Alimentation Couche-Tard (B)

ATD.B-T

It was flatlined for three or so years as they acquired, but they have done well recently. He has a similar idea in his top picks, so he won't comment much here.

He has long owned it though he had to wait a while to see the price rise. Good organic growth through digital loyalty programs, gas margins and other methods. He'd buy it today, because he expects it to rise to $90 then $100 and at some time expand into China and surpass 7-11.

It's one of 15 Canadian stocks that are strong capital allocators and compounders. He's held this on and off for many years. A solid stock. They invest capital well, and acquire very well. A bit of volatility in earnings. Acquisitions are slowing down a bit. He'd buy at $75.

(A Top Pick Apr 23/18, Up 46%) It is a really well run Canadian company. They use debt and then pay it down quickly. He would still be a buyer on pull backs.

(A Top Pick Apr 12/18, Up 27%) They are a roll-up strategy. There is still a long runway ahead of them. He may be looking at taking some money off the table.

Circle-K is their brand. They are linked to convenience stores and gasoline sales. There has been consolidation in the gasoline retailer space and margins in the space have been great. He would continue to hold.

(A Top Pick Mar 01/18, Up 31%) He still really likes it. They did a good job of acquiring stores and have redone the stores in the US and Canada. They are realizing the benefit of having a larger footprint. They have always reinvested in their business. They have the scale now to expand internationally. Don’t fight a trend like this.

(A Top Pick Apr 04/18, Up 43%) He is early buying this in fall 2015 and frustrating for the following year, but it's done well lately. It's improving in communicating with the street; they've been bad at that. They'll still do growth by acquisition, but instead of that being 75%, it'll now be a 50/50 split with organic growth. He hasn't trimmed his holdings. Still likes it.

They're 65% US, 25% Europe and the rest in Canada. They've added fresh fuit and better coffee to their stores. They've taken what's worked in other parts of the world and applied them to their North American conveience stores. The stock has done really well after a sideways period. There are lots of mom and pop stores out there, so ATD has a lot of room to grow. (Analysts’ price target is $82.46)

(A Top Pick Oct 17/18, Up 26%) Levered up, but you have to look at whether there are good reasons for it. They did it to buy competitors and turned that into profitable growth. He'd stick with it. Loves the name from here. Track record has proven itself.

It's a roll-up story--they know how to make acqusitions and integrate stores. Generatas a lot of free cash flow and the owners own a lot of the stocks. It's risen 1,700% by acquisitions. He wishes he had bought it.

A success story, expanding their acquisition over the years. It's priced as a growth stock and beyond valuations he would consider. They've done well with convenience store with strong margins. U.S. fuel margins rose higher than the street expected, too. But if you own this, perhaps move into something more conservative--take some profits.

He really likes it. They're a good acquirer, though they had one weak quarter due to a weak U.S. acquisition. This is a value story. ATD offers some defensiveness from the convenience stores, but also growth. He will hold this for a while.

They have been one of the best growth by acquisition company in Canada. It is leveraged but they have been buying $500 million every quarter. At this pace they will have lots of cash to play around with in 2-3 years. Convenience store purchases are uninterruptible. One of the better managed companies in Canada.