23 Stock Top Picks and 2 ETF (Jan 18-24)

Likes US financials. Quietly up ~49% last 12 months. Just watch that's it's coming up to potential resistance around $50, which it hit in early 2022. If it breaks above, great sign; but might also bounce down below it. He owns GS. See his Top Picks.

Not 100% correlated to the S&P, so tends to have a slightly different profile. And yet, it's a way to play the US markets on a fairly broad basis. Won't necessarily have all the downside if the market falls. In an uptrend, though it's pulled back just like everything else. Worth picking up anytime it…

(A Top Pick Jan 12/21, Up 48%) Great-managed REIT. Taken out.

All the insurance names, both in Canada and the US, continue to work. If interest rates do, in fact, go higher, that will only be beneficial for lifecos and other insurers. The chart looks fantastic. Good run, so there is some weakening in the intermediate term.If a long-term holding, best thing you can do is…

(A Top Pick Jan 04/24, Up 22%) Q3 banged out another 7% YOY. Inflation-linked revenues. Deal pipeline continues to grow. Hit capital recycling targets for 2024. Modelling 15% AFFO growth rate, yet trading at 9.68%. Still likes it, thinks it'll go higher. Yield is 5%.

(A Top Pick Jan 22/19, Up 36%) There is some cyclicality in robotics in Japan, but they are one of two world leaders. He still owns it.

Potential buy. Chart trending in the correct range. Excellent trend analysis. Would recommend watching. 

He owned it last year after shares jumped. It's a great business, but the 40x PE is too high and risky. That said, they are doing well.

It remains cheap, operating profit is up a lot, are spending huge in capex, though free cash low is up minimally. Reason: they're becoming capital intensive. 

Like Amazon, they dominate key secular growth areas in e-commerce, are in cloud computer though trade at only one third of Amazon's PE. Is a modest grower, but has a huge margin of safety. There's so much pessimism about tariffs now. Wait and see, but would be an opportunity if the tariffs are more bark…

The Xilinx-AMD merger, which is supposed to close by year's end. Whoever owns Xilinx will make a lot of money. He recommends AMD over Xilinx, because he doesn't like arbitrage risk. Take some profits on Xilinx.

After the bell, they delivered a strong overall quarter. But investors looked closely at the constant-currency revenue growth of Azure, which slightly missed. Don't do anything until hearing the conference call first (happening now).

Does not own shares. Better options for commodity investors. Dividend is strong, but potash in abundance throughout the globe. Would prefer Teck Resources. 

(A Top Pick Feb 25/21, Up 15.3%)Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O’Reilly With the recent completed acquisition by AEM now official, we now consider this position closed. When combined with the previous recommendation to cover half the position, this results in a net investment gain of 22%.

(A Top Pick May 15/19, Up 134%) Capital discipline has been very strong. Assets have allowed company to do well through various pricing cycles. Excellent prospects going forward. Would recommend buying for the long term. Copper assets very high quality. Recent acquisition of shares has been good capital allocation. 

Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly As the market looks to retrace some value in the near term, TLT is a TOP PICK to hedge portfolio value.  This low-MER ETF tracks long term US treasuries and offers an attractive yield.  We suggest setting a stop-loss at $82, looking to achieve $104 -- upside potential of 18%. …

(A Top Pick Jul 04/24, Up 0%) They have held it for 6 to 8 months. They bought it on the breakout for the longer term and it is now consolidating, There is nothing wrong with this formation. He is bullish on commodities with a softer U.S. dollar, and emerging markets have commodity producers.

(A Top Pick Feb 15/24, Up 35%) Continues to like it. Paying a premium, but for specific reasons. Trades at 31x forward PE for 15% earnings growth. Recent decline is a good chance to add. In Canada, demand is growing for value-priced essentials.

BOOK vs. EXPE BOOK decided to be an agent only, so they take a commission on every transaction. Operating margins of 30%. Investors like the capital-light model, giving it a higher multiple between high 20s or almost 30x PE. Today though, PE in low 20s.EXPE buys hotel rooms in bulk and then resells them; takes…

(A Top Pick Dec 29/23, Down 43%) He sold it in April and now owns Costco in this space. It is trying to turn things around and get efficiencies up. It plunged after an announcement in late August.

What's changed is that in the last conference call, management suggested the dividend is under review, with the payout ratio "elevated". Institutional investors are encouraging BCE to cut it and use the savings to pay debt or fund growth. A cut could trigger a relief rally. The risk/reward isn't attractive.

WCP vs. TVE vs. VRN -- looking for best total return from capital appreciation plus dividends. If you assume oil prices go up, and assume they all execute well, which is the buy right now? He likes the upfront dividend. VRN is cheapest on price and financial metrics. Production outlook posted a few days ago…

Company too small to hit institutional radar screens. Quality company, but better options in markets. 

(A Top Pick Aug 13/18, Down 61%) They disenfranchised the Canadian shareholders. He sold out sooner before the de listing, so did not do as badly, nor did his subscribers. He disagrees with their move.

Debt concerns? BXE took bankruptcy protection when debt became too much. There is no equity value in it any longer. Companies that have debt that matures in 2020 or 2021 will have issues. He sees no issues with BIR or TVE on this topic. The new Federal relief program for large companies may be difficult…