Latest Top Picks

Stock Opinions by Chris Rankin, MBA, CFA

TOP PICK
Altus Group
The company does real estate services eg. property taxes, evaluations etc. The demand profile looks fantastic. The company just bought a large, busines property in the UK. The company will benefit when the banks are doing evaluation of assets.
Business Services
TOP PICK
This company makes drains and just bought a cement company. Infrastructures and roads across the country are up. He believes that it has a lot of upside and has bought some himself. Believes it may go 20% higher. Currently has a 9.3% yield.
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
TOP PICK
HNZ Group
He likes this trust a lot. He has bought some recently and is happy to own it. He only buys when he thinks he can make 20% or higher. Canadian Helicopters brings people up to remote sites in the mining industry by helicopters. The demand profile looks great.
Transportation & Environmental Services
HOLD
Yellow Pages Limited
It is a high quality asset. The company has been moving to an online business model and doing fairly well. Believes it is fairly valued and slightly expensive. He doesn't think they will make a lot of money but thinks they will do fine.
communications / media
TRADE
Be patient, may take a year or two.
other services
COMMENT
Believes that in the next 52 weeks there will be continueing change in the space and more take outs will occur. Business trusts are not being helped by the high Canadian dollar.
Unknown
PAST TOP PICK
Data Group Ltd.
(Up 22.4% since Sept. 25 2006) He owns it currently and thinks it is great. Management team has a good reputation. It is down for now, but feels it will go higher.
paper products / business forms
PAST TOP PICK
Sterling Shoes Inc
(Up 21.7% since Sept. 2006)He does not own any more. He likes the shoe store. Believes it is a reasonable place to have money invested. Also, believes it is fairly valued. 8.5% yield
merchandising / lodging
BUY
Holloway Lodging
It is slowing down because it's in the oil field services and is in the small cap reach. It has extraordinary value for long term is an excellent place to put some money.
income trust
COMMENT
The Alberta economy is slowing down. Their electricity use is lower, because they have less manufacturing companies. Less people are moving out there, the moving companies aren't as busy as they were.
Unknown
PAST TOP PICK
DH Corporation
(Up 10.8% since September 2006) When he had picked it they had just made a substantial acquisition, in the mortgage brokerage services. Since then the market has softened.
other services
TRADE
It's appropriately priced. A fairly stable business. They do the distribution of medical products.
biotechnology / pharmaceutical
DON'T BUY
Strongco Corp
Was hit with the income trust tax. Had a bad quarter, and is smaller then their competition.
merchandising / lodging
TRADE
Wajax Corp
Much stronger then Strongco, and have been able to maintain their revenues, in particular the mining sector. Which has offset the weaknesses in the forestry.
merchandising / lodging
TRADE
Big Rock Brewery
Very stable demand, no debt, feels it is high. Constrained by production capacity.
Consumer Products
Showing 1 to 15 of 102 entries