One of the most important principles of sound investment management is staying on top of what’s happening in the world and how those events affect finances. Conditions change quickly, and keeping up-to-date on developments and trends can be challenging. The team of experts producing IWB have been advising Canadian investors for over 25 years.
Edited and Published by Gordon Pape. Associate Editor: Richard Croft
With Gavin Graham, Ryan Irvine, Glenn Rogers, Shawn Allen, Adam Mayers, Paul Bamford & Michael Corcoran.
Recent Issues
iwb22523 (June 23, 2025)
Risk and opportunity… The Week… Covered calls vs. long-only… Richard Croft updates VanEck Vectors Oil Services ETF, Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF, Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF, Vanguard Russell 1000 Value ETF… Glenn Rogers updates Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund… Setback for Buy and Hold Portfolio
iwb22522 (June 16, 2025)
Too expensive? Maybe not… The Week… Israeli attack boosts defence stocks… Safe havens in troubled times… Dividend funds doing well… Powering the future… Glenn Rogers updates Global X Lithium and Battery Tech ETF, Van Eck Vectors Gaming ETF
iwb22521 (June 9, 2025)
Bonds struggle… The Week… “Picks and shovels” investing… Ryan Irvine updates Orbit Garant… Ryan Irvine picks Propel Holdings… Gordon Pape updates Walmart, Home Depot… Your Questions: What to do with MUB
iwb22520 (June 2, 2025)
Tariffs under fire… The Week… Oil’s time to shine?… Gavin Graham updates Chevron, Canadian Natural Resources… Takeover bid for InterRent… Masters of Finance: Jesse Livermore… Your Questions: Low-risk bond ETFs
Recent Updates
Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B)
Berkshire is a giant conglomerate holding company, with hundreds of operating subsidiaries and huge stock investments.
Dollarama (TSX: DOL)
Dollarama has 1,719 stores in Canada. Its highly profitable business model includes directly sourcing its products at low cost, generally from Asia, and from China in particular. All stores are company-owned and operated in leased premises. It also owns 60% of the fast-growing 752-store Dollarcity chain, with established locations in Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Peru. Dollarcity recently opened its first eleven stores in Mexico.
lululemon Athletic (NDQ: LULU)
The fact that its products are proprietary, along with its strong brand reputation, allows lululemon to sell at very lucrative margins. Its gross margin of 54% equates to a markup over costs of 117%!
It now has 811 company-operated stores in 23 countries. The locations of the stores are 47% in the US, 21% China, 9% Canada, 14% in Asia Pacific, 6% in Europe and the Middle East, and 3% in Mexico. Close to half of its revenue is now derived from online direct-to-consumer sales.
Canadian National Railway (TSX: CNR, NYSE: CNI)
CNR operates across Canada and south through Chicago and Memphis to the Gulf of Mexico. Most of its revenue (69%) is from Canada and the rest is from the US. About 35% of its revenues relate to overseas traffic, while 65% represents freight moving within North America.
iShares Russell 2000 ETF
IWM is an ETF designed to track the investment results of the Russell 2000 Index. The underlying index is the most widely followed benchmark for small‑cap equities.