COMMENT

If there ever was an extreme niche, this is it. They gather the pollen and special powders to deal with the fields and nasty pesticides. 90% of the world’s commercial greenhouses actually buy hives of bees.

COMMENT

He likes this. Hasn’t bothered to look at it because it is a marvellous creation by highly skilled people. Prem Watsa himself is originally from India. It’s not simply a fund holding Indian assets, it is inventing, contriving in a sense, and has bought out companies. Thinks it is going to continue to be very good.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Dec 14/16. Down 19%.) Jonathan Goodman is a man of great patience and enormous wealth, which he got out of his first company. You have to be patient with this.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Dec 14/16. Up 25%.) The world’s greatest mining prospector and Alaska is starved for jobs. The greenies have kind of receded, and there is a better mood with the EPA in the US. Thinks this gets going eventually. It is going to be gradual and you have to be patient.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Dec 14/16. Up 46%.) They have liaisons with the Disney’s of the world and others. Very, very talented Canadian group. It should continue to grow.

COMMENT

Trying to get producers to market, and the producers have amalgamated and improved things, but the overall effect is not really helping. A very inventive and innovative company. It’s the most aggressive of the Canadian pipeline companies. 5.5% dividend yield.

COMMENT

A great little company, and the only listed one in Canada. There are giants in the US that do have interests and individuals who have latched onto it in Canada. Their earnings report indicated that they lost $15.4 million on a revenue of $18.5 million in its 3rd quarter. He sold his holdings.

COMMENT

Value play or value trap? This is not a value trap. It builds wonderful kitchenware and stuff to entrap the American consumers. He’s in this for the long-term.

COMMENT

Has been out of this for a long time. It moved into a new era of water, and probably tea and coffee as well. It’s worth looking at again.

COMMENT

Cobalt. He was told to wait for the very high quality nickel, as the battery of the future will be nickel, lithium, etc., which gave him a sense of cobalt receding a bit. They are also big in bismuth.

COMMENT

Has held this for very long time. They are very promotional. They went through their controversial phase about their processes which was fairly revolutionary. So far, it seems it will work. Located in Québec.

HOLD

Although located in the West, the company is not dependent on oil and gas. They’ve been doing well. Have broken into eastern Canada a little. It is probably worth holding. 2.7% dividend yield.

COMMENT

This went into a bit of a stall, in part due to the railroad situation and confusion of commodity traffic. The picture is not absolutely clear as to whether the railroads are as keen as they used to be. They constantly have to replace the ties. It is very well-run. Very, very good Canadian managers.

COMMENT

Has held this for very long time. 3.8% dividend yield. Very low risk.

TOP PICK

There is an amazing saga of the great bully Boeing (BA-N) trying to crush the situation, but it appears to have reversed on them somewhat. Great technology. Everybody is bored stiff with the delays on this brilliant plane. Now you have the great strength of the Airbus to carry on through. Thinks you are going to see deal after deal on the world stage. (Analysts’ price target is $3.50.)