logo
‘Go North' video touts Sault as a business-friendly destination

‘Go North' video touts Sault as a business-friendly destination

CTV News16-07-2025
Northern Ontario Watch
FONOM's new 'Go North' video highlights Sault Ste. Marie, the Algoma District and Soo Falls Brewery, to promote northern Ontario as a prime business destination. The campaign targets southern Ontario firms, aiming to attract investment while showcasing the region's appeal.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The Best Growth Stocks I'd Buy Right Now
The Best Growth Stocks I'd Buy Right Now

Globe and Mail

timean hour ago

  • Globe and Mail

The Best Growth Stocks I'd Buy Right Now

Key Points Intuitive Surgical continues to lead the way in robotic surgical instruments. Restaurant chain Cava Group is making strides where some rivals are faltering. 10 stocks we like better than Intuitive Surgical › If you're a growth-oriented investor like me, you've probably seen your portfolio experience its fair share of ups and downs the last few years. While the market has rebounded to new heights and many growth businesses have recovered spectacularly, results have varied by individual stock. As always, it's important to look beyond a stock's price and see what's happening behind the scenes. A share price may be up or down for a good reason, but you need to understand the factors driving these movements before you hit the buy button. On that note, here are two top growth stocks to consider if you have cash to invest right now. 1. Intuitive Surgical Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) has been known for its pioneering role in robotic-assisted surgery with the da Vinci surgical system since its first platform was approved more than two decades ago. The da Vinci system provides surgeons with enhanced dexterity, precision, and control during minimally invasive procedures including thoracic, gynecologic, and general surgeries. These systems allow for a wider range of motion than the human hand and wrist, translating surgeon movements into precise instrument actions within a patient's body. This is particularly helpful for complex procedures in confined spaces, but can also improve surgery outcomes, shorten recovery time, and reduce the risk of adverse complications. Intuitive Surgical's revenue comes from three different sources: system sales, instruments and accessories, and services. What might be surprising is that Intuitive's most significant revenue stream is selling instruments and accessories such as forceps, scissors, scalpels, drapes, and vision products. Once a da Vinci system is installed in a hospital, each surgery performed using that system requires these specialized instruments and accessories, many of which are single-use or need to be replaced after a set number of uses. Of course, as systems can cost $1 million or more apiece, one-time sales, as well as usage-based or lease-type sales of systems, are a key driver of revenue. Finally, the services business encompasses the comprehensive support provided to customers, including installation, maintenance, and repair of surgical systems. Intuitive typically includes service contracts with the initial sale of a da Vinci system, providing ongoing revenue through annual fees. These contracts can vary in price depending on the system configuration and the scope of services included. The company's new da Vinci 5 platform is now broadly available in the U.S., and limited launches are starting in Europe and Japan after receiving the necessary regulatory clearances. The da Vinci 5 system has been well-received so far, with over 100,000 procedures already performed since its initial approval in the U.S. in early 2024. Intuitive Surgical's revenue growth for the first half of 2025 totaled $4.69 billion, a healthy 20% increase from the $3.9 billion it reported in the first half of 2024. Net income for the first six months of 2025 came to $1.4 billion, up 27% on a year-over-year basis. And the average consensus 12-month price target from analysts suggests a potential upside of approximately 20% from current share prices. If you're a long-term investor who wants a piece of the action of a top-notch healthcare stock, definitely consider Intuitive Surgical. 2. Cava Group Cava Group (NYSE: CAVA) is a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain that offers customizable bowls, salads, and pitas with a focus on fresh, healthy ingredients. The company also produces and sells a line of Mediterranean dips, spreads, and dressings available in grocery stores. Cava has been a standout example of a fast-casual restaurant that's expanding gradually and strategically without sacrificing its financial health. In fact, Cava's financials keep looking better and better. Revenue reached $329 million in the first quarter of its fiscal 2025, a 28% increase compared to the same period last year. Same-store sales also increased by 10.8% in Q1, while Cava opened 15 new restaurants in the three-month period alone. That rate of expansion brought its restaurant total to 382 locations across 26 states and the District of Columbia. The company is also building a consistent track record of profitability. Its Q1 net income of nearly $26 million was almost double that of the previous year. And Cava is targeting 1,000 restaurants by 2032, a significant expansion of its current footprint. Importantly, restaurant-level profit of $82.3 million was up 27.4% in Q1 on a year-over-year basis, and restaurant-level profit margin was 25.1%. These are impressive figures for a fast-casual restaurant that's still in the relatively early stages of its growth story. Cava has shown resilience in navigating macroeconomic headwinds by focusing on strategic pricing, guest engagement, and operational excellence. The restaurant stock seems to be resonating with consumers, providing a strong value proposition in a sector of the restaurant industry that's highly competitive and fragmented. If you have the risk appetite to invest in a business operating in a more cyclical consumer-facing space, Cava looks like a quality buy to consider right now. Should you invest $1,000 in Intuitive Surgical right now? Before you buy stock in Intuitive Surgical, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Intuitive Surgical wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $624,823!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,064,820!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,019% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025

If You'd Invested $1,000 in AbbVie (ABBV) Stock 10 Years Ago, Here's How Much You'd Have Today
If You'd Invested $1,000 in AbbVie (ABBV) Stock 10 Years Ago, Here's How Much You'd Have Today

Globe and Mail

time2 hours ago

  • Globe and Mail

If You'd Invested $1,000 in AbbVie (ABBV) Stock 10 Years Ago, Here's How Much You'd Have Today

Key Points If you'd invested in AbbVie 10 years ago, you would likely be pleased. The drugmaker has paid and grown its dividend quite well over this period. Its two immunosuppressants, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, have seen expanding sales. 10 stocks we like better than AbbVie › Think back to 10 years ago. The New England Patriots and their quarterback Tom Brady were accused of underinflating footballs. The Supreme Court affirmed same-sex marriage nationwide. And Apple introduced its Apple Watch. Also, as happens in every year, many investors bought stocks. What if you'd spent $1,000 on shares of AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) stock a decade ago? What would that stake be worth now? It would be worth $3,350 -- or, if you'd reinvested your dividends in additional shares of AbbVie stock, it would be worth $4,105. That's because AbbVie is a solid dividend payer, with a recent dividend yield of 3.4%. It's a dividend grower, too. Its total annual payout was recently $6.47 per share, up from $5.64 in 2022 and $3.59 in 2018. Before you kick yourself about missing out on this investment, know that it was actually close to average, with dividends not reinvested. AbbVie's average annual gain was 12.84%, compared to 12.62% for the S&P 500 index. When you reinvest dividends for both, AbbVie is more clearly ahead, 15.17% vs. 13.59%. AbbVie was spun off from Abbott Laboratories in 2013, and it's a major global pharmaceutical company with a recent market value topping $330 billion. The company is known for treatments in the fields of immunology, oncology, aesthetics, neuroscience, and eye care. A downside for investors is that it lost patent protection for its blockbuster drug Humira -- but it has a promising pipeline of drugs in development, and two immunosuppressants, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, have been selling well. It's not too late to invest in AbbVie if you like what you see with the company. At recent levels, the stock seems neither wildly overvalued nor undervalued. Its recent price-to-sales ratio of 5.9 is a bit above its five-year average of 4.7, but that's not necessarily a deal-breaker for long-term investors. Perhaps in 2035, you'll be looking back and smiling. Should you invest $1,000 in AbbVie right now? Before you buy stock in AbbVie, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AbbVie wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $624,823!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,064,820!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,019% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025

Is C3.ai Stock a Buy?
Is C3.ai Stock a Buy?

Globe and Mail

timea day ago

  • Globe and Mail

Is C3.ai Stock a Buy?

Key Points business has benefited from organizations rushing to adopt AI solutions, such as the U.S. Air Force. The company reached record revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter, and forecasts more sales growth ahead. is not profitable, and a change in CEO is on the horizon. 10 stocks we like better than › Artificial intelligence (AI) stocks have been hot, and many experienced strong growth in 2025 alone. For example, this year, AI luminaries Nvidia and Broadcom saw shares soar more than 30% and 26%, respectively, through July 28. But one lackluster AI stock has been (NYSE: AI). Its shares are down about 25% this year through July 28. Could the price drop signal an opportunity to scoop up shares at a discount? After all, the global AI market is forecast to expand from $244 billion in 2025 to $1 trillion by 2031, providing a tailwind for business. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » The reality is that evaluating whether to purchase its stock requires digging into the company. Let's delve into to help assess if it's a sound investment for the long run. A look at business is an enterprise AI applications business servicing the needs of corporate and government organizations. Its customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, Dow Inc., and ExxonMobil. The company built a network of partnerships to assist in selling its solutions, which includes Microsoft and energy giant Baker Hughes. These alliances resulted in partners closing 73% of the customer agreements signed in 2025 fiscal year, ended April 30. business model translated into record revenue of $108.7 million, a 26% year-over-year increase, in its fiscal fourth quarter. For the full year, sales grew 25% year over year to $389.1 million. The company's offerings have proven popular with customers. In May, the U.S. Air Force expanded its contract with from $100 million to $450 million to supply predictive analytics that proactively identify aircraft maintenance needs. In June, Univation Technologies, a Dow subsidiary, adopted predictive maintenance capabilities to deliver to its petrochemical industry customers. pros and cons The company's customer wins this year suggest more revenue expansion to come. In fact, forecasts fiscal 2026 sales to reach between $447.5 million and $484.5 million, another solid year of growth over fiscal 2025's $389.1 million. Despite rising sales, business isn't profitable. It ended fiscal 2025 with an operating loss of $324.4 million, deepening from a $318.3 million loss in the prior year. Costs increased from adding employees to support its business growth. On top of that, a health issue struck CEO Tom Siebel this year, and the company is now searching for a successor. This is unfortunate news, and it contributed to the decline in share price. The stock price drop is understandable, since a leadership change risks disrupting the company's future success. However, is striving to cut costs and strengthen its finances. Management expects to be free-cash-flow (FCF) positive by next year. It ended fiscal 2025 with negative FCF of $44.4 million, which is an improvement over the previous year's $90.4 million in negative FCF. Its balance sheet shows is well capitalized with total assets of $1 billion, $742.7 million of which represent cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments. Total liabilities were $187.6 million. Deciding whether to buy stock Although isn't profitable, its strategy to prioritize business expansion over immediate profit follows a typical approach adopted by many companies in the technology sector. As long as year-over-year revenue growth remains strong and it continues to improve its financials, such as reaching positive FCF, operating loss isn't a major concern. The impending departure of its CEO is regrettable, but Siebel intends to continue shepherding the company as executive chairman. This positions for a smooth leadership transition. With plenty of positives in its favor, does this mean now is the time to buy shares? To answer that, here's a look at its stock's price-to-sales (P/S) ratio with a comparison to Microsoft's, given Microsoft sells offerings, and is a prominent AI business in its own right. Data by YCharts. The chart reveals valuation has significantly improved, as evidenced by the substantial drop in its P/S multiple from its late 2024 peak. This multiple is now considerably lower than Microsoft's, further highlighting attractive valuation. This, combined with growing sales, a robust balance sheet, and strengthening free cash flow, makes stock a compelling investment opportunity. Should you invest $1,000 in right now? Before you buy stock in consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $624,823!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,064,820!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,019% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store