23 Stock Top Picks and 7 ETF (Nov 30 Dec 6)

Opinion about AAPL-Q: Is wavering about his call on this to own it, not trade it. Is expecting a non-exciting report and a slowdown in the growth in services revenue. Will they still receive $20 billion from Google to make Google Apple's default search engine, something a judge wants to end. Also, Epic is fighting…

Opinion about MA-N: Yesterday off by 5.5%, and that's continuing today. Pretty big reversal from high of around $591. See how it plays out. Volume on this drop is not as much as it was in the April downdraft. Indicates it might not have fully played out yet, and selling might continue.He could see it…

Opinion about ZWU-T: Will this go to 0? No, it won't. BMO would never allow it and it wouldn't happen. Holds Emera, Fortis and Rogers, hugely diverse.

Opinion about XFR-T: Current yield of 5%. You want floating rates in your portfolio when yields are going up, as it mitigates the negative impact of prices changing. The floating nature means the coupons can set a lot more frequently than would a 10-year bond.If you think about a series of 3-month bonds or other…

Opinion about VGG-T: Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly We reiterate this Vanguard ETF, which focuses on US equities that demonstrate growing dividends over time, as a TOP PICK.  What makes it particularly interesting is its lower volatility despite a 13% average annual growth since inception over 10 years ago.  It also ranked in the top10% of…

Opinion about XLP-N: (A Top Pick Nov 10/23, Up 4%) Will continue to hold. Likes direction of chart. Consumer staples do well regardless of direction of economy. Believes still upside left in stock. 

Opinion about AMLP-N: Above $35, has sold all exposure to AMLP. Closer to $30, it is a good place to enter for a trade. Probably will do well buying dips and selling rallies in the near term. Maximum upside is probably $40. Long term, there are some challenges.

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 XLV-N: He's overweight healthcare and within that is overweight biotech and pharma. There's a reversion to the mean after a brutal election year, but that's always the case. Relief comes when presidential policies are not as dire as expected. These stock have tremendous valuations and pay good dividends and there's growth with aging…

Opinion about BNS-T: This is the one of the group that looks really interesting to him. Its US acquisition didn't look too good right off the bad, but could end up being pretty good. Has already taken the worst hits on Latin exposure. If you were to add one Canadian bank, this would be at…

Opinion about TSU-T: (A Top Pick Sep 10/24, Down 14%) Took write downs on non-core business operations. Now focused on growing highly profitable businesses that are generating very good combined ratios, both in Canada and US. Book value per share has increased. Great buying opportunity. 

Opinion about QQQ-Q: Write calls at 1-2-week maturities, short. Shares are near all-time highs.

Opinion about RY-T: Best Canadian bank. Going higher. Dominant personal and commercial franchise in Canada. US business not as good as the Canadian one, but has turned a corner. Biggest wealth management franchise in Canada. Global top 10 in capital markets, which should grow nicely.

Opinion about ALL-N: They home and car insurance in North America, doing an amazing job. Over 20 years, they bought back 66% of their shares. At this rate, they will buy the rest in 16 years. Trades at 11x PE with double-digit earnings growth. Insurance rates are rising. (Analysts’ price target is $219.32)

Opinion about TCN-T: The market has punished it too much. It is in the residential rental sector in the U.S., especially in the sun belt. The rentals are affordable and appeal especially to the 35 to 44 year old demographic who want to rent good homes rather than buy. The share price is at a…

Opinion about INVH-N: (A Top Pick Dec 05/18, Up 45%) It's a Blackstone-sponsored company that bought a bunch of single-family homes and rent them out. Blackstone IPO'd this and sold it in tranches over time. Now, the stock has legs and doesn't need the parent's support. They rent to tenants and are adding ancillary businesses,…

Opinion about ARE-N: The largest US office REIT. Used to own it, still likes it alot for owning specialized spaces, like labs for biotechs. But this niche has problems, lacking IPOs and new companies. Is down 20% YTD.

Opinion about CRH-T: He does not own this one, despite the earnings metrics looking solid and there is no net debt. They missed on a recent quarterly earning, but not a bid deal. They are trading at 7 times cash flow and 7 times EBITDA. He would like to see the ROE improve a bit.…

Opinion about BHC-T: Kudos to the new executive at delevering and cleaning things up. Inexpensive valuation. Still a lot of debt. A turnaround story. 3% of your portfolio is a bit heavy. Add some diversity. Had a great move. Be cautious.

Opinion about UNH-N: (A Top Pick Jul 17/24, Down 49%) She averaged down and bought at $273 in May. Stock's been under a lot of pressure. Largest US healthcare manager, with strong vertical integration. Guidance cut, EPS outlook dropped. Under 11x forward PE despite 13-16% long-term target EPS growth. Sees ~25% upside from here.

Opinion about CELG-Q: (A Top Pick Dec 03/18, Up 47%) Celgene had made a number of mis-steps, including management applying for multiple FDA approvals. One thing he really liked about the acquisition was the price it was bought. The acquisition by BMY helped them diversify and it seems to be going well.

Opinion about MRK-N: Pharmas have not done well. MRK trades at 8x PE. They have one large drug, Keytruda, which makes up 46% of their revenues, which is risky. The chart looks terrible. But MRK has dozens of drugs in phase 2 and 3 trials. Also, this pays a fine dividend. Now is a fine…

Opinion about PHG-N: Medical equipment. In trouble years ago with large sleep apnea settlement. Struggling since then. With everything down, better places to look.

Opinion about PFE-N: Downtrend, lower highs and lower lows. Never assume that the downtrend's over until the chart proves it. Last high and last low are being taken out. If you own, wait till it rallies and then get out.

Opinion about NFI-T: One of only 2 names she owns with no dividend. For her to do that, she really has to have conviction on the company and its stock price trajectory. Biggest segment is manufacturing transit buses, also does coach buses. Supply chain issue with seats is slowly getting alleviated. Backlog at record levels.…

Opinion about VLN-T: Bought in just before the takeout deal was nixed by the French government. Rocket ride lately on the nuclear bid hype, so he sold. De facto world gold standard in nuclear valves. Cheap vs. tangible book value. May buy again if cheap enough. Sees eventual takeover.

Opinion about 6859-JP: (A Top Pick Jun 02/20, Up 26%) A Japanese company, a leader in test equipment. They are incredibly well positioned without a lot of competition. A global leader. They have zero debt.

Opinion about CHH-T: It is an interesting business. It is specialty pharmacies. They do medication for long term care facilities. They have an interesting pouch technology. They had quite a significant debt load and made a big dent in it when they sold their surgical business. They are trying to pick up new contracts. He…

Opinion about ATD.B-T: It is a growth by acquisition company and is disciplined about not over-paying. It ranks at an attractive level. The cost of fuel is a concern and where do they get their margins. Look elsewhere on an overall basis with consumer related stocks.

Opinion about SU-T: It has had 6 consecutive quarters of beating expectations. He prefers CNQ with its strong history of consistent growth and 5% dividend which it has been raising for 25 years.