PAST TOP PICK

(Past Top Pick on May 16, 2017, Up 16%) They tend to make an acquisition every few years to expand geographic presence or in a certain vertical. Well-managed. Have increased their margins. They're ready to make a large acquisition after making some smaller ones. Their financial services has seen good organic growth. Their business is half-services, half-consulting in IT. Companies need to modernize and digitize to compete with online players. Pays no dividend. Buy for good long-term capital growth.

PAST TOP PICK

(Past Top Pick on May 16, 2017, Up 10%) Likes their 23% presence in the U.S. after expanding by buying City National a few years ago. Enjoyed a good quarter. NAFTA, housing market headwinds--who knows what'll happen? Regardless, it's a well-diversified company that'll help buffer it during an economic slowdown. She owns it partly for the U.S. presence.

PAST TOP PICK

(Past Top Pick on May 16, 2017, Down 1.5%) Their pharma side and newly released drugs are doing very well which offsets their drugs that are going generic. They have a solid pipeline of 10 new drugs over the next few years, each drug expected to make $1-billion. They invest in R&D and buy companies occasionally, including one last year. Yield under 3%.

COMMENT

Sold off today when Shell sold its shares. The deal was done at a 3% discount, but the whole energy patch sold off today ahead of Trump's Iran announcement. She would consider this stock. Trump pulled out of the Iran deal--but the EU didn't. Oil has had a good rally, but in Canada with the lack of pipelines (like the TransMountain deadline), she won't add much oil to her portfolio until this situation is clarified.

COMMENT

It's a good play on the U.S. economy. After recovering from the recession, it can increase its dividend now. Owns JP Morgan instead which is less focused on the US consumer than BAC. But it may be prudent to take some profits from BAC and buy some JP Morgan or a Canadian bank.

HOLD

Owns another company in this space. It's an alternative asset manager. They're raising money to make future investments. You want some stocks in alternative investment companies, but BX is volatile. If you own it, that's fine.

COMMENT

Looking for a safe haven in the US during volatility? JNJ given their mix in pharmaceuticals, medical products and consumer products, with a strong balance sheet and a 3.5% dividend. Also, Abbot Labs (ABT-N): their medical devices doing well as are their nutritional products given strong global demand; it's diversified and well-managed; pays over 2% dividend with growth. These are products we all need, and with an aging population, there will always be demand.

BUY

Their medical devices doing well as are their nutritional products given strong global demand; it's diversified and well-managed; pays over 2% dividend with growth. These are products we all need, and with an aging population, there will always be demand.

TOP PICK

Have $280-billion under management in 4 areas: property, renewables, infrastructure and private equity. They generate stable, long-term cash flow with a strong balance sheet to buy assets opportunistically. She likes their renewable side, because that business will grow. There's a lot of runway here. (Analysts' price target $60.39)

TOP PICK

26% of operations in the U.S. They increased their dividend and she sees 12% earnings growth in 2018. (Analysts' price target $81.84)

TOP PICK

A US industrial company with four divisions, including Otis Elevators and aerospace. Their engine business is doing well. They're closing on an acquisition that'll expand their aerospace position.They raised guidance in Q1, which they rarely do. Well-run and good management. Good balance sheet. Pays a 2.5% dividend. (Analysts' price target $146.35)