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Today, The Monthly Gems by Allan Tong and The Panic-Proof Portfolio (Stockchase Research) commented about whether ET-T, ROIV-Q, BBU-N, ISRG-Q, IBKR-Q, DOL-T are stocks to buy or sell.

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It's a Monthly Gems opinion which is available only for Premium members

Curated by Allan Tong since 2019.
99+ opinions with 4.15 rating.

TOP PICK

This is no income stock at a 0.25% dividend yield, and currently DOL shares are only $12.50 below highs of $152.97. Also, the PE of 35.88x is historically stretched. DOL traded at 30.3x to end 2022 and 31.3x three years ago. However, as Stockchaser Trevor Rose notes, Dollarama is a fine long-term hold. With volatility likely in January, pick this one up on a 5-10% pullback when its valuation normalizes.

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It's a Monthly Gems opinion which is available only for Premium members

Curated by Allan Tong since 2019.
99+ opinions with 4.15 rating.

TOP PICK

The company's market cap more than doubled to US$74.64 billion in 2024 and it currently trades at a 32.3x PE, twice as high as it was in late September 2023. With that, earnings keep climbing, from US$3.01 billion in 2022, to US$6.5 billion in 2023 and a projected US$7.57 billion this year. Q3 earnings rose 13% and sales 19%, though the company slightly missed earnings due to a one-time charge and higher costs. This is a momentum name, but like the overall market, the pace of IBKR's growth will likely slow in 2025, though there remains upside. Again, this is no income stock, paying a dividend of only 0.56%.

premium

It's a Monthly Gems opinion which is available only for Premium members

Curated by Allan Tong since 2019.
99+ opinions with 4.15 rating.

TOP PICK

After a flat first half to 2024, back-to-back earnings beats in July and October lifted ISRG shares from the low-$400s to the mid-$500s by the fall. The last two quarterly reports stressed that an increasing number of surgeries within the U.S. and internationally is the key driver. For instance, the company's October reported said that procedures rose 18%, beating estimates of 17.1%. The quarter before, this number climbed 14% in the U.S. and 22% abroad.

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This is a Panic-proof Portfolio opinion which is available only for Premium members

Curated by Michael O'Reilly since 2020.
1550+ opinions with 4.81 rating (one of the best performing expert).

TOP PICK
Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly

As analysts revise upwards their earnings outlooks, we reiterate BBU as a TOP PICK.  The company has realized over $6 billion in divestitures -- yielding a 30% IRR.  This is allowing cash reserves to grow, debt to be reduced and shares bought back.  It trades under book value and supports a 29% ROE.  We recommend trailing up the stop (from $19) to $21, looking to achieve $31 -- upside potential of 30%.  Yield 1.0% 

(Analysts’ price target is $31.70)
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This is a Panic-proof Portfolio opinion which is available only for Premium members

Curated by Michael O'Reilly since 2020.
1550+ opinions with 4.81 rating (one of the best performing expert).

TOP PICK
Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly

We again reiterate ROIV as a TOP PICK.   The Swiss based biopharma company continues to develop its long pipeline of projects.  It trades at 2x earnings, under 2x book and supports a robust 128% ROE.  We like that cash reserves are growing, while debt is retired.  We continue to recommend a stop-loss at $10.50, looking to achieve $16 -- upside potential of 28%.  Yield 0% 

(Analysts’ price target is $16.25)
premium

This is a Panic-proof Portfolio opinion which is available only for Premium members

Curated by Michael O'Reilly since 2020.
1550+ opinions with 4.81 rating (one of the best performing expert).

TOP PICK
Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly

We reiterate this Ontario based broadcasting and media platform manufacturer as a TOP PICK.  Recently reported earnings grew over 60%, allowing the company to reduce debt, buy back shares and still grow cash reserves.  It trades at 17x earnings and supports a 25% ROE.  We recommend trailing up the stop (from $10) to $11, looking to achieve $15.50 -- upside potential over 18%.  Yield 6.5%

(Analysts’ price target is $15.50)
COMMENT
Disconnect between market and economy widened.

Second straight year we've seen returns of over 20% per year, at least in the US. The last time this happened was 1997-98, and we know what happened subsequently when the dot-com bubble burst. She's not saying this market feels like a bubble, but it definitely feels expensive with valuations stretched, and more so in the US than in Canada.

COMMENT
Portfolio positioning.

Her firm is always conservative on a regular day. Preservation of capital is the most important thing for her clients, not risky investments. So today, they're being extra cautious. Still, the market rally of the last 2 years has focused predominantly on the tech sector and, in particular, on 7 stocks.

Though her portfolio has done pretty well in the past year, she's not dealing with unreasonable valuations. So there's still an opportunity for the portfolio to continue to grow. The sectors she's in have seen moderate growth, but valuations for the most part are still OK.

Her holdings include pipelines and utilities. Telcos have done poorly, but that's just a small part of the portfolio. She focuses on infrastructure, and critical infrastructure that's difficult to replace. What do consumers need, not want? With utilities, for example, even if we go into recession and consumers are strapped financially, they're not going to cut off their power or cell phone service.

BUY ON WEAKNESS

Under $150 it's starting to get interesting. Can't go too wrong at these valuations, though a cheaper opportunity may arise in a recession.

Disconnect in terms of valuation and performance between CNR and CP is enticing. CP is trading a lot more expensively around 21-22x PE. Whereas CNR is trading more cheaply by comparison and by historical standards. Cyclical. Attractive dividend yield of over 2%.

(Analysts’ price target is $180.25)
DON'T BUY

Of all the long-term care facilities, this would be the one she'd look at the closest. Secular trend of aging demographics isn't going away. Targeting 95% occupancy, which is achievable. Liability risk if another Covid-type outbreak. Healthcare worker shortage. Yield is less than 4%.

See her Top Picks for a name that plays to the same demographic.

BUY

Hasn't performed as well as others. Hasn't sold or trimmed, but added. Long-term play for next 5 years, don't expect a recovery in the next few months. Management changes and US asset cap could lead to more weakness. Premier asset in US and Canada. Canadian earnings very strong. Trades at steep discount.

BUY

Likes exposure to energy and energy prices without the exploration costs. Stock's come down on issuing equity for recent acquisition. Substantial dividend in the space, minimal risk. Good value. Compelling yield of 8.3%.

HOLD

All the telcos are in a competitive price environment, but this should moderate in 2025. Lower interest rates should benefit. Slower immigration is a slight negative, but Canada's numbers are still more positive than other G7 countries.

Market assumed sale proceeds from MLSE (asset wasn't cashflow positive, but sold for a good price) would be used to pay down debt. Ziply acquisition (accretive to cashflow, higher growth opportunities) really threw investors off. Stock trended down, investor sentiment negative. What they did was positive, but balance sheet is worrisome. Lots of tax-loss selling. Past peak of capex on fibre to the home, which should increase cashflow going forward.

Yield is now 12% or so, with a greater chance of being cut. Doesn't need to cut, but there might be pressure from institutional investors. Even if cut, will still be higher than other telcos. If you own, hold on.

HOLD
Sell CM to buy RY?

Taking less on credit provisions than other banks. Positive: credit situation better than others. Negative: taking more risk and, if wrong, stock would be penalized. Canada-centric. Exposed to residential mortgages and commercial real estate in Canada; two iffy sectors, but doing better than expected. Good earnings and good asset management. 

Don't sell. Trading more cheaply than RY. RY commands a premium price for a premium asset.

HOLD
Sell CM to buy RY?

CM is taking less on credit provisions than other banks. Positive: credit situation better than others. Negative: taking more risk and, if wrong, stock would be penalized. CM is Canada-centric. Exposed to residential mortgages and commercial real estate in Canada; two iffy sectors, but doing better than expected. Good earnings and good asset management. 

Don't sell CM. Trades more cheaply than RY. RY commands a premium price for a premium asset.