English walnuts, black walnuts, pine nuts, and macadamia nuts. The company provides nut products in various styles and seasonings, such as natural, blanched, oil roasted, dry roasted, unsalted, honey roasted, flavored, spicy, butter toffee, praline, and cinnamon toasted. It also offers peanut butter; food and snack products comprising snack mixes, salad toppings, natural snacks, trail mixes, dried fruit, and chocolate and yogurt coated products; baking ingredients; bulk food products; sunflower seeds, almond butter, sesame sticks, and other sesame snack products; and toppings for ice cream and yogurt. The company provides its products under various private labels, as well as under the Fisher, Orchard Valley Harvest, and Sunshine Country brand na mes. John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. markets its products through its own sales department, a network of independent brokers, and various independent distributors and suppliers to retailers and wholesalers, as well as to industrial, food service, and contract packaging customers. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Elgin, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James K. Glassman]

   One bag of nuts is like any other, right? Not at John B. Sanfilippo & Sons (symbol: JBSS). The Elgin, Ill., nut processor has done much to make its brands -- Fisher and Orchard Valley Harvest -- stand out. Small innovations, such as the use of resealable bags, are just a start. The firm launches new products every year -- such as vanilla-flavored almonds in 2012. Adam Strauss, co-manager of Appleseed Fund, expects a 44% bump in 2013 profits from 2012. The stock, which has a market value of just $184 million, sells for 11 times estimated 2013 earnings.

5 Best Blue Chip Stocks To Invest In 2014: National CineMedia Inc.(NCMI)

National CineMedia, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates a digital in-theatre network in North America. It develops, produces, sells, and distributes various versions of a branded, pre-feature entertainment, and advertising program called ?FirstLook? on theatre screens and advertising programming on its lobby entertainment network; and sells various forms of advertising and promotions in theatre lobbies. The company distributes Fathom business and consumer entertainment events through digital content network and live digital broadcast network utilizing its proprietary digital content software. It also facilitates business meetings, church services, and corporate marketing/communication events in the movie theatres throughout its theatre network; and distributes entertainment programming products, which include live and pre-recorded concerts, opera, symphony, concert and DVD product releases, theatrical premieres, Broadway plays, and other music events, as well as live sports and other special events. In addition, the company provides its services to third-party theatre circuits through network affiliate agreements. As of August 4, 2011, its advertising network had approximately 18,100 digital screens. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeff Reeves]

  National CineMedia (NASDAQ: NCMI) is a massive in-theatre advertising network across North America, serving ads on screen and throughout cinema properties that reach almost 18,000 movie screens.

  Current Yield: 5% (80 cents a share annually)

  Dividend History: In June 2010, the company paid 18 cents a share for its quarterly dividend. This year, CineMedia will pay 20 cents a share. That’s an 11% dividend increase.

  Dividend Outlook: According to Bloomberg, National CineMedia has a three-year expected dividend growth rate of 10.3%.

  Recent Performance: The biggest flaw in NCMI is its recent performance. The company recently swung to a quarterly loss in its latest earnings report, and shares are off almost 20% year-to-date in 2011.

  Strong Outlook for Shares: Though a bit risky due to its recent earnings and stock performance, NCMI may be a strong growth buy as advertisers return to the screen and movie-goers head back to the theater. Revenue increased 9% from 2009 to 2010, and is set to grow 9% again this year. As we enter the blockbuster summer movie season, NCMI may be a good buy before a rebound.