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
iwb21119 (May 16, 2011)
The energy conundrum … Glenn Rogers goes prospecting… Glenn Rogers updates Freeport-McMoRan, ONEOK, Perrigo… Gordon Pape’s Updates: Yellow Media, Cenovus Energy, Silver Wheaton, Cameco, Ensign Energy, BCE… Your Questions: MLPs, Fortis vs. Emera, dealing with dividends, where to hold REITs… Members’ Corner: More on tax software
iwb21118 (May 9, 2011)
The commodities sell-off… Is copper the “new gold”?… Tom Slee updates Quadra FNX Mining, Gildan Activewear, Phillip Morris International… The Tory majority… Gordon Pape’s updates: Crescent Point, Student Transportation… Members’ Corner: Tax software
iwb21117 (May 2, 2011)
Keep more of your money… Another Berkshire Hathaway?… Gordon Pape’s updates: Cenovus Energy, Berkshire Hathaway, Lundin Mining… Your Questions: Political promises, out of work, U.S. dollar holdings… Members’ Corner: Tax software
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
Recent Updates
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. (TSX: L, OTC: LBLCF)
Loblaws owns the Shoppers Drug Mart chain and PC Financial, which offers banking services. It also sells clothing under the Joe Fresh name. Loblaws brands include President’s Choice, No Name, Exact, No Frills, Provigo, Valu-Mart, Fortino’s, and Real Canadian. It is 53% owned by George Weston Ltd.
Hold
Telus Corp. (TSX: T, NYSE: TU)
Telus claims to be Canada’s fastest-growing national telecommunications company. The company provides a wide range of communications products and services, including wireless, data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, television, entertainment and video, and is Canada’s largest healthcare IT provider.
Hold
Canadian Tire Corp. (TSX: CTC.A, OTC: CDNAF)
In addition to its 503 dealer-operated Canadian Tire stores, CTC also owns and directly operates Mark’s, with 383 stores, and 354 sports stores (SportChek, Sports Expert, Atmosphere, Athlete’s World, and others). As well, it has 279 gasoline bar locations, plus PartSource, Party City, and Pro Hockey Life, which total 169 stores.
Canadian Tire, through its bank subsidiary is also a large MasterCard issuer with 2.3 million active credit card holders with average account balances of $3,224 each. That’s $7.4 billion in credit card receivables.
Hold
Dollarama (TSX: DOL)
Dollarama has 1,570 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 and are in leased premises. It also owns 60% of the fast-growing 547-store Dollar City chain with locations in Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Peru. Dollar City recently opened its first store in Mexico.
Hold
WSP Global (TSX: WSP, OTC: WSPOF)
WSP is an international engineering and design firm that provides a wide range of services, from urban planning to environmental remediation. Based in Montreal, the company employs approximately 54,000 people, including engineers, technicians, scientists, architects, planners, surveyors, and environmental specialists, as well as other design, program and construction management professionals. It has more than 500 offices across 40 countries, on five continents.
WSP has seen strong gains over the years. It’s up another 12% this year. And the stock is up 1,187% since the original recommendation in 2012.