COMMENT

Is on a downtrend after failing support at $52 then $44. It just had a monster move to the downtrend recently, but there's a pretty good chance this is oversold and could bounce.

WEAK BUY

The base is around $14.50 an is making higher highs and higher lows. It's okay as long as the chart doesn't take out the last low.

WATCH

It's at the bottom of the trading range. He's watching it. It last bottomed in 2023 then bounced off. Many REITs like this are rangebound which bounce up and down. He likes such stocks--you know the top and bottom of a stock. CAR.UN may be reaching a bounce. Maybe. If you own it, hang on and see.

WATCH

He has owned it. It's volatile, making tops and bottoms with breakdowns. It's now basing, which is good; maybe this will break above $36. Wait and see.

COMMENT

The Fed heavily influences tech stocks and this sector may underperform. Also, this trades at 55x forward PE, rich. The chart shows an uptrend, though. You don't want to see it fall through its last peak from mid-2024. He can't argue against this trend, but is cautious because NVDA has been too good. Currently, shares are consolidating, which is normal, but you don't want to see the chart break down. 

TOP PICK

It's oversold and finding support near current levels; it seems to be bouncing. This is why he just bought a position. Old support from 2023 was $33. If shares don't hold currently, this could fall to $35. Is currently bouncing and heading to resistance at $45, or 15% higher. The risk/reward looks good. He bought one tranche and will buy more if shares move up.

(Analysts’ price target is $52.24)
COMMENT

This pulled back with the market in December. He would add more shares as it maintains support and continues its uptrend.

(Analysts’ price target is $179.09)
TOP PICK

The markets in Toronto and especially New York have done very well the past two years. It's time to pause. Typically, markets will go sideways or fall. It's likely we'll see more volatility like in December. Higher interest rates will hurt growth stocks, particularly tech, and overall markets. He's cautious near term.

COMMENT
US earnings season.

He's looking for earnings growth and a broadening out of it. We've had a very narrow and strong leadership by a handful of tech names (the Mag 7). For this bull market to sustain itself, it's really important for earnings to broaden out beyond those names. What will largely set the tone in the coming weeks is AI and what its related companies tell us about going forward.

We'll hear from banks to start off earnings season, as we typically do. There we have rising interest rates and a steepening yield curve, and the banks will provide some insight into that situation.

The market's swinging quite dramatically here and, for him, that speaks to the narrowness of the market. There's uncertainty. If we do get some bad forward guidance on earnings, that won't be good for the market.

COMMENT
Big tech is still profitable, not speculative.

True. There's a saying that "a rising tide lifts all boats". You want that broader participation. There are an awful lot of companies that just aren't making any, or any significant, money. When you look at the topline (revenues) versus the bottom line (earnings), you're seeing earnings growth expectations of 10-12%. But we're seeing nominal GDP of 4%. It's getting ever more difficult to reconcile what economic growth will deliver and what earnings will be.

When it's more concentrated that tells you that if those companies miss, look out below. It becomes a higher-risk market when earnings aren't broad.

COMMENT
Stubborn inflation.

That's it. The market went from pricing in a dramatic amount of rate-cutting six months ago, to virtually pricing out the entire rate cut path. Now the Fed still thinks it's going to cut rates a couple of times, but the market is now down to 1 rate cut for 2025.

COMMENT
Strong USD will dampen price of imports.

Import prices will be lower with a stronger US dollar, sure. But that's a small part of the pie compared to labour costs, healthcare costs, and everything else related to supply/demand that's driving inflation. Domestic inflation is driving prices higher, and has little to do with exports.

Trump incorporating tariffs is a concern. It makes it far more difficult for the Fed to add stimulus until we actually see more economic weakness. Right now, the economy and labour markets are still ticking along. 

COMMENT
US markets.

Weakness in the equity market is a much-needed correction at this point. If 18x PE is normal, we're trading at 24x. Is it egregious? No. But it's on the very high end of the range. It's open to risk with a narrowly led market, instead of broad participation to growth and earnings.

BUY
Buffer ETFs.

These ETFs give you exposure to an index such as the S&P 500, but then there's an embedded put strategy for protection. You'd buy 10-15% protection on the downside, and then sell a call to pay for that. A no-cost structure of protection. Limits upside, but protects the degree of downside risk.

Loves them right here, right now. It's for those who want to and need to stay invested in equities for growth in the long run, but who are nervous about the markets.

BUY

A great ticker. Every year, resets in January. 15% downside protection before any losses, up to about 10% upside. Upside/downside ratio depends on the price of volatility. Gives you exposure to the US market with a currency hedge. You want to hedge your foreign currency exposure right now, as the CAD is very weak. 

Loves it right here, right now. It's for those who want to and need to stay invested in equities for growth in the long run, but who are nervous about the markets.