Latest Top Picks

Stock Opinions by Leslie Lundquist

TOP PICK
Cineplex Inc
Have about 2/3 of theatre assets in Canada. Controls about 83% of the on screen advertising market, so they have excellent bargaining power.
other services
TOP PICK
Arc Resources Ltd
Oil/gas. A trust that will survive the tough times and thrive in the good times. Has a great long-term track record of creating value. Excellent portfolio of properties and excellent management. Good price.
oil / gas
TOP PICK
Properties are almost entirely in Quebec city and Montreal. Reasonable levels of debt. Diversified portfolio of properties. Yield is about 6%.
investment companies / funds
BUY
Obsidian Energy
A stable core long-term holding. Has some interesting opportunities after the next quarter.
oil / gas
HOLD
Largest custom brokerage firm in Canada. 1st quarter was rather disappointing. Recently announced the retirement of their transportation/logistics man and she feels the 2nd quarter may be weak.
investment companies / funds
COMMENT
Power generator with assets both in Canada and the US. Many of the assets are fired by natural gas, whose prices have gone up faster than power contracts. In the short term, there is very little risk, but longer term you have to wonder about the currency exposure.
electrical utilities
COMMENT
Should have secured distributions for the foreseeable future. Extremely stable assets and very stable distribution policy. Low payout ratio. Very low yield and you may be better off with a bond.
property mngmnt / investment
BUY
Yellow Pages Limited
Should have secured distributions for the foreseeable future.
communications / media
BUY
Should have secure distributions for the foreseeable future.
pipelines
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick July 13/06. Down 23.2%.) Drop was due to natural gas prices. Still likes. Low payout ratio. Excellent quality properties and excellent management. Long-term investors will do well with this.
oil / gas
PAST TOP PICK
DH Corporation
(A Top Pick July 13/06. Up 7.3%.) Still likes.
other services
PAST TOP PICK
Tree Island Steel
(A Top Pick July 13/06. Down 3%.) Ran into difficulties with the US housing market. Have restructured and think they have a pretty good plan. She is not into turnaround stories so has sold her holdings.
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
COMMENT
Canadian Oil Sands
Probably the pre-eminent trust in the trust universe. Has done spectacularly well. There is a lot of speculation that they might increase their distribution.
oil / gas
COMMENT
There was a run-up due to very attractive refining margins. The margins are less attractive, so the stock has pulled back. 15% yield, which is quite high. Could be an indication of a distribution cut.
investment companies / funds
SELL
A distributor of hardwood to manufacturers of hardwood products, not flooring. About 70% of its business is in the US, so there could be a currency problem. The slowdown in housing in the US is a negative.
merchandising / lodging
Showing 1 to 15 of 214 entries