26 Stock Top Picks and 3 ETF (Dec 7-13)

Opinion about MRU-T: Consumer staples have not kept up with the market, perhaps over inflation concerns. Politicians scream about the price of groceries, where margins are so thin.  He would continue to look at this. Are well-position in discount grocers through Food Basics where there is more and more business.

Opinion about ROOT-T: Interesting things happening. New CEO with marketing sophistication trying to transform a business that's struggled since the IPO. Pretty good entry point. Strong brand. If you have the appetite for a small company, more speculative, good name to own.

Opinion about FCFS-N: He sold then when the US Dept. of Justice began investigating it. He bought it to get exposure to gold and emerging markets. Gold is now in focus, but he wouldn't buy a miner or revenue streams, but rather physical gold. Gold is at all-time highs, so buy in tranches.

Opinion about LB-T: Most important thing to know is that it tried to sell itself, and no one bought it. At a discount and always has been. Has to compete with the big banks, which keep getting bigger.

Opinion about CM-T: You could add to this one here. 

Opinion about TD-T: In the cash account of a retired senior, picked it up at $79. Hold or take profits? Some are concerned about growth cap in US. He likes it for the amount of cash on balance sheet, so it can withstand any weakness in the Canadian economy. Grows its dividend. Hold on, don't…

Opinion about JPM-N: One of his top 10 positions. Financial sector has been performing nicely. Best income, balance sheet, and technicals. Leader in the sector breaking out in 2013, whereas the sector didn't break out until 8 years later. That tells you what investors think about it. Long-term bull market in financials in front of…

Opinion about GS-N: In terms of quality, hard to argue against JPM -- best of breed. GS is tops on the investment banking side. He's overweight US banks.

Opinion about HLMA-LN: Chart shows nice stair steps over time. Fire safety, wastewater detection, healthcare (focused on cataract lenses). Serial acquirer, owning over 50 companies across those 3 segments. Exceptional job buying small companies at attractive valuations and growing them over time. High quality name, and gives Canadians a very different exposure from the usual…

Opinion about AL-N: (A Top Pick Nov 14/22, Up 12%) He is retiring from this. The PE is shrinking at almost the same rate as earning rise, so this means shares will go sideways.

Opinion about XYL-N: Treats, transports, and tests water (drinking and wastewater). Water is a scarce resource; 70% of the earth is water, but only about 2% is drinkable. Aging infrastructure in developed countries needs to be refurbished. Lots of industries require water. One of the few pure-play, publicly traded water companies, and so it trades…

Opinion about SWK-N: A too-high dividend is a red flag, a sell. He was attracted to this for its dividend and he expected an upturn in homebuilding when the Fed cut interest rates. Shares rose at first, then fell because of Trump's tariffs possibly increasing rates. He sold at a small loss.

Opinion about PVG-T: (A Top Pick Dec 07/18, Up 36%) A volatile stock, but he likes the golds, holding 10-20% in a portfolio. Gold has a long runway.

Opinion about BCE-T: (A Top Pick Nov 12/24, Down 6%) Still sees it as a pretty asset-rich company. Dividend's been reset. Stock has attracted a few upgrades. Bounce from $29 to $34 is already pretty significant. Happy to buy down here where nobody wants it. It's one of those durable companies, need for telecommunications is…

Opinion about ENB-T: He's been cautious on the pipes. The pipeline ETF in the US is hitting RSI new lows for the year, as are a lot of the pipes in Canada (including the best-performing one, ENB). Price chart looks fine, relative strength is weak. Fine for the yield.People looking at long-life, more-utility-type assets are…

Opinion about CNQ-T: He's more bullish on nat gas than oil. Doesn't own any straight oil right now, and it's hard for him to like those stocks. Chart might be basing right now -- finding support, but recently rounding over again. Can't say he'd buy this chart, as it's more down-trendy-looking.

Opinion about IPL-T: In the midst of a bidding war. More of a hold than a buy. Prospects for material upside are not very high. Better opportunities elsewhere. If you made profits, take some and invest in something like GEI or even TWM, if you have a higher risk tolerance.

Opinion about PPL-T: Complementary to ARX -- it's more of a producer with some infrastructure, whereas PPL is almost 100% infrastructure. Temporarily ran up on news about working with META. Now KKR is selling its minority stake in a JV with PPL, but concern is that PPL is the one who's going to buy it…

Opinion about UNH-N: Take a step back and look at the whole healthcare insurance group. Higher and higher costs against its revenue stream. The whole model of taking in premiums and paying out claims was completely upended with Covid on both the number and the timing of claims. Many people delayed surgeries and health care,…

Opinion about PHM-X: They offer home monitoring for patients. They are expected to lose $0.01 per share this year and next year. It is not cash flow positive. There could be better chances about 18 month out. He would wait to see if things improve.

Opinion about VGW-CN: (A Top Pick Mar 15/19, Down 24%) He still holds it in the portfolio, but had taken some out at $4 per share. He is looking to add to the cannabis sector again following the consolidation. He holds an $8.25 target. They are producing a CBD and THC beverage.

Opinion about NVO-N: NVO vs. LLY Previously owned both, but sold out of NVO because it's more concentrated in the diabetes and weight loss space. Weight loss has come out of favour somewhat due to competition and generics. NVO's 200-day MA is falling, with stock price falling below that. Earnings growth only 6%. Long term…

Opinion about CSCO-Q: Stock's been performing decently. Technical structure looks OK. Price is above 200-day MA, which is moving higher. 17x forward PE for only 8% earnings growth, where typically in tech you want 10-20%. Not pricey, but not cheap. For growth, you want an NVDA or AMZN.

Opinion about MSFT-Q: (A Top Pick Apr 15/24, Up 24%) Steady 10-15% earnings growth, and a lot flows through to FCF. Can easily fund a lot of the AI buildout. Can't actually build fast enough to get the GPUs they need to grow the business, so this might be an issue. Azure still growing almost…

Opinion about OLED-Q: Patent on cellphone screens, from which they collect royalties. Good business as long as the patent goes on.

Opinion about OTEX-T: If you own it, hold on, but look for places to add at better levels -- $33 and, if you're really lucky ~$29. Embraced AI in a big way, which is expanding its own business as well as its clients. Able to maintain double-digit recurring growth rate.His caveat is that, from the…

Opinion about SDG-Q : (A Top Pick Dec 12/18, Up 15%) Linked to the UN Sustainable Goal: educational, healthcare, food, sanitation companies. Lots of exposure to emerging markets with only 35% US exposure. This will do well along with the world ex-US.

Opinion about CHGX-Q : (A Top Pick Dec 12/18, Up 17%) An ETF that tracks the S&P minus fossil fuels and weapons. Strongly correlates the S&P with slight outperformance. You get market returns and do good.

Opinion about SHY-Q: To park USD for a year BIL is a money-market-oriented ETF. For 2-3 years, look at SHV and SHY, to get interest rate exposure. He doesn't expect the Fed to cut rates for at least 1.5 years.