Algoma Central Corp. (ALC-T)

Owns lots of ships on the Great Lakes and trans-ocean. Very capital intensive, renewing its fleet, spending 100s of millions of dollars. Economically cyclical. In Q1, usually loses money; this year, lost less. Cautious 2024 outlook. Illiquid, trades almost by appointment.

Note that there are some convertible shares coming on the market at the end of this month, and as a result this might depress the stock price.

It is a shipper. It is a tough business. You often end up with empty ships doing a ‘dry’ run. This one has been rather consistent, but their return on capital is usually 5%, and is down to 2% right now. A year ago it was down to 1%. He likes improving return on capital. If it gets back to 5%, the stock would be worth about $20. We need to see that improvement. There is a small amount of evidence that the return on capital is improving.

A very well-run company. It ships goods across the Great Lakes and owns assets in ocean shipping. This is now trading below BV. A cyclical business. It could easily recover if the Canadian economy starts to improve. If you are looking for value, he wouldn’t hesitate to Buy. The company is doing all the right things. They are keeping their costs under control and using their balance sheet to improve their ships.

(A Top Pick Dec 1/14. Down 5.23%.) A small company that runs shipping vessels in the Great Lakes and also owns a share in an ocean shipping Company. The big news on this is that they have announced they are looking to sell their real estate, and he thinks there is an embedded value of $5 a share, and doesn’t think this is reflected in the stock price. He can see upside well into the $20-$25 range.

Probably economy sensitive and is in the transportation sector, so it should be okay. Chart shows a long-term trend line and it is still in an uptrend.

(A Top Pick Aug 21/14. Down 2.57%.) The great shipping line on the Great Lakes. A very sensible long-term Hold. Pays a small dividend. If you own, continue to Hold.

(A Top Pick Aug 21/14. Up 11.09%.) This is a great fleet of commercial ships on the Great Lakes. Clearly one of those good stocks in safe waters in the current market. Pays a dividend. A good safe haven.

Infrastructure is very important and these are long life assets. Shipping is never going to go away and they have ordered a bunch of new ships. Just reported their 4^th quarter. Thinks normalized earnings for 2014 were about $1.20 a share and he is looking for $1.30-$1.40 a share in 2015. This is dirt cheap.

They will have spent $500 million by 2016 replacing their ship vessels and are going to have one of the youngest fleets in the world. This company is going to have better ships, more fuel efficient and will be able to load faster. He sees earnings, probably by the end of next year, getting up to a normalized $1.50 a share. You are only paying 10-11 times earnings. Also, have other assets that they can unlock, including about $100 million of real estate. Yield of 1.74%.

Greatest tanker fleet and in shipping of all the commodities. A good dividend. It has downtime in the winter. They might get to a higher level shortly due to a partial fleet modernization.