Each week, our team publishes a blog and webcast.
September has historically been a weak month for stocks, and this year’s sentiment will hinge on Jay Powell’s speech tomorrow at Jackson Hole Students aren’t the only ones uneasy about September—stocks often dread it too. Historically, it’s the worst month for the market. Since 1930, the S&P 500 has fallen about 55% of the time […]
Canada is entering a historic infrastructure boom. Electricity demand is expected to surge 25% by 2030, driven by artificial intelligence, electrification, and manufacturing. Aecon Group is perfectly positioned to build the critical infrastructure required to meet this exploding need. CEO Jean-Louis Servranckx recently said he’s “not worried about [revenue]”—and with good reason. Aecon’s backlog—the work […]
Mutual funds are marketed as safe and simple. But in reality, they often accompany hidden costs and conflicts of interest. We recently reviewed a portfolio managed by another institution. The Management Expense Ratio (“MER”), which is the total cost of owning a mutual fund and is embedded in its price, was much higher than its […]
As global fast food chains struggle, Pizza Pizza is quietly gaining ground—thanks in part to the growing “Buy Canada” sentiment. Back in February 2024, we published a blog titled “We Expect Pizza Pizza to Deliver”. Given the rising food inflation, higher interest rates, and shrinking household budgets, our thesis was that cheaper food would be […]
Anyone who lived through 2008 (or studied the 1930s) knows how frightening banking crises can be. The financial system runs on confidence, and once that’s shaken, restoring trust can take significant time. In 2023, the U.S. regional banking sector faced its own crisis. It started in March with the abrupt collapse of Silicon Valley Bank […]
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon recently criticized remote work, using colourful language to make his point (as played on our webcast). Now Canada’s biggest banks (RBC, BMO, and Scotia) are doing the same, telling employees it’s time to show up in the office four days a week starting this fall. Mentorship and collaboration are two good […]
Someone once said that if Al Capone had turned his talents toward legitimate enterprise, he could have been the CEO of General Motors. Today’s fraudsters are no different—highly organized, intelligent, and using sophisticated tools. Unfortunately, they’re applying those skills to deception, not innovation. My Close Call Recently, I received a phone call that appeared to […]
As markets watch for interest rate cuts, political pressure on the Fed’s independence could shape inflation and U.S. dollar credibility in the years ahead. By Jeff Pollock Though lower interest rates are generally good news for stocks, what will happen if it comes at the expense of U.S. central bank independence? The Federal Reserve was […]
Earlier this week, the National Club at Bay and King in downtown Toronto unveiled their “Legacy Wall.” It honours many people, including my late grandfather. His name was William R. Allen, Q.C. Sunni Schneider, my mother, and I attended the lunch to honour Bill and the many other important people being recognized, including our Honorary […]
Canadian real estate prices took off during the last two decades alongside ultra low interest rates. Many people sought to buy a second property in a real estate market that once seemed invincible. Lately, however, many regret that decision as prices have come back down to earth amid higher borrowing costs. As a portfolio manager […]
