Our Stock Picks had an excellent year in 2013. The three Strong buys rose an average of 34.5%. The 22 stocks that were rated in the Buy or Strong Buy range rose an average of 30.0%. In comparison, the Toronto Stock index rose 9.6% and the S&P 500 rose 29.6%.
| Group | Rating to start 2013 | Price Increase | Our Performance | ||
| Average of 3 strong buys | Strong Buy | 34.5% | very good | ||
| Average of 19 buys | Buy | 29.3% | very good | ||
| Average for all 22 buys and strong buys | 30.0% | ||||
| Average of 2 weak buys | Weak Buy | 26.6% | very good | ||
| Average of 3 weak sells | Weak Sell | -6.9% | good | ||
| Average for all 5 Neutral ratings (weak buy or weak sell) | 6.5% | ||||
| Average of 1 Sells | Sell | -4.4% | |||
| Rated As – Strong Buy at January 1, 2013 | |||||
| Name | Beginning 2013 Price | Starting Rating | End 2013 Price | Price Increase | Our Performance |
| Canadian Tire (CTC.A, Toronto) | 69.38 | (lower) Strong Buy | 99.49 | 43% | very good |
| Wells Fargo (WFC, United States) | 34.18 | (lower) Strong Buy | 45.40 | 33% | very good |
| MELCOR DEVELOPMENTS LTD. (MRD, Toronto) | 15.75 | (lower) Strong Buy | 20.05 | 27% | very good |
| Average Strong buy | Strong buy | 34.5% | very good | ||
| 3 | |||||
| Rated As – Buy | |||||
| Name | Beginning 2013 Price | Rating to start 2013 | End 2013 Price | Price Increase | Our Performance |
| Wal-Mart (WMT, New York) | 68.23 | (higher) Buy | 78.69 | 15% | good |
| Stantec Inc. (STN, Toronto) | 39.75 | (higher) Buy | 65.86 | 66% | very good |
| Bank of America Corporation (BAC, New York) | 11.61 | Speculative (higher) Buy | 15.57 | 34% | very good |
| Canadian Western Bank (CWB, Toronto) | 28.44 | Buy | 38.66 | 36% | very good |
| Shaw Communications Inc. (SJR.b, Toronto SJR, New York) | 22.84 | Buy | 25.85 | 13% | good |
| Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., ATD.B | 48.93 | Buy | 79.88 | 63% | verygood |
| Microsoft (MSFT, NASDAQ) | 26.71 | Buy | 37.41 | 40% | verygood |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRKB, New York) | 89.70 | Buy | 118.56 | 32% | verygood |
| Bombardier Series 4 Preferred Shares (BBD.PR.C, Toronto) | 24.35 | Buy | 22.37 | -8% | bad |
| Bombardier (BBD.B, Toronto) | 3.79 | SpeculativeBuy | 4.34 | 15% | good |
| Toll Brothers Inc. (TOL, New York) | 32.33 | Speculative Buy | 37.00 | 14% | good |
| VISA (V) | 151.58 | Buy | 222.68 | 47% | verygood |
| Constellation Software Inc. (CSU, Toronto) | 120.96 | Buy | 211.85 | 75% | very good |
| Canadian National Railway Company (CNR, Toronto CNI, New York) | 45.17 | (lower) Buy | 60.56 | 34% | very good |
| FedEx (FDX,NY) | 91.72 | (lower) Buy | 143.77 | 57% | very good |
| Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund (BPF.un, Toronto) | 19.30 | (lower) Buy | 20.71 | 7% | good |
| RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (REI.UN, Toronto) | 27.56 | (lower) Buy | 24.77 | -10% | bad |
| Dollarama Inc. (DOL, Toronto) | 58.97 | (lower) Buy | 88.21 | 50% | very good |
| Liquor Stores N.A. Ltd. (LIQ, Toronto) | 18.56 | (lower) Buy | 14.07 | -24% | very poor |
| Average Buy | Buy | 29.3% | very good | ||
| 19 | |||||
| Rated As Weak Buy | |||||
| Name | Beginning 2013 Price | Rating to start 2013 | End 2013 Price | Price Increase | Our Performance |
| FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION (FSV, Toronto) (FSRV, NASDAQ) | 28.23 | Weak Buy | 43.05 | 52% | very good |
| FirstService Preferred (FSV.PR.U, Toronto) | 25.87 | Weak Buy | 26.07 | 1% | good |
| Average Weak Buy | Weak Buy | 26.6% | very good | ||
| 2 | |||||
| Rated As – Weak Sell | |||||
| Name | Beginning 2013 Price | Rating to start 2013 | End 2013 Price | Price Increase | Our Performance |
| Costco (COST, N) | 98.73 | Weak Sell | 119.02 | 21% | very bad |
| Research in Motion Limited (RIMM, U.S., RIM. Toronto) | 11.87 | Weak Sell | 7.44 | -37% | very good |
| Preferred Shares of RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (REI.PR.A, Toronto) | 25.94 | Weak Sell / Hold | 24.90 | -4% | good |
| Average Weak Sell | WeakSell | -6.9% | good | ||
| 3 | |||||
| Rated As – Sell | |||||
| Name | Beginning 2013 Price | Rating to start 2013 | End 2013 Price | Price Increase | Our Performance |
| Canadian Western Bank Preferred Shares (CWB.PR.A, Toronto) | 26.88 | Sell | 25.71 | -4% | good |
| Average Sell | Sell | -4% | |||
| 1 | |||||
| Rated As – Strong Sell | |||||
| Name | Beginning 2013 Price | Rating to start 2013 | End 2013 Price | Price Increase | Our Performance |
| Average Strong Sell | |||||
DISCLAIMER: All stock ratings presented are “generic” in nature and do not take into account the unique circumstances and risk tolerance and risk capacity of any individual. The information presented is not a recommendation for any individual to buy or sell any security. The authors are not registered investment advisors and the information presented is not to be considered investment advice to any individual. The reader should consult a registered investment advisor or registered dealer prior to making any investment decision. For ease of writing style the newsletter and articles are often written in the first person. But, legally speaking, all information and opinions are provided by InvestorsFriend Inc. and not by the authors as individuals. The author(s) of this report may have a position, as disclosed in each report. The authors’ positions may subsequently change without notice.
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