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Today, Paul Gardner, CFA commented about whether BTB.UN-T, BTE-T, IPL-T, BPY.UN-T, WMT-N, NFI-T, REI.UN-T, NWH.UN-T, BCE-T, Y-T, WIR.UN-T, CTC.A-T, BCE-T, RCI.B-T, MFC-T, SRT.UN-T, CPX-T are stocks to buy or sell.

COMMENT
The US market is news-event driven, namely the tariff war. It's hard to make a fundamental analysis. If the trade war goes down a dark path, we cut hit negative GDP growth. But he thinks Congress and Trump himself will prevent this. That said, the trade war is definitely a negative. Meanwhile, negative interest rates are messing up the capital--and especially bond--market. There's only so much the US Fed can do.
Unknown
WEAK BUY
Capital Power
Well-managed, but they had a hiccup when a few years ago when Alberta changed its environmental assessment on coal power plants. So CPX has to close two power plants and have since transformed them (well) into natural gas. Also, CPX operates in market-sensitive Alberta. In the end, CPX has done well. Doesn't trade expensively, so there's upside potential. Problem is, nobody knows power prices will react in Alberta. This is more of a utility. He is lukewarm on it. The whole sector is on sale, cheap, rife for a price upgrade.
electrical utilities
COMMENT
Are rate-reset preferred shares good for an RRSP? They always talk about preferreds as fixed-income, but they are not. With rates going down, these investments are down 20-25% this year. This badly hurts savers and seniors who need the income. Compare that to a bond which pays 2% typically. He stresses that these are not bonds. He will look at preferreds where they are really, really cheap, not now. There's no tax advantage putting these into an RRSP.
Unknown
BUY
Likes it except for its external management contract and its small market cap. He really likes their properties, all US and grocers anchored in secondary markets like Pittsburgh and outside Chicago, across the midwest and south. Great sustainable 9% yield. The stock is cheap and rents are growing 5%. It's defensive in the US space. It's now 10% lower than its NAV.
REAL ESTATE
COMMENT
Manulife Financial
They've diversified out of the interest-rate tail risk by getting more into wealth management. Good. They're growing their India and China presence. But they remain an insurance company, which means they're tied to interest rates. When rates are low, their returns are lower. You can't change a leopard's spots. However, they have raised a lot of capital.
insurance
DON'T BUY

He doesn't follow the telcos daily, but he prefers telcos over cable companies. Telus and BCE have nearly completed their 5G install, though Rogers is converting too. BCE is better than Rogers, which blew its budget on the NHL broadcast licenses; Canadian teams haven't gone deep into the playoffs which has limited Rogers' revenue. In fact, there's more growth in soccer and other non-hockey sports, so that's a tailwind for BCE's broadcasting arm. All telcos will be impacted by the unlimited data plans now on the market. BCE has great assets and a lower payout ratio than Rogers.

Cable
BUY
BCE Inc.

Rogers? He doesn't follow the telcos daily, but he prefers telcos over cable companies. Telus and BCE have nearly completed their 5G install, though Rogers is converting too. BCE is better than Rogers, which blew its budget on the NHL broadcast licenses; Canadian teams haven't gone deep into the playoffs which has limited Rogers' revenue. In fact, there's more growth in soccer and other non-hockey sports, so that's a tailwind for BCE's broadcasting arm. All telcos will be impacted by the unlimited data plans now on the market. BCE has great assets and a lower payout ratio than Rogers.

telephone utilities
COMMENT

After 30 years in the business he notices that CTC has been the most consistently retailer--but too expensive. He's a value player. CTC has survived the Amazon onslaught, but it has slumped this past year given the Amazon effect. CTC has a great balance sheet and fine inventory control. They have the heart of Canadians. They will continue to do well, but the retail sector is tough now.

specialty stores
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Nov 22/18, Up 16%) This is like Slate REIT, but all industrial, all in the U.S. though it's a Canadian REIT. Industrials are sexy in REITs, but there are few of them in Canada. They can grow because they have outside investors, such as CPP. SGreat managers. Trades at a 15% discount to its sector. Logistic centers are in high demand, and WIR boasts 99% occupancy. Pays a 5.5% yield, but the payout ratio is high. Still has room to move up.
0
PAST TOP PICK
Yellow Pages Limited

(A Top Pick Nov 22/18, Up 12%)Convertible 8% 2022 bonds He owned the Yellow senior bonds, but then moved into these convertibles. Most of their revenues are in digital, but that has struggled. New management has cut costs a lot until free cash flow now stands around $100 million this year. Their EBITDA margins are now 40% which nobody expected. With that cash, they are paying down a lot of debt.

communications / media
PAST TOP PICK
BCE Inc.
(A Top Pick Nov 22/18, Up 22%) It's an easy election issue--Trudeau now and Harper before for 10 years. Canada is a big country with a small population. Trudeau's threat to slash rates doesn't worry him, thinks it's unlikely. BCE is his favourite telco. (see his comments today)
telephone utilities
COMMENT
It's defensive. They own medical facilities. They've grown in Brazil and Australia. It's a fine stock. He once owned it. Problems: debt, so they're selling some properties; and will they perform in Brazil and Australia? He's neutral on this. The share price hasn't moved much beyond the IPO a decade ago.
REAL ESTATE
DON'T BUY
Lower interest rates have helped this sector. REI is the 2nd-largest REIT behind Choice. REI has underperformed due to its retail holdings; they tried unsuccessfully to move in the U.S. They're getting more into condos now, which is good. He never bought this because it's all over the place. He prefers Smart REIT. Pays a 5.4% yield, so you can own it for the dividend only.
property mngmnt / investment
COMMENT
Convertible debentures pay well and offer little downside. They should be talked about more, much better than preferred shares. Problem is in Canada they are not liquid. Large institutional investors can't buy it; just retail. But he likes and own several of them.
Unknown
BUY
5.9% yield. He recently bought it. He has faith in it. It is not a cyclical stock. It's defensive and has a free cash flow. EV to EBITDA trades at 7x when it should be 10x. The price has dropped so much, so now is a good entry point.
Automotive