DON'T BUY

Sold his holdings because of concerns on the overall environment. Has performed extremely well in the last little while but feels it is probably fully priced. There is lots of competition and pressure on margins. The environmental side is putting pressure on fracing.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Dec 13/12. Down 17.55%.) Still feels the company has a lot of potential, but the marketplace just hasn’t been too kind. Increasing production and getting their permits. Haven’t made any mistakes. 3% dividend.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Dec 13/12. Up 16.51%.) Have done extremely well. Increasing production. Cut back on their share dilution. There was a fairly significant US ownership, which seems to have gone elsewhere.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Dec 13/12. Up 15.6%.) Caribbean is definitely not doing well as tourism really hasn’t recovered. Other Central American countries are doing okay. Still likes their ability to be in faster growing markets than Canada.

BUY ON WEAKNESS

(His Top Pick on Sept 23/13.) Thinks this is going to have to rest awhile. Likes this on a long-term basis. If it runs a little, he might take some off the table. If it sold back down to $55, he would probably add to some of his accounts.

WATCH

Quite volatile. When they came out with a bad quarter in Jan/Feb, the stock got whacked. You have to realize this is somewhat volatile. Likes what they are doing. Did a major expansion across the country. Their contract with Suncor (SU-T) is ending and he is not sure what they are going to do regarding replacements of supplies.

HOLD

Recently there was a move to consolidate parts of their business. Everything he sees so far, he likes. He’ll probably pay more attention to this one in the new year. Good spread of assets. Thinks the environment will be favouring this kind of company as things settle down into more normal financial markets.

COMMENT

Financing their Arizona acquisition by convertible debentures. He is still looking at this. His concern is that it is a big bite. He is not totally familiar with the Arizona area. Hasn’t decided how he feels about this yet.

DON'T BUY

Grocery business in Canada has become much, much more competitive with Wal-Mart (WMT-N) coming in. This is an area where everybody is manoeuvring for position, and it is going to be hard to keep margins up.

BUY

Safe stock. Likes what they are doing. Increased their dividend on a regular basis. They are dominant in Canada.

WAIT

A previous director has come forward with a number of charges about money being skimmed from the company, etc. Stock starting to recover, but then more charges came over. Wait until the dust settles.

COMMENT

A small trust company operation. Have done quite well in Calgary. Just declared a special dividend. If you buy this stock now, you are not going to get special dividends all the time and you are back into a relatively illiquid stock. The stock will probably go right back to where it was trading before, once the dividend is paid. If you buy you better be ready to hold it for a long time.

BUY

Stock trades in a channel with the lower end being at around $26. Well-run. Not only in the Maritimes, but also into northern Ontario. Have gotten into the fibre optics area very successfully. Once it gets down into the $26 range, it is a Buy. If it ever got to $29, he would probably take some profits with the hope of buying it back at a lower price. 7.1% yield.

TOP PICK

(His 3 Picks are all ETFs and a good way for the average investor to get into some part of the market with a fair amount of safety and diversification.) This one has performed quite well. This is diversification at a reasonable price. Not as volatile as the market.

TOP PICK

(His 3 Picks are all ETFs and a good way for the average investor to get into some part of the market with a fair amount of safety and diversification.) A good way to participate in the US market. Thinks the US market is going to continue to make good headway. This consists of companies that have shown a good ability and the desire to increase their dividends on a regular basis.