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
iwb21116 (April 25, 2011)
How high the moon?… Ryan Irvine warns of trouble ahead… Ryan Irvine updates Enghouse Systems, Boyd Group… The shrinking dividend tax credit… IWB Defensive Portfolio reviewed… Members’ Corner: National RRSP
iwb21115 (April 18, 2011)
The stubborn loonie… Glenn Rogers visits the casinos… New pick: Las Vegas Sands … Glenn Rogers updates four shipping companies, New Flyer Industries, Molycorp… Gordon Pape’s updates: Dynamic Value Balanced Fund, DuPont, Shaw Communications… Your Questions: Stop-loss woes, GIC transfer… Members’ Corner: National RRSP
iwb21114 (April 11, 2011)
Drill, baby, drill!… New pick: Trinidad Drilling… Canadian banks firing on all cylinders… Tom Slee recommends National Bank… Tom Slee updates TD Bank, Scotiabank, PepsiCo, Philip Morris International… Gordon Pape’s updates: Ensign Energy Services, Canadian Utilities, Fortis, Cenovus Energy… Your Questions: Charitable donations, RRSP strategy… Members’ Corner: Winning the election
iwb21113 (April 4, 2011)
Obama and the oil sands… The conflict of interest dilemma… Must-read tax-saving tips… A step in the right direction… Gordon Pape’s updates: Lundin Mining, Johnson & Johnson, Gilead Sciences… New in our book store… Members’ Corner: Majestic follow-up
Recent Updates
Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX, NYSE: BNS)
Scotiabank is the most internationally diversified of the major Canadian banks, with over 30% of its assets coming from its overseas operations, primarily what the bank describes as the three Pacific Alliance countries of Mexico, Peru, and Chile. It sold its subscale operations in Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica to bank Davivienda in the first quarter in exchange for a 20% stake in Davivienda, taking a $1.4 billion impairment charge on the sale. Scotiabank has strengths in mortgage and corporate lending and wealth management and is usually the lowest cost operator amongst the major banks.
Buy
RBC Group (TSX, NYSE: RY)
RBC is the largest bank in Canada, with 23% market share after the acquisition of HSBC’s Canadian operations in late 2024. It has strengths in retail banking, investment banking, and asset management plus the largest share of mortgages and corporate lending in Canada.
Buy
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE)
Pfizer is a leading international pharmaceutical company that can trace its history back more than 170 years. Its business units include Oncology, Inflammation & Immunology, Rare Disease, Hospital, Vaccines, and Internal Medicine. Pfizer was the first company (along with partner BioNTech) to have a Covid vaccine approved for general use. It has proven to be highly effective with minimal side effects. The company has also developed a drug to treat the virus.
Hold
Winpak Ltd. (TSX: WPK, OTC: WIPKF)
Winpak produces goods that are mainly used in the food and beverage and healthcare industries. Its modified atmosphere packaging is used to extend the shelf life of perishable products such as meat, poultry, and cheese as well as healthcare products. The majority of its sales are in North America.
Buy
Cameco Corp. (TSX: CCO, NYSE: CCJ)
Cameco is one of the world’s largest uranium producers, with mines at McArthur River and Cigar Lake in Saskatchewan and refineries in Ontario. As governments and investors have become more favourably inclined towards non-carbon emitting sources of baseload power such as nuclear in recent years, Cameco’s fortunes and its share price have revived.