COMMENT

BMO S&P/TSX Laddered Preferred (ZPR-T) or iShares S&P/TSX preferred (CPD-T)? The only difference between these 2 is that ZPR probably has a little bit more in the rate reset preferred shares, which are the shares that will do well when interest rates start to move higher. The both are very similar though. This one gives you about a 5% dividend yield, and you are basically investing in preferred shares. There is going to be some volatility in the preferred share market.

DON'T BUY

This is going to be really dependent on where interest rates are moving. If they start moving higher, this stock should start moving higher. He prefers Sun Life (SLF-T) which has performed better and has a bit more diversification. However, this one is fine longer-term. Given that the 200 day moving average is falling, it is not a name he would own.

COMMENT

Just sold his holdings about a week ago on its move higher based on strong earnings. He likes the name. Their partnership with Disney (DIS-N) and the Star Wars franchise makes a lot of sense. They are making a good transition from the console to the mobile space. He sold because he wants start moving away from higher beta names. Loves the company and the name and could buy it back later on.

BUY

This represents a great, long term name, premium brand. He really likes their ability to have a franchise in the studio, moving on to the theme park, moving on to merchandise, and then moving onto television. They have the multiplatform to earn revenues. Some of the concern is cord cutting with ESPN. Thinks they need to start creating that content for streaming, and that will probably lift that overhang. This stock makes a lot of sense, and a good name to own longer-term.

BUY ON WEAKNESS

Sold his holdings recently in the $59-$60 level because these names start to become a bit toppy and hitting the highs that they had hit before. He likes the name. Great dividend, great cash flow and good media content. Would like to buy it a little cheaper.

COMMENT

This has been a great stock and has done very well. Trading at about 18X earnings. Starting to get a little bit rich. He prefers General Dynamics (GD-N) which has stronger valuations.

DON'T BUY

Took a bit of a hit by issuing some shares recently. Expensive and not a name that is going to end up in his portfolios. Trading at 145X forward earnings. Growth rate is forecast at around 70%, but he questions if that growth rate is susceptible to some risks.

COMMENT

This has actually underperformed the S&P 500 over the last 3 years. Year-to-date however, the shares have outperformed and are about 6% better than the S&P. In the last few years, in a growth environment, this has underperformed. On a go forward basis, it might make a lot of sense. It really depends on whether we are truly going back into a Value-based environment versus a growth environment.

HOLD

He likes the chart on this. Ever since the January lows, it has finally broken out and has started moving higher. Trading above the 50 and 200 day moving averages, so from a technical perspective, there are no complaints. On valuations it is trading at 17X earnings with a 6% or 7% growth rate, which makes it a little expensive. Nice dividend at 2.8%, and they are probably going to grow that over time. Likes their diversification within the drug space, medical device space and the consumer product space. One name that might be a little cheaper and that he likes a little more, would be AbbVie (ABBV-N). However, if you own this, there is no reason to Sell until it breaks down a bit.

COMMENT

Currently looking at exiting this. He has done very well with it, and has traded in and out of it a couple of times over the last couple of years. His concern is that the stock price has started to flatten out back into the November-December phase. It got to the $32-$33 level and really hasn’t broken above that. In March it got back to the $32 and then started to break down again. If there is a bit of a breakdown in the market, this is a bit of a barometer and the stock is going to break down too. Dividend of around 3%.

COMMENT

Likes this and thinks it makes a lot of sense. The midstream names are a bit of a conservative way to play into the energy recovery if you think that is happening. He prefers something like Pembina Pipeline (PPL-T), which has a bit of a pickup in dividend and pays closer to 5%. Likes both names.

TOP PICK

Largest Internet Company globally, specializing in search and advertising. They control 74% of the US Internet search engine market, and nearly 60% of the global search ad revenue. With the YouTube volume growth, increasing mobile ad sales and more cost controls, that should continue to drive the bottom and top lines. Trading pretty cheap at 20X forward earnings. 15% long-term growth rate, gives it a 1.3X PEG, which is pretty good for a large cap technology brand. Added to his position last month in the $705 area. Thinks it can get back up to the $800 level quite easily.

TOP PICK

If you are a believer that the energy market is continuing to stabilize and recover, he likes this company because it is a very conservative play. The largest integrated oil company globally. Feels they are very committed long term to cost control and a strong balance sheet, enabling them to make some very opportunistic acquisitions going forward. Trading at 2.15X Price to BV, which is a discount to its 10-year average of 2.8X. Dividend yield of 3.33%.

TOP PICK

A very classical, traditional, consumers staple stock that provides investors with a very stable and predictable growth and earnings with a modest but growing dividend. They have $12 billion in sales and a network of 600 stores in Québec and Ontario. Trading at 17X earnings and a 10% growth rate and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The dividend has grown at 16% per year over the last 5 years. A very steady type of name, especially for this environment where things seem to be expensive.