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
iwb22223 (June 13, 2022)
Pro and cons of DRIPs… Bottom fishing… Richard Croft updates BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF, BMO S&P/TSX Equal Weight Banks Index ETF, Goldman Sachs… Gordon Pape updates Descartes Systems Group, Target… Seniors shocked at high risk rating… Your Questions: DRIP taxation… Members’ Corner: Dividend stocks
iwb22222 (June 5, 2022)
Interest rate woes… Fight a recession with dividends… An uncomfortable opportunity… Glenn Rogers updates Xylem, Boeing, Nike, Sabre, Teck Resources… Gordon Pape updates Telus, BCE… Your Questions: DRIP taxation
iwb22221 (May 30, 2022)
Big box stores struggle… Investment valuations and interest rates… Shawn Allen recommends Starbucks… Shawn Allen updates Canadian Tire, Alimentation Couch-Tard, Canadian Western Bank… Gordon Pape updates Home Depot… Your Questions: Tax filings; Claiming tax loss; Successor annuitants
iwb22220 (May 16, 2022)
Market bust, energy boom… Gains for fast food giants… REITs with new economy potential… Gordon Pape’s updates: ExxonMobil, Equitable Group, Brookfield Asset Management… Your Questions: Mawer fund; Seeking a safe haven; Pharmaceutical ETFs… Members’ Corner: More on aging
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.