From the blog

Each week, our team publishes a blog and webcast.

Jesse's: That Budget was Taxing, Especially on Real Estate

That Budget was Taxing, Especially on Real Estate

That Budget was Taxing, Especially on Real Estate

Until now, 50% of all realized capital gains have been included when calculating your taxable income.  That’s about to change. Starting on June 25, the inclusion rate on realized capital gains exceeding $250,000 will jump from 50% to 67% for an individual. Money made on your primary residence or within a registered account like an […]

Jesse's: Tesla is Driving Out of Control

Tesla is Driving Out of Control

Tesla is Driving Out of Control

Now trading 60% off its all-time high, Tesla shareholders have seen the value of their investment collapse by just about 35% so far this year. Normally, this is the exact kind of contrarian opportunity that we would flock to for our clients. We like buying stocks that are out of favour. This is because our […]

Jesse's: Never Romanticize a Stock with Key Person Risk

Never Romanticize a Stock with Key Person Risk

Never Romanticize a Stock with Key Person Risk

Always invest in the company, never in the person. Eyebrows were raised earlier this month when the Royal Bank of Canada published a late Friday press release saying: “RBC was recently made aware of allegations involving [the Chief Financial Officer] and immediately launched an internal review and engaged outside legal counsel to investigate. The investigation […]

Jesse's: Canada Will Eclipse the U.S. with Rate Cuts

Canada Will Eclipse the U.S. with Rate Cuts

Canada Will Eclipse the U.S. with Rate Cuts

Starting in June, Canada will move first to cut rates and the cost of borrowing will decline by more than the US in 2024.  In addition to yesterday’s stronger than expected US inflation report, employment figures released last Friday in Canada and the US shed additional light on two very different realities. While the US […]

Jesse's: Apple’s Bruises Make it a Tough Stock to Pick Today

Apple’s Bruises Make it a Tough Stock to Pick Today

Apple’s Bruises Make it a Tough Stock to Pick Today

Is it just me or did the glory days of Apple seem to die with Steve Jobs?  Apple’s iMac (1998), iPod (2001), iPhone (2007), and iPad (2010) were revolutionary products when first introduced. Each were unique, customer-friendly, and attached a superior graphical interface compared to the alternative devices at the time. Jobs died in October […]

Jesse's: Sometimes a Company Just Needs a Kick in the Rear End

Sometimes a Company Just Needs a Kick in the Rear End

Sometimes a Company Just Needs a Kick in the Rear End

While less dramatic than a corporate raider from the 1980’s waltzing into a shareholder meeting, proclaiming that “greed is good”, and hurling threats to sell an underperforming company for a quick profit, many activist investors work quietly to change companies. Activism is on the rise. In 2022, there were just about fifty activist campaigns in […]

Jesse's: Is Alphabet’s Next Share Price Catalyst a Dividend?

Is Alphabet’s Next Share Price Catalyst a Dividend?

Is Alphabet’s Next Share Price Catalyst a Dividend?

Initiating a dividend introduces a stock to a much larger investor base. This is because some institutional fund managers have restrictions on the kinds of stocks they can and cannot buy. Without a steady stream of income, some investment mandates will simply pass.  In most sectors, declaring a dividend offers assurance that the board of […]

Jesse's: Oh, Canada

Oh, Canada

Oh, Canada

During the fall, over 90 high-ranking business executives expressed concern in an open letter that Canada’s largest pension funds should bulk up their investment positions here at home. The eight largest pension funds – also known as the “Maple 8” – manage 38% of Canada’s savings. Yet, that collective group has reduced their holdings of […]

Jesse's: Manulife’s 2008/9 Decisions Ensured No Investor Appetite…Until Now

Jesse's: Estee Lauder has been an Ugly Stock

Estee Lauder has been an Ugly Stock

Estee Lauder has been an Ugly Stock

Anyone with a diversified portfolio will tell you that a handful of stocks perform far better than your wildest dreams; a good chunk do better than the market; some underperform; and a select few have such awful performance that you’re afraid to look at the price each day. Estee Lauder falls into the very latter […]