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
iwb2602 (January 9, 2006)
A record week for Toronto…Gold is really hot…New stock pick: Goldcorp (G)…Tom Slee finds bargains in expensive U.S. market…Tom Slee recommends UnitedHealth Group (UHN)…Tom Slee updates Manitoba Telecom (MBT), Enbridge (ENB), Shoppers Drug (SC), Dofasco (DFS)…Gordon Pape’s updates: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (RMCF), Kinder Morgan (KMI)…Members? Corner: Gold and the greenback
iwb2601 (January 3, 2006)
The outlook for 2006…Irwin Michael feels good about the New Year…Irwin Michael updates E-L Financial (ELF), S&K Famous Brands (SKFB), Handleman (HDL), Danier Leather (DL.SV)…Mutual fund updates…Other updates: HudBay Minerals (HBM), Canadian Utilities (CU.NV), Fortis (FTS)…Your Questions: Target prices
iwb2544 (December 12, 2005)
Last IWB for 2005…A look back…The Goodale “leak”…Irwin Michael finds a new value stock…Tom Slee sees an increased risk of tainted research…Tom Slee revisits the insurance companies…Yola Edwards says Christmas will be merry…Gordon Pape Updates Swiss Water (SWS.UN), Peyto (PEY.UN), ARC (AET.UN), Sprott Gold and Precious Minerals Fund…Your Questions: How much is enough?…Members’ Corner: Dividend gross-up, income trusts, Merck mess…Quizmas time
iwb2542 (November 14, 2005)
Income trusts: Fairness must prevail…Tom Slee on the trusts and corporate accountability…Tom Slee updates Manitoba Tel (MBT), BCE Inc. (BCE), Citigroup (C), General Electric (GE)…CPPIB criticized…Updates: Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN), Peyto Energy Trust (PEY.UN)…Members? Corner: More on portfolio software and income trusts
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
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.
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.