There are no How They Rate coverage changes this month.

HOMEQ Corp (TSX: HEQ, OTC: HEITF) was acquired by private capital firm Birch Hill Equity Partners for CAD9.50 per share in cash on Dec. 5. Investors should by now have received cash for their shares.

HOMEQ is delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange, and we’ll drop it from How They Rate coverage next month.

Advice Changes

Bonterra Oil and Gas Corp (TSX: BNE, OTC: BNEFF)–To Buy @ 45 from Hold. The oil-focused energy producer reported solid third-quarter earnings and ramped up capital spending 71.6 percent, pointing to a brighter 2013.

CML Healthcare Inc (TSX: CLC, OTC: CMHIF)–To Hold from Buy @ 10. Third-quarter results declined steeply on reduced medical reimbursements in Ontario.

Data Group Inc (TSX: DGI, OTC: DGPIF)–To SELL from Hold. The stock tumbled after announcing a dividend cut that raised questions about long-term viability.

Enerplus Corp (TSX: ERF, NYSE: ERF)–To Hold from SELL. The stock has fallen sharply since reporting third-quarter results that were actually decent. Management also reaffirmed the dividend.

Extendicare Inc (TSX: EXE, OTC: EXETF)–To Hold from Buy @ 9. The company has coped with lower Medicare reimbursements and held its dividend steady. How it will respond to a future round of cuts is less certain.

IBI Group Inc (TSX: IBG, OTC: IBIBF)–To Hold from Buy @ 15. Third-quarter results indicate cost-cutting plans are proceeding more slowly than projected.

Medical Facilities Corp (TSX: DR, OTC: MFCSF)–To Buy @ 14 from Hold. Solid third-quarter results and a recent acquisition point to strengths not reflected in a stock yielding more than 8 percent.

Parkland Fuel Corp (TSX: PKI, OTC: PKIUF)–To Hold from Buy @ 13. Dividend growth doesn’t appear likely until the company has a new supply contract. In the meantime, it’s a good candidate for taking partial profits.

Pengrowth Energy Corp (TSX: PGF, NYSE: PGH)–To SELL from Buy @ 7. There’s no immediate danger to the dividend, and production plans for 2013 appear to be on track. But the stock has been a very poor performer and is a great candidate for taking a tax loss. We can always get back in later.

Penn West Petroleum Ltd (TSX: PWT, NYSE: PWE)–To SELL from Buy @ 15. The stock’s late 2012 drop is well out of proportion to what were disappointing but hardly catastrophic third-quarter operating numbers. But it’s a great candidate for taking a tax loss.

Peyto Exploration & Development Corp (TSX: PEY, OTC: PEYUF)–To Hold from Buy @ 20. The stock overcame an early swoon to emerge a big winner this year and has a bright future. At this point, however, anyone with a huge gain should consider taking a partial profit.

PHX Energy Services Corp (TSX: PHX, OTC: PHXHF)–To Hold from SELL. The company’s third-quarter results show it’s still expanding market share despite tougher market conditions.

Poseidon Concepts Corp (TSX: PSN, OTC: POOSF)–To Hold from Buy @ 10. Though disappointing, the third-quarter shortfall doesn’t justify the free-fall in the stock. So long as the company isn’t a total sham, we should see a sizeable recovery next year. But no one should ever add to positions when a stock falls this far this fast.

Progress Energy Resources Corp (TSX: PRQ, OTC: PRQNF)–To Hold from SELL. The stock trades at nearly a 10 percent discount to the CAD22 per share all-cash takeover offer from Petroliam Nasional Berhad, Malaysia’s state-owned oil and gas company better known as Petronas, and the deal is likely to be approved this month. US investors should sell when that happens.

Westshore Terminals Corp (TSX: WTE, OTC: WTSHF)–To Hold from Buy @ 24. Third-quarter numbers were super, and the company also signed on new business. But the stock’s recent rise reflects that and more.

Ratings Changes

Ag Growth International Inc (TSX: AFN, OTC: AGGZF)–To 3 from 4. This year’s tribulations are due entirely to the temporary impact of the US drought. But Ag Growth now longer merits a point under the CE Safety Rating System for a low payout ratio.

Bonterra Oil and Gas Corp (TSX: BNE, OTC: BNEFF)–To 3 from 2. The third-quarter payout ratio fell to 71 percent, as production rose 13.2 percent.

Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT (TSX: CSH-U, OTC: CWSRF)–To 4 from 3. The third-quarter payout ratio declined to 74 percent after a 20 percent boost in funds from operations per unit.

Data Group Inc (TSX: DGI, OTC: DGPIF)–To 2 from 3. The dividend cut obscures the picture for future earnings.

Dundee REIT (TSX: D-U, OTC: DRETF)–To 5 from 4. The office property REIT misses a perfect “6” on the Rating System only because of its sector’s historical volatility.

Equal Energy Ltd (TSX: EQU, NYSE: EQU)–To 1 from 0. The company has reinstated a dividend as part of its strategic review, earning it a point on the payout ratio criterion.

IBI Group Inc (TSX: IBG, OTC: IBIBF)–To 3 from 4. The increase in the third-quarter payout ratio to 95 percent takes away a point under the Rating System.

Just Energy Group Inc (TSX: JE, NYSE: JE)–To 4 from 5. Management now expects a payout ratio over 100 percent until fiscal 2015, as it expenses expansion costs before cash starts flowing. It’s still affirming the current payout level but no longer gets the Rating System point.

Parkland Fuel Corp (TSX: PKI, OTC: PKIUF)–To 4 from 3. The company’s cost-management plans continue to exceed projections, and its payout ratio in the third quarter fell to just 38 percent.

Poseidon Concepts Corp (TSX: PSN, OTC: POOSF)–To 1 from 2. The third-quarter payout ratio rose to 90 percent, taking away a Rating System point from the hard-hit services company.

Royal Bank of Canada (TSX: RY, NYSE: RY)–To 4 from 5. The bank must refinance debt of more than CAD30 billion–or 35.5 percent of market capitalization–before the end of 2014.