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, Rudy Luukko, & David Kitai.
Recent Issues
iwb22319 (May 15, 2023)
Utilities recover… A recession with high oil prices?… Gavin Graham likes Chevron… Gavin Graham updates Cameco, First Quantum Minerals, Canadian Natural Resources, Empire Company… Gordon Pape updates Thermo Fisher Scientific… Your Questions: Buy Topicus?
iwb22318 (May 8, 2023)
TD calls off First Horizon deal… Trucking stocks pull back… Why spin-offs add value for investors… McDonald’s, RBI hit new highs… Gordon Pape updates Norfolk Southern, Pfizer… Your Questions: Royalty trusts
iwb22317 (May 1, 2023)
Tech turnaround… Play defence with healthcare… Glenn Rogers updates Teck Resources, Xylem Inc., Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF, Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund, Rivian Automative… Gordon Pape updates TC Energy… Your Questions: Return of capital
iwb22316 (April 24, 2023)
Investing in tough times… Earnings in a slow-growth environment… Richard Croft picks Paramount Global… Richard Croft updates e.l.f. Beauty Inc., Goldman Sachs, BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF, BMO S&P/TSX Equal Weight Banks Index ETF… Gordon Pape updates UnitedHealth Group, ExxonMobil… Your Questions: Too much cash flow… Members’ Corner: Shiller p/e
Recent Updates
Linamar Corp. (TSX: LNR, OTC: LIMAF)
Linamar is a large Canadian-headquartered global auto parts manufacturer with 34,000 employees and 75 plants in 19 countries. In addition to vehicle components, which account for about 73% of its revenues, its other products include scissor lifts, telehandlers, booms, and very large agricultural equipment operation. Annual revenues are over $11 billion. Revenues are 50% from Canada, 23% from Europe, 20% from the US and Mexico combined, and 7% from Asia/Pacific.
Fortis Inc. (TSX, NYSE: FTS)
Fortis is a regulated utility that focuses on electricity and natural gas distribution. Based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, it has operations in Canada, the US, and the Caribbean. The company had $73 billion in assets at the end of 2024. It has about 9,700 employees.
Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL)
Xylem enables customers to transport, treat, test, and efficiently use water in public utility, residential, and commercial building services, and in industrial and agricultural settings. It makes pumps and control systems used in management of wastewater and the collection and distribution of drinking water. It also offers smart metering, network technologies, and advanced data analytics for water, gas, and electric utilities. Xylem does business in more than 150 countries.
WSP Global (TSX: WSP, OTC: WSPOF)
WSP Global Inc. is a global engineering and consulting company with headquarters in Montreal. It’s an aggressive, ambitious, and hugely successful growth-by-acquisition company. Stunningly, it has grown from just 1,600 employees when it went public in 2006 to 83,000 employees today. Annual revenues are currently $19 billion and the equity market value is $26 billion.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is one of the largest healthcare companies in the world. It employs over 120,000 people in its two divisions, Pharmaceutical and MedTech. It spun off its consumer healthcare division in 2023, naming it Kenvue. About 64% of its $88.8 billion in 2024 revenues came from its pharmaceutical division, while the remaining 36% was from its MedTech operations.
Since our last review in April 2025, J&J has gained roughly 70% and touched an all-time high of $269. The stock is up 27% this year alone. That’s extraordinary for a name we own as ballast.