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
iwb2504 (January 4, 2005)
The RRSP challenges of 2005…Four mutual funds for your RRSP …Tom Slee says time is of the essence with RRSPs…Bombardier now a buy for aggressive accounts…Tom Slee updates Alcan (AL) and BCE Inc. (BCE)…The 2004 Scorecard: Trust units…Updates: Diamonds (DIA), TD U.S. RSP Index Fund, May Department Stores (MAY)
iwb2501 (January 4, 2005)
Happy New Year…A look back…A look ahead…Irwin Michael is optimistic about 2005…Irwin Michael updates Clearlink (CNK), ShopKo (SKO), Teck Cominco (TEK.B)…Our contributing editors…The 2004 scorecard: Mutual funds and preferred shares…The best and worst sectors of 2004…Delivery problems
iwb9844 (December 21, 1998)
The year in retrospect…Beating the foreign content rules…Fund distribution changes…Gold Reserve Corp. – Vote!…Members’ Corner – reasons for not renewing…No IWB on Dec. 28…Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
iwb9843 (December 7, 1998)
A sigh of relief from Quebec…IWB Income Portfolio reviewed…Members’ Corner – RESP pitfalls, investing in TIPS, IWB Defensive Portfolio…Updates – TomaNet (TOMA.A), Global Equity Corp. (GEQ), Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN), Hurricane Hydrocarbons (HHL.A)…No IWB next week
Recent Updates
CGI Group (TSX: GIB.A, NYSE: GIB)
CGI is the fifth largest independent information technology and business process services firm in the world. The company, founded in 1976, delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from IT and business consulting to systems integration, outsourcing services, and intellectual property solutions. It employs about 93,000 professionals in offices and delivery centres across the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region.
Hold
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.