26 Stock Top Picks and 3 ETF (Dec 7-13)

You want defensive stocks right now. Big thing is Jean Coutu, and integration will create earnings and cash flow growth. More difficult issue is how to expand that brand beyond Quebec, and this is already priced into the stock. A defensive name, and you can do quite well. Yield is 1.7%.

For tax-loss selling? It's disappointed the market. But it's time to look at it. They should take the company private; the share price is so low, so disastrous since its IPO. Existing owners could buy it all back. Overall, retailing is a difficult space now.

They are one of the largest pawn shop operators in the US and Latin America. They have a counter-cyclical business. As their inventory builds, this will be a good name to hold.

It is the only unionized bank in North America. That is why it remains independent. They will struggle to get scale and as a result they have cut the dividend. There are better opportunities out there.

(A Top Pick Jul 16/19, Up 1%) It's the best performer of the big 5 banks and pays the second-highest dividend that'll make up most of returns. Don't expect share appreciation in banks, but still a solid business with banks getting a piece of the equity management business. But the lending spread will be challenged…

Bad news is outside margin pressure in US. Dividend is great, not going away. Terrific balance sheet. Earnings were in line last quarter. Pretty good valuation. Expensive relative to its peers, but exceptionally well run. We're at the bottom of the cycle. Concern is credit. With a better economy, should do very well.

Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly JPM just reported earnings and the 3% drop in revenue from a year ago, but revenues were $1 billion higher than expected at $29 billion. Investment bank revenues were up 21% over the year thanks to a strong trading segment. EPS was reported at $2.92, beating consensus by $0.73. The…

They could have a good report next week in their report. It's not a good time for regular banks, but it's better for investment ones.The stock is cheap and fundamentally solid, but each time he's recommended it, the stock pulls back.

(A Top Pick Dec 07/18, Up 66%) Nobody wanted to buy British stocks. Around 60% of Halma's revenues come outside the UK, so they're paid in other currencies as the pound falls--profits then rise. They make smoke alarms/detectors. Strong long-term potential, though no one has heard of it. Dividend is growing 17% annually. But earnings…

(A Top Pick Jun 24/19, Down 22%) Going forward they are in the enviable position amongst competitors. The average age of aircraft leased to airlines is 3.7 years. Older planes are retired first. So they will hang on to their AL-N aircrafts. Airlines will be in a weaker position to purchase aircraft so will be…

(A Top Pick Oct 09/20, Up 24%) Utilities represent half their revenue, and this stream is quite resilient. Secular theme that water is scarce. One of the most direct plays into the water industry. Price is fully valued. Wait for a pullback to put in new money.

Watch for a pullback in the DIY Bull market leading up to the Nov. 3 vote: They just reported a strong quarter. Will benefit from the current home-improvement bull market. Undeservedly is up only 5% YTD.

(A Top Pick Dec 07/18, Up 36%) A volatile stock, but he likes the golds, holding 10-20% in a portfolio. Gold has a long runway.

All the telcos have paused over the last few months. Mobile data volume allowance is going up in plans while plan costs go down. A price war is hitting their top line. He prefers Shaw and Rogers. It is a marriage that at some point may happen. Telus has created a digital health care market.…

An income stock. Yield is about 8%, and thinks the dividend is safe. Payout ratio from operations is around 70%. Anything energy is out of favour. Disconnect between fundamentals and valuation. Attractive here. Reaffirmed cashflow targets for the year. It does have higher debt, but it continues to be investment grade.

The Painted Pony transaction is immaterial in the grand scheme of things for CNQ. CNQ is a well-run company. It could probably double from here with their cashflow break even being at $27 for maintenance cap-ex. A very well-run and cheap large cap. He just prefers small cap.

Hold ENB and PPL instead, which have more robust cashflows and can sustain the dividend. Cut dividend, and still looking for partner for their chemical plant. Overhangs on the stock. Wouldn't add at current levels in this environment. Yield is 3.7%.

Keyera vs. Pembina He owns both. Keyera: pays a slightly higher dividend, but also slightly riskier, due to its mix of liquids and gas processing, so probably more earnings volatility short-term. Pembina is a pipeline play with operating cash flow around 9-10x. They were resilient in the downturn. What's good about both is that they…

This stock should skate through a change in administration or even another Trump term. Americans are quite happy with private healthcare solutions. 180M Americans have some sort of private health. 75% are happy with this so it would probably not be disrupted in a large way. He prefers Anthem but there is no problem with…

This is combined entity of Patient Home Monitoring and Biomed. They develop monitor services for the home. They have cleaned up their accounts receivables and it trades at less than 6 times earnings compared to competitors at 13 times. Yield 0% (Analysts’ price target is $0.50)

(A Top Pick Mar 15/19, Down 24%) He still holds it in the portfolio, but had taken some out at $4 per share. He is looking to add to the cannabis sector again following the consolidation. He holds an $8.25 target. They are producing a CBD and THC beverage.

It's focused 90% in diabetes products which offers a competitive advantage. He owned this before, but sold it because its options liquidity is low in the US (he trades options). Instead, he owns its direct competitor, Eli Lily, which boasts more product diversity. (Both companies have phase 3 Covid drugs.) Novo is a leader in…

They may not do well in the work-at-home space. This space demands more and more bandwidth and dispersion is greater. Cisco Webex is a competitor to Microsoft Teams. The average ticket for their product is very high and board members are reticent of spending. Once we see more clarity for after the pandemic, it will…

He expects them to report excellent numbers on Tuesday. The CEO is excellent. Their problem is that they have business than they can handle.

(A Top Pick Dec 14/18, Up 109%) Makers of screen technology out of Idaho. Their technology shortened the width of the screen, which allowed manufacturers to add more technology in the same phone body. He sold out at $207. It will give another opportunity to buy in, but there is more competition coming.

Geared to the enterprise, not the consumer. Helps digitalize processes in the supply chain, through analytics and AI. Well diversified client base, recurring revenues. Target of US$52.05. Can start to nibble here. Consistent double-digit growth rate. Buy it with a $30 handle on it.

(A Top Pick Dec 12/18, Up 15%) Linked to the UN Sustainable Goal: educational, healthcare, food, sanitation companies. Lots of exposure to emerging markets with only 35% US exposure. This will do well along with the world ex-US.

(A Top Pick Dec 12/18, Up 17%) An ETF that tracks the S&P minus fossil fuels and weapons. Strongly correlates the S&P with slight outperformance. You get market returns and do good.

He wants liquidity to be able to take advantage of continued volatility going into 2019. This pays about 2% yield. Think of it as cash. It is an option to step in and do some buying later.