The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday edition that on July 27, Mega Brands ($9.36) announced second quarter earnings of 10 cents per share, up from two cents a year earlier. The Globe's Ted Dixon writes in the Who's Buy and Selling column that rising North American sales helped drive the advance. Since the news, the stock is up about 40 per cent. At least one director seems to be showing long-term confidence. Between Sept. 12 and Sept. 14, board chair Victor Bertrand bought 400,000 shares in the public market at an average price of $9.14. Fairfax Financial Holdings also bought 323,337 shares on Sept. 14. The Globe's Fabrice Taylor was bullish on Mega Brands on Sept. 7, 2011. The stock was then worth $8.20. Mr. Taylor said if management can pull off a turnaround, investors will benefit from rising earnings and a rising multiple. It was Mr. Taylor's expectation that Mega Brands would buck the negative macro trend. Versant Partners analyst Neil Linsdell said buy Mega Brands in The Globe on Sept. 29, 2011, when it was worth $8.80. BMO Capital Markets analyst Gerrick Johnson upgraded Mega Brands to "outperform" from "market perform" in The Globe on Aug. 29, 2012. The stock was then worth $7.98.