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
iwb2903 (January 19, 2009)
More budget ideas… Glenn Rogers likes junk bonds and shippers… Glenn Rogers updates L-3, Broadcom… TFSAs vs. RRSPs (1)… Free TFSA seminar… Energy updates: Claymore ETF, Suncor, Bronco… Members’ Corner: The federal budget… Your Questions: Investing strategies
iwb2902 (January 12, 2009)
A budget wish-list… Tom Slee foresees a better year ahead… Buy Emera Inc…. Tom Slee updates CFS and CFS.PR.A… TFSAs: A capital gains strategy… Your Questions: More predictions please… MoneyLetter relationship ends… Findependence Day… Wine trip of a lifetime… House Cleaning
iwb2901 (January 5, 2009)
The plan for ’09… The 2008 scorecard… Predictions past… Predictions future… Irwin Michael: Signs of stability… Irwin Michael updates Canam Group, Polaris Minerals, George Weston… TFSAs: Great idea, terrible timing… TFSA book off the press
iwb2603 (January 26, 2006)
The forgotten campaign issue…Yola Edwards sees profits ahead…Yola Edwards updates Cameco (CCO, CCJ)…All that Jazz…Irwin Michael updates Dominion Homes (DHOM)…Your Questions: Sprott Fund MER, Citadel rights…Your Comments: Investing in gold…Retirement book now in stores…Top 50 Funds report published…Italian wine tour
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
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.
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.