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
iwb21111 (March 21, 2011)
Surprising resiliency… Glenn Rogers: Japan and the markets… Glenn Rogers updates General Electric… Gordon Pape’s updates: Franco-Nevada, Claymore Oil Sands ETF, Penn West, PH&N Dividend Income Fund, PH&N Total Return Bond Fund… Your Questions: TFSA withdrawals, passing on a plan, choosing the right fund… Housekeeping items
iwb21110 (March 14, 2011)
More uncertainty!… Still time to ride the rails in 2011… Tom Slee picks Canadian Pacific… Tom Slee updates CN, Norfolk Southern, Bombardier, SNC-Lavalin, TD Bank… Gordon Pape’s updates: Tim Hortons, Silver Wheaton, Lundin Mining… Your Questions: Insurance dilemma, Yellow Media
iwb21109 (March 7, 2011)
An anniversary to remember… Ryan Irvine says it’s time to focus on savings… Ryan Irvine picks two new stocks… Tom Slee on why auditors may become irrelevant… Your Questions: TFSA confusion… Members’ Corner: Peter Cundill… Updates
iwb21108 (February 28, 2011)
RRSPs and mutual funds… A stock for wine lovers… Gordon Pape’s updates: Agnico-Eagle, Cameco Corp…. Your Questions: What is a bond?… Members’ Corner: ETF portfolio omission
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.