HOLD

Trades at 30x earnings, but it's warranted. Part of a duopoly, and has branched out into analytic services from its core business. Benefits from switching from cash to digital. Huge moat. There will always be regulatory risk. Happy to hold.

COMMENT
Bitcoin.

He has a fairly negative view on it. The USD, for example, has a value that the Federal Reserve can defend. The USD is accepted anywhere in the world, anchored to a basket of goods, and will maintain its value +/- a couple of percentage points. 

Bitcoin has none of that. Huge volatility. Doesn't know how you can pin a value on it. And if you can't do that, how can you use it to trade as a currency?

DON'T BUY
DG vs. DLTR

Questions about health of lower-income consumer. Both companies have flagged this on conference calls. DLTR is taking steps to increase price points, and an improving consumer would be a tailwind. If he had to choose, DLTR would be his pick.

SELL
DLTR vs. DG

Sold a couple of months ago on poor performance. Questions about health of lower-income consumer have been flagged on conference calls, and this concern is creeping up even to the medium-income consumer. Taking steps to increase price points. An improving consumer would be a tailwind. If he had to choose, this would be his pick.

HOLD

A star in Canada due to great execution and lack of competition. Shift to multiple price points is a winning strategy. Carved out a niche in Canada.

DON'T BUY
SU vs. CNQ

He doesn't generally participate in the E&P space, as it's hard to make decisions based on the underlying commodity price. Bigger picture, still huge demand for Canadian oil and gas on world markets. EVs won't take over anytime soon.

SU had been an underperformer and a laggard. Management changes have resulted in turning things around and improving operations. So now, he'd prefer this to CNQ.

DON'T BUY
CNQ vs. SU

He doesn't generally participate in the E&P space, as it's hard to make decisions based on the underlying commodity price. Bigger picture, still huge demand for Canadian oil and gas on world markets. EVs won't take over anytime soon.

Very strong operations. Very focused on shareholders by returning $$ to them and paying down debt. Would have been his top choice, until SU ended up turning things around.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Oct 30/23, Up 57%)

Aerospace division challenged, as BA and Airbus are having a difficult time delivering planes. On the flipside, current planes have to stay in service longer and need replacement parts, so RTX has benefited. Selloff on engineering problems proved to be overdone.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Oct 30/23, Up 41%)

Has unveiled Gemini, which many think on par with ChatGPT. Lots of exciting technologies, some of which they're monetizing. Exceptional free cashflow from advertising. Still only 20x PE. Buy now, benefit long term.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Oct 30/23, Up 2%)

Limited private-label competition. During pandemic, good at passing cost increases along to consumers without demand falling off. Concerns about impact of weight-loss drugs has abated. But huge increase in cocoa prices, at 47-year highs. Still happy to own.

SELL

He sold with news of recent US acquisition, wouldn't step in today. Company sold MLSE saying proceeds would be used to pay down debt, but then turned around and made an acquisition with a rich purchase price necessitating more debt. More capex now needed. Payout ratio still high.

DON'T BUY

Pharma companies are always facing the patent wall, needing to spend R&D to innovate new drugs. Very difficult to predict the next blockbuster. He prefers and owns JNJ and ABT, more diversified.

HOLD

Pharma companies are always facing the patent wall, needing to spend R&D to innovate new drugs. Very difficult to predict the next blockbuster. He prefers and owns JNJ and ABT, as they're more diversified.

HOLD
Password-sharing crackdown in the works.

Happy with results this morning. Increased profitability from streaming. Struggling lower- and mid-income consumer impacting park revenues; probably a short-term concern. Phenomenal content library.

BUY

Money-laundering fine. Asset cap on growth will really hamper growth in US. Perhaps can focus more on Canada where they've been increasing deposit base and credit card business. Depressed valuation is an entry point. Attractive dividend. Opportunity to turn it around over the medium term.