STRONG BUY

China's reopening helps all consumer spending, as well as more travel and cross-border transactions are tailwinds. A great stock to own. Shares have outpaced the S&P since late-2021 as travel began to increase (their most profitable segment).

HOLD

Commodity prices have come off, like wheat and fertilizer. It pays a 2% dividend. He wants to see where commodity prices go before making a decision. The change in the C-suite haven't really effected the stock and is not a concern.

TOP PICK
no price target

One of the top luxury brands, sold in nearly every country in the world. Forecast of 150 billion Euros of revenues this year; Europe accounts for 35%, Asia 28% but definitely growing. Improving supply chains, more semis, and China's revival will all help. Shares moved above their 200-day a few months ago. MB is moving more into e-batteries that could challenge Tesla, now with a 6% market share (cars with their e-batteries), but targets all cars by 2030. MB is a value stock trading at 6x earnings, a big discount vs. its history. Shares are outpacing the MSCI world index.

TOP PICK

Bought it during last spring's bottom. A highly recognizable brand with 36,000 stores in 80 countries. $36 billion in revenues this year expected. Just affirmed guidance. Their US rewards program has 34.5 million members, up 15% in a year. Will buybacks shares and pay dividends totalling $20 billion. SBUX will get a boost from China reopening where they are aggressively opening, fueled by a growing middle class. Pays a 1.9% dividend, but it's more of a capital appreciation story. Average revenues per customer have stayed the same, not dropped.

(Analysts’ price target is $112.07)
TOP PICK

Streaming will take time to be profitable, but streaming is the future and Disney is gaining speed. Their combined subscriber count including ESPN and Hulu is over 235 million, more than Netflix. DIS needs to make this more profitable, perhaps charging more. Parks and resorts are doing very well with the crazy demand for travel. China's reopening will benefit theme parks and cruise line segments. Studios: many great movies are coming like Indiana Jones while Avatar is doing well. CEO Bob Iger's restructuring plans will turn the company around.

(Analysts’ price target is $131.10)
BUY
Allan Tong’s Discover Picks

No, this is not the alcohol conglomerate, but a highly successful Canadian software company that boasts returns of 11% in the past year and 183% over the last five. For a tech company, CSU boasts a low beta of 0.81 and trades at a PE just below 81x. Compare that valuation to its five-year median average of 62.55x, but the current level remains 50% lower than its peak of 128.13x at the end of 2021. Read: Risk tolerance and safety for our full analysis.

BUY ON WEAKNESS
Allan Tong’s Discover Picks

The house of Mickey has been the talk of Wall Street of late after it delivered an impressive quarter last week, cost cuts and the resumption of its dividend sometime this year. CEO Bob Iger has been hailed as the returning saviour and, indeed, he was charming and persuasive in his conference call and media interviews after the report. DIS shares popped 5% immediately after hours, but finished last Thursday -1.31%, because the overall market sank on interest rate fears. Read: Risk tolerance and safety for our full analysis.

HOLD
Allan Tong’s Discover Picks

One of the most defensive plays on the TSX is the TSX itself. Trading under X on its own exchange, the TMX Group just reported another beat, its third in the past year, with revenues jumping 80% over full-year 2021 and net income leaping 60% also over FY 2021. Robust Canadian stock performance (outperforming the Wall Street majors in 2022) and ongoing volatility are good for TMX’s business. Selling data provides another recurring revenue stream. TMX currently pays 2.58% but that dividend has been climbing since 2016. Also, its beta is a measly 0.56 and it trades at 14.16x. Safe. Read: Risk tolerance and safety for our full analysis.