Equitable Group (EQB.TO)

He thinks this mortgage lender has a dividend that is growing and trades at a low PE ratio. It is not a low risk company, as it makes loans to non-conventional borrowers. At this point in the market cycle, with high consumer debt, he would prefer to own a bank with larger market cap and higher liquidity. Yield 1.5%.

Mortgage financing when housing has cooled off. But EQB just announced they will relinquish some of their standby facilities that they took on during the Home Capital crisis last year--this will save them 25-cents a share in earnings next year and cost them a non-cash write-off. It boasts 5.5x earnings and a solid dividend. A potential for buybacks. This stock will be much higher in 2019. (Analysts' price target: $70.00)

(A Top Pick Jun. 26/17, Down 5%) They are now the largest in the industry. They are extremely well managed. They had record results and raised the dividend several times since he recommended it. It is trading below book value. It is a great value investment and is growing well despite the new mortgage rules. Customers wanting to take mortgages elsewhere are subject to the new stress tests.

Small financial in Canadian mortgage business. Stock struggling because it is in the Canadian mortgage business. Cheap stock and well run. He does not think that mortgages will be a massive problem.

Canadian Banks? He looks favourably on Canadian banks in general, because he likes the backdrop for energy. This is his favourite, and is actually the smallest of the group. Trades at the lowest valuation of the entire group. Trades at 1X Book compared to the National Bank (NA-T) at 2X. The Canadian bank trade should continue to drift higher.

It has been thriving. It is an extremely well managed and well capitalized company. Their business is growing dramatically. Buy it whenever it is below book value.

There is nothing wrong with this company’s balance sheet. The overwhelming problem with the group was the issue of whether lenders, the people who bought the GICs, etc., wouldn’t freak out and panic when some of the US hedge funds started Shorting.

(A Top Pick July 5/16. Up 14.74%.) The whole alternative lending sector took big tumbles on the Home Capital (HCG-T) situation. This is in a much better shape in this group.

It was caught up in the HCG-T issues. The short sellers started pouncing on these players. They secured loans at very low interest rates. They pre-empted potential contagion in the industry. They are getting so much new business that they can cherry pick their new customers. It is trading just above book. (Analysts’ target: $62.00).

When he asks about buying Home Capital (HCG-T), he gets “Buy Equitable”, which is way safer and has financial backing. It doesn’t do alternative lending, but does kind of niche lending. Home Capital’s problems are going to blow over, but even if it doesn’t, that is not going to come to this company. Wait for the next Home Capital headline, and then when this drops to $45, then you have more of a ramp to do something.