BlackBerry Ltd (BB-T; BBRY-O) The company is working with at least two automakers to develop a security service that would remotely scan vehicles for computer viruses and tell drivers to pull over if they were in critical danger, according to a Macquarie analyst.  The service, which would also be able to install security patches to an idle car, is being tested by luxury automakers Aston Martin and Range Rover.

Home Capital Group Inc (HCG-T) The non-bank lender on published data showing that its deposit balances were continuing to decline. Home Capital has been struggling to finance its assets as its high interest deposit accounts have fallen by 94% since March 27, when the company terminated the employment of former Chief Executive Martin Reid.

Lloyds Banking Group (LYG-N) Britain has sold its last remaining stake in the company, making the lender the first to re-emerge from British state ownership in a symbolic step for the country's recovering banking sector. Contra the Heard newsletter publisher, BNN Market Call stalwart and former Capital Ideas Digest cover boy Benj Gallander recommended Lloyds in the Globe and Mail on Tuesday. 

Pengrowth Energy Corp. (PGF-T; PGH-N) has been given notice from the New York Stock Exchange that it's "no longer in compliance" with one of its continued listing standards because it's stock has been below $1 (U.S.) for more than 30 days straight. 
Pengrowth is reassuring shareholders:

"Non-compliance with the NYSE's price listing standard does not affect Pengrowth's business operations nor does it breach or cause an event of default under any of Pengrowth's agreements with its lenders," the company said. "Pengrowth continues to be in compliance with the terms of all of those agreements. In addition, non-compliance with the NYSE minimum share price listing standard does not affect the continued listing and trading of Pengrowth's common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange."

Colgate-Palmolive (CL-N) was up 4.7% after the New York Post reported that the toothpaste maker’s CEO had recently signalled he would be open to sell the company. It's always intrigued me that Colgate has remained independent all these years and has never been bought by a larger company. Colgate has a market cap of more than $63 billion.

Qualcomm (QCOM-O) The company is suing some of Apple's suppliers such as Foxconn for allegedly not paying royalties for Qualcomm's patented technology as its fight with Apple escalates. 

Ralph Lauren Corp. (RL-N) named Procter & Gamble executive Patrice Louvet as chief executive, more than three months after his predecessor left the company following differences with founder Ralph Lauren. Ralph Lauren's shares were off 0.6% in premarket trading.

CANADIAN ANALYSTS' CALLS

Helius Medical (HSM-T) was our cover story on October 31, 2016. The company is developing a potentially disruptive technology to treat traumatic brain trauma and multiple sclerosis (MS). You may remember that U.S. talk show host Montel Williams is a shareholder in Helius and claims the company's portable neuromodulation stimulator (PoNS) has helped to make his MS manageable. 

Helius is expected to release Phase III clinical trial results in the third quarter of this year and then to file for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the device. Mackie Research is readying for a nod from the FDA by maintaining its Outperform, Speculative Risk rating and a price target of $3 (Canadian), which implies 55% upside for the stock. Helius rose 40% after our mention and now trades at $1.93, still above the $1.80 at which it traded at the time of our article. 

Lundin Mining (LUN-T) RBC maintains Outperform and price target of $11, implying 49% upside after a site tour of the Neves-Corvo mine.

ProMetic Life Sciences (PLI-T) RBC maintains Outperform and price target of $4, suggesting 96% upside.

"PLI reported Q1/2017 results last night. We came away incrementally positive from the results due to revenues slightly above our forecasts and expenses/cash-burn below our forecasts. We continue to focus on the company's preparations for a potential plasminogen launch in Q4/2017 and believe an equity issuance may be necessary to fund operations through 2018."

Traverse Energy (TVL-V) GMP FirstEnergy raises the target to $0.55 from $0.50, which implies 57% upside after the company's earnings results.

Mosaic Capital (M-V) Canaccord Genuity upgrades to Buy from Hold, raises the price target to $10.75 from $10. Current price is $8.70. This following the company's acquisition of Cedar Infrastructure. 

Storm Resources Ltd. (SRX-T) Cormack Securities upgrades to Buy   from Market Perform and raised the target to $6.25 from $5.75. 

U.S. ANALYSTS' CALLS

Rio Tinto (RIO-N) This is an Anglo-Aussie mining giant but it's also listed in New York as an American Depository Receipt (ADR) so investors can easily access it. RBC is upgrading RIO to a Top Pick. The price target implies 51% upside from here. 

"Following the recent pullback, Rio Tinto is screening as inexpensive as it's been over the past 5 years. We believe the market is taking too negative a view on the medium-term iron ore market, and this is obscuring a growing, low cost, high free cash flow story. We upgrade Rio Tinto to Top Pick."

Square (SQ-N) RBC raises the price target to $24 (U.S.) from $21, giving the shares an 18% potential return, maintains Outperform.

Apple Inc (AAPL-O) Morgan Stanley raises price target to $177 from $161; rating Overweight citing new AlphaWise survey which pointed to an increase in retention rate ahead of next iPhone supercycle.

Cardinal Health Inc (CAH-N) Jefferies starts with a Hold rating; price target $77 saying that the company is in the investor penalty box as its recent, unexpected growth guide-down further highlighted fundamental pressures.

Home Depot Inc (HD-N) Barclays raises price target to $164 from $150; rating Overweight citing the consistent outperformance that increasingly stands out in a decreasingly less attractive retail industry.

TJX Companies (TJX-N) Morgan Stanley ups to Overweight from Equal-weight; target $86 citing significant global growth potential.

EARNINGS

Target Corp (TGT-N) The retailer's disastrous foray into Canada is long in the rear view mirror as it becomes one of the few U.S. department store chains to report higher-than-expected quarterly profit and sales as some of the initiatives it launched earlier this year to turn around its business paid off.

DEALS

Dream Global REIT (DRG.UN-T) bought SPE III Runway SPRL, whose main asset is the Airport Plaza office complex in Brussels, for $143 million.

Famed value investor Jeremy Grantham on why this time it's different. A good read. marketwatch.com/story/this-bull-market-could-be-here-to-stay-2017-05-17

Bullish U.S. dollar bets are no longer the world's most popular trade. theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/bullish-us-dollar-bets-arent-the-most-crowded-trade-anymore/article35011078/

Frontier markets are the new emerging markets. theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/frontier-stock-markets-draw-fresh-look-as-us-shares-get-frothy/article35006054/
 

There's a big technical factor behind the low volatility in stocks.

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Have a great day!