TOP PICK
Licenses intellectual property for semiconductors in the telecommunications market. Over the last 6 months they've signed Micron (MU-Q) and re-signed Samsung. On the telecommunications side they've signed Sony, Samsung, Electronics and Nokia. Very cheap. Management has raised guidance to $2.60 in earnings this year. Have about $4-$5 net cash. No debt. 4.5% yield.
TOP PICK
Treats contaminated waste soil in Quebec. No analysts are following this one right now. Came out with phenomenal earnings of $.30 in Q3 and expects similar earnings in Q4 and Q1 and Q2 in 2010. Very cheap at 2 or 3 times earnings.
TOP PICK
Retailer of wireless devices (Wireless Wave or T-Booth). Grew earnings from $.60 to $1-$1.30 in 2009 and expects $1.60 for 2009 and $2 in 2010. Buying back shares. $3 a share in cash. Very cheap.
BUY
Sprott owns about 10% of the company. Have about 30 million ounce (?) gold deposit in Chile, a lower grade deposit, but they also have copper. Going to spin out their higher grade Argentinean deposit. Really likes the story.
BUY
Oil/gas in Alberta. One of the best management teams in the oil patch. Have done a phenomenal job of growing production in the last 3.5 years. Targeting 10,000 BOE exit rate this year, which could make them a takeout candidate. Have 143 net sections that they will be up to drill over the next few years.
BUY
Great barometer of what the economy is doing. If you believe China is growing and will still require metallurgical coal, the stock looks cheap. Very high beta versus the market so if you need some exposure on the long side, this is a good way to play.
BUY
Clean balance sheet with $150 million in cash. Next couple of quarters will be drilling in Colombia and Peru. Producing 13,000 BOE's and expects it to grow to 15,000 over 2010. Key thing is that in Q2 they're going to be drilling up Peru, which could be a company maker. Drilling targets of 140 million barrels and if they hit one of those, stock could easily double.
BUY
Another typical company he would buy because it does not have earnings but there is a lot of upside as they are trying to get higher protein out of canola seed through their patented process. Will see this come to fruition in the next 6 to 9 months or so.
COMMENT
A “show me time”. Trying to hit massive targets in Kurdistan. Will know in the next few weeks. If there is a discovery it will be very large and the stock will react very positively. Speculative.
DON'T BUY
Well stimulation and have been working with Encana (ECA-T) for the last couple of years. Increase in production and decline rates have come down using this technology. Market cap of $175 million and revenues are only a few million. Too expensive for him.
COMMENT
Probably one of the largest gold assets globally that is not owned by a major. Seemed to have come into production without a hitch. Probably a takeout target. Sold his holdings because it is no longer a small cap.
TOP PICK
Covered call writing. Long at $65.05 and Sold Feb/20 Calls giving him $2.70, a 4.2% yield for 32 days. Cheapest valuation he has ever seen on this company on both an absolute basis as well as relative to its competitor Apple (AAPL-Q).
TOP PICK
Top Short Covered call writing. On Jan 27th he shorted with a Feb20th Put. Gold stocks have had a very large selloff.
TOP PICK
Propane distributor with a huge yield of over 10%.
PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Feb 3/09.) (BNN doesn't calculate % gains/losses anymore. Would make my job easier! Bill) Covered call writing. Long at $26.92, Short Feb. $30 Calls for $1.50.