23 Stock Top Picks and 5 ETF (Feb 01-07)

Opinion about DIS-N: It's been consolidating and has to outperform earnings to break out which he expects, given strong theme parts and streaming. It's neither cheap or pricey at 20x PE.

Opinion about SYK-N: He hasn't seen valuations like this since 2020 briefly and 1993. Their big growth driver is orthopedics with robot-assisted surgeries, with growth expected to double over 5 years; robots account for roughly 45% of their orthopedics business. (Analysts’ price target is $429.76)

Opinion about MFI-T: It is up 15% in the last month. Has a steady underlying business. Inflation has increased costs but it is catching up now and can increase sales prices and maintain costs. There is potential in the spin-off. Although he doesn't own it, it is moving up in their ranking system.

Opinion about LEN-N: Sold it for Canadian tax reasons. LEN spun off the part of the company that held the land, probably a good move, but he wasn't sure about the tax hit. He still likes the US homebuilders given the shortage of housing.

Opinion about HD-N: They just reported revenues a little light and EPS also missed, basically was flat YOY, but the quarter was still good.  The misses were partly based on poor weather last quarter (a wet spring). Same-stores sales over the quarter locked flat, but was +3.1% in July after two flat months. Management is…

Opinion about TD-T: The question asked the guest to compare the two with a view to buying one of them. She prefers Royal Bank right now. It just delivered record results and is growing at 10% year over year. TD has gone through a rough patch and is re-structuring which is eating into profits. She…

Opinion about PGR-N: A number of P&C insurers in the US pulled back post-hurricane. Technically, not broken. Sector probably does pretty well going forward. 

Opinion about FFH-T: Insurance sector's been behaving well over last 3 years. Trimmed about a month ago. Prefers capital markets banks at the moment, but nothing wrong with this name.

Opinion about XLRE-US: It's all about interest rates. Probably we need to see the 30-year fall below 6.0% to trigger pent-up demand and will likely get it. We're 5 million homes short in the U.S. and have been underproducing for 14 years.

Opinion about CAR.UN-T: Decent dividend. He actually has 3 REIT positions (including XRE and NWH.UN) because they're value plays right now, all pay dividends, and are a bit overlooked. His view is that markets may be in for more volatility, so you want stocks with lower beta. Buy here at the bottom of its range,…

Opinion about CNR-T: (A Top Pick Aug 19/24, Down 13%) The transportation sector has been depressed this year and she sold in January. CN is the leading North American freight railroad. It is starting to look better with volatility stabilizing. The big story in on the operating levels and it is starting to look more…

Opinion about WSP-T: His choice in the space. About 23% compounded annual shareholder return over last decade. Bigger than peers, more global, in better verticals. Into water and environmental remediation -- things with faster growth curve. Serial acquirer.

Opinion about RTX-N: Earnings on Tuesday. There's strong demand for aerospace, and they boast a huge backlog.

Opinion about CP-T: CP vs. CNR US and Canada are logical and natural long-standing historic trading partners, with tightly integrated supply chains. We need to get back to some semblance of normal. Hopefully, most things will be exempt under USMCA and we can get rid of the tit-for-tat tariffs.If that happens, you'd expect to see…

Opinion about AC-T: He does not really take an interest in airlines. There may be an opportunity now for Air Canada with all the rhetoric around the strike. It's been around for some time. Settlement should not be a huge number for cost increases. It is looking to expand internationally. You could buy when the…

Opinion about ATS-T: Upward trend from April selloff, showing strong support from the technical side. Fiscal 2025 EPS was slightly down, but forecast to rebound. Price target is 10% upside from here. Still below 52-week high. Analysts remain confident in company's leadership despite CEO stepping down, and she'll be monitoring closely.

Opinion about BOX-N: Last year they fended off a challenge from an activist investor. Its platform enables remote work, so share soared during Covid. But then earlier this year, the activist threatened to take it over. Instead, in April, Box struck a deal with another investor, KKR, for a $500 million investment to mostly use…

Opinion about GOOG-Q: Dumping a high-growth tech stock then planning to buy back at a lower price is a lot harder than you think. He sold GOOG after the Justice Dept. called GOOG a monopolist. Then, GOOG went up and the Justice Dept. did not break up GOOG. He didn't get back into the stock.…

Opinion about BYL-T: Notoriously volatile. BYL has had a rough ride in recent years, but has fixed their balance sheet after selling their money-losing mobile business based in Korea. Are now focused on embedded antennas, infrastructure and satcom. They just announced a big stadium deal in South American for their wireless antennas, in which they…

Opinion about KXS-T: Trevor Rose’s Insights - Trevor’s most-liked answers from 5i Research It has a strong balance sheet with $260M net cash. EPS is set to surge this year and rise another 25%+ next year. Cash flow is good and it is a relatively conservative company overall. As a supply chain software solution, it…

Opinion about META-Q: (A Top Pick Aug 28/24, Up 53%) Didn't trim this either, in his top 5. 12-month price target of $805. You might write some calls, but it's another one that blew the doors off earnings. If you own it, hold on. For new $$, buy in thirds here, around $730, and anything…

Opinion about NOW-N: ITSM (IT service management) platform. Integrated into the IT department of a lot of Fortune 500 companies. Implementing a lot of AI solutions at these companies, so this name actually benefits from the AI disruption. Free cashflow compounder for a very long time. 

Opinion about MA-N: The world of business is just fine. Fears of stablecoin, but company has gone ahead and allowed those payments on its credit cards.

Opinion about XEC-T: Tilted portfolios towards developed and emerging international. Best returns will come from here.

Opinion about EWZ-N: Trevor Rose’s Insights - Trevor’s most-liked answers from 5i Research We are not experts on Brazil, and it has certainly had some economic issues of late. Still, the Brazil market is nicely ahead of the US this year, and positive on the year. EWZ is up 10.17% YTD. Certainly for investors looking…

Opinion about IHI-N: Healthcare is not a value trap. It's the worst performing sector this year--and could get worse--but the knife has fallen. If you're looking for something to buy in a market with high valuations and possible headlines from inflation prints, look at healthcare. Healthcare is insulated from interest rate volatility. If you're worried…

Opinion about XBAL-T: Balanced ETFs for a long-term hold? VBAL and XBAL are great, one-stop shops for smaller accounts. Leave it and forget it. Typically has about 40% fixed income, which would have had a tough run up till about a year ago. VBAL costs about 25 bps for the MER, XBAL costs about 20 bps.…

Opinion about EQE - NEO: (A Top Pick Jan 07/19, Up 14%) They are one of the lead orders on this. There was a technical issue where it was listed on the TSX and NEO. The fund refused to list it on the TSX. It doesn't have good liquidity due to this and so they…