PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Jan 15/24, Up 144%)

Biggest position in his fund. Can't say enough positive things about it. Not as cheap as it was, has gone from 3x PE to 10x PE. Growing 30-40% a year. Still likes it.

WEAK BUY

His focus is more on the small- and mid-cap space. This is more of a steady-eddy, dividend stock. Buy, put it away, sleep at night, you'll be fine. Not the kind of thing for his portfolio. 

COMMENT
Canadian telecom sector.

Nice thing about Canadian market structure is that it's an oligopoly with essentially 3 big players -- RCI.B, Telus, and BCE -- and they all compete for market share. Smaller names have not been able to erode market share from the big 3. These names are good for letting you sleep at night.

Lots of technical change happening such as how phones are being used by the younger generation. If you want to get more into the technology side of telecom, there are more interesting places to go than just those big players. For instance, STC for more growth.

WATCH

Interesting pedigree on the management team. Used to be resource-focused, had been planning to shift more to technology. Chart's perked up, may be time for him to revisit the stock.

DON'T BUY

Recent dip probably not company-specific, whole industrial complex has been hit by tariff scares. A competitor is BDT, with a better financial profile and really good growth profile, so he's more comfortable owning that one.

WEAK BUY

Tariffs shouldn't have any impact at all on this domestic lender. Raises $$ in the GIC market and lends it out. Very high quality. He has other first choices, but if he was going to own another, this would probably be it. Very steady performer, well run, but ROC at 15% is a bit lower than he likes.

See his Top Picks.

HOLD

Good company, but not outstanding. High quality, steady eddy. Not a low multiple. You'll do well over time. More of a mature business, doesn't have the growth he likes to see.

(Analysts’ price target is $27.00)
WEAK BUY

Grown by acquisition quite steadily over the years. Very good company and it won't hurt you, but he owns TFII instead.

BUY

Large player. Significant operations in US. One of the only large caps he owns in his fund. Great compounder at over 20% a year. Fantastic acquisitions. CEO excellent at allocating capital. Good growth and liquidity.

DON'T BUY

Specialized, more durable concrete. Story makes sense, but the numbers aren't there. Company's been around a long time, but sales haven't grown that much. If the product is revolutionary, why aren't more people using it? Companies with sub-$100M market caps have to be really, really good to justify an investment.

DON'T BUY

CEO is a really good operator, but stock just doesn't seem to get any love. Numbers have been OK, but not any really great growth. Looks good on EBITDA (due to equipment depreciation), but not on earnings. Takeout rumours always swirl but he won't buy on that basis alone, praying for a takout, if the fundamentals aren't there.

The trend of keeping people out of hospitals sounds good, but he's a numbers guy and it doesn't have the growth he wants.

SELL

Printing is in decline. Trying to get into packaging. Stock's always been cheap, but it's not a growth market. Instead, look at DCM.

WEAK BUY

Small player in packaging, did large acquisition last year. Growing quickly. Very cheap. If you need to own something in the space, look at this name.

TOP PICK

Current valuation finally lets him present it as a Top Pick idea. Expanding into credit cards. Sold off last year on CEO stepping down, but former (and excellent) CEO is helping in the interim. Balance sheet in great shape. Grows 20% a year, year in and year out. Trades at 7x PE, almost a distressed multiple, great entry point. Yield is 2.7%.

(Analysts’ price target is $235.53)

TOP PICK

In a sweet spot right now. Rents are going up quite a bit (12% YOY), as there's no rent control in many western Canadian provinces, yet vacancies are down substantially. Stellar results last quarter. Sold off with rest of REITs, yet it's not a REIT. 

Typically trades at a premium to NAV, but today it's at a discount. Extremely well run, haven't raised a dollar of equity in 20 years. Compounded annually at 18% for 20 years. Yield is 1%.

(Analysts’ price target is $226.00)