Nutrien Ltd. (NTR.TO)

(A Top Pick Nov 30/17, Up 12%) There are $500 million of synergies up for grabs after the big merger, which could even be higher. They are ahead of plan in synergizing. Also are selling $5 billion of non-core assets. This week in Chile, they just sold a lithium mine, generating $4 billion in cash that'll go to share buybacks and dividends. There are big gains still to come.

He recently bought it. Stock has fallen 10% in this recession. Expect higher divdends and buybacks to shareholdrs in the coming year. Targets mid-$70's. (3.1% Analysts price target: $82.79)

Likes it. It's the biggest crop nutriens player in the world, specifically potash and nitrogens, segments which are improving rapidly, and phosphates less so. As a condition of their merger, $5 billion assets were sold and those may be re-deployed into retail network expansion in South America like Brazil, a huge market. There's also $500 million in synergies to be captured which they are doing ahead of schedule. Expect dividend growth, acquisitions and share buybacks.

On one hand, people have to eat so we need potash. Others says it’s a commodity. There’s a need for inventory this year. Depends what you want to be involved in. If you want to be in the ag space, all the fund managers will own it, so its multiple will be higher.

They're ahead of their cost synergies target after the potash merger. They have sold off some assets totalling $5 billion. They project $6-8 billion in free cash flow to grow their retail network to buyback 5% of the stocks and raise the dividend. They are seeing an uptick in the Nutrient business. They have signed contracts with China and India where pricing should improve next year and beyond. They will benefit from increased demand. (2.9% dividend, Analysts' price target: $81.90)

This is the merger of Potash and Agrium. He wants to own commodity stocks only when the commodities are going up. Both of their main products, nitrogen and potash, have good outlooks. There is an upcoming shortage of nitrogen. They also have an agricultural retail business that stabilizes the company. Yield 2.8%. (Analysts’ price target is $81.58)

Potash is less of a commodity than in the past. The world needs this commodity around the world. The previous supply situation globally is abating as marginal mines are not being built. This is a good name to own. He prefers to hold base metals instead, where there is even greater growth potential. Yield 2.7%.

Likes it. Nutrien has done everything it has promised after the marger. Have nicely executed a program to sell $5 billion in assets which they will invest in the retail side by doing acquisitions. They will do buybacks and raise the dividend.

(Past Top Pick, Nov. 30, 2017, Up 18%) He bought this two years ago at the bottom of the cycle, and now the oversupply glut is clearing and India is paying higher prices for potash. Has $5 billion in cash and will likely make accretive purchases in the future.