Latest Top Picks

Stock Opinions by Greg A. Taylor, CFA, BBA

BUY
Oil's doing well, but this one down 15% from April highs.

One of the best-in-class energy producers in Canada. Has done incredibly well since Covid lows. Caught up in being a little over-owned and overbought. Suffered from June's crystallizing of capital gains. Normally trades at a premium to the group, now back in line. A buying opportunity.

oil / gas
COMMENT
A Comment -- General Comments From an Expert
Energy.

Very positive on the sector in general. Set up to do quite well for second half of the year. Names like BTE and CNQ should do well going forward.

Unknown
BUY
Baytex Energy Corp

Set up to do quite well for second half of the year. 

oil / gas
COMMENT
A Comment -- General Comments From an Expert
Lumber.

An area that could start to do well in the second half of the year and beyond. When you think of how to trade the sector, it really comes back to timing the homebuilders. The homebuilder sector had been under pressure for the last year and a bit, because of higher interest rates.

If we start to see more of a break in interest rates, really good for homebuilders. Starting to see those stocks start to move up in the US. In general, once the homebuilders start to go, the price of lumber and lumber stocks start to follow after that. BOC has signalled cutting; the Fed's getting ready to embark on a rate-cutting cycle.

Unknown
BUY
West Fraser Timber

TOL is one of the biggest homebuilders in the US, and a leading indicator. When it starts to go, as it has in the last few days, it's usually good for the lumber stocks.

west coast forestry
BUY
Canfor Corp

TOL is one of the biggest homebuilders in the US, and a leading indicator. When it starts to go, as it has in the last few days, it's usually good for the lumber stocks.

west coast forestry
BUY
Interfor Corp

TOL is one of the biggest homebuilders in the US, and a leading indicator. When it starts to go, as it has in the last few days, it's usually good for the lumber stocks.

west coast forestry
BUY
Toll Brothers Inc.

TOL is one of the biggest homebuilders in the US, and a leading indicator. When it starts to go, as it has in the last few days, it's usually good for the lumber stocks.

contractors
WATCH
Why lagging the market? Is 10.2% dividend sustainable?

Incredibly tied to a lot of the big issues going on. Lots of exposure to office throughout Canada, especially to The Well in Toronto. Return-to-office has been slower to pick up. REITs tend to really suffer with higher interest rates. 

The worst might be priced in, could be time to sharpen your pencil and take a look. Good operator, great assets. If you feel that interest rates have peaked and fear around office is waning, will benefit as those sentiments start to reverse.

He's not an expert in the payout ratio for REITs and whether dividend can be maintained.

investment companies / funds
COMMENT
Dollarama Inc.

One of the best retail operators in the country and globally. Also one of the highest valuations in the sector, risk of impact if they stumble. Expensive for a reason, as you're getting a great management team.

Canada is not as competitive as the US, starting to see cracks with US peers, but not in Canada. Not a bad place to be. Canada's slowing down, and usually you want to be in the lower-priced retailer with more-value staples.

Consumer Products
COMMENT
BHP Billiton
Good play on global recovery with its iron ore, base metals, oil, etc. Has been under a lot of pressure lately with slowdown in China, global economy and Australian mining tax. Australia is talking about lowering the tax from 40% to 30% next year and the opposition parties are against it. Thinks this tax is priced into the stock. 2.68% dividend.
other mines
COMMENT
Has sold off a lot so is cheaper right now. A leverage to play towards coal and gold. 1.3% dividend.
Mining
BUY
Apple Inc
One of the few companies that is actually working in this environment. Great company and hard to question anything they do. Haven't had a product stumble over the last few years but there is some question with the iPhone 4 launch. Perfect balance sheet with $40 billion in cash. Trading at 20X next year's earnings.
electrical / electronic
BUY
Encana Corp
Gulf problems have highlighted how natural gas is probably the commodity that will win. Longer term it should start gaining share. Very conservative, safe way to play natural gas. Have done very well in managing their capital budget by hedging a lot of natural gas production at more than $6.
oil / gas
COMMENT
PotashCorp
Potash and some of the agriculture commodities have come off on the theme of the China slowdown. Expected to be under pressure for the next few years. An interesting way to play this is to watch corn prices, which has been under pressure in the last few months.
integrated mines
Showing 1 to 15 of 161 entries