Jordan Zinberg's Top Picks: April 8, 2024
Jordan Zinberg, president and CEO of Bedford Park Capital
FOCUS: Canadian small and mid-cap stocks
MARKET OUTLOOK:
The recent strength in equity markets has created wide valuation disparities, resulting in an excellent environment for active managers. Our portfolio companies reported very strong results in the final quarter of 2023 and we expect the strength in operating results to continue when the first-quarter earnings season begins in late April.
The tone of the market has changed significantly so far in 2024 as compared to 2023 and new leadership is emerging, which is a healthy market dynamic. During the first quarter of 2024, the S&P/TSX Small Cap Index outperformed the S&P/TSX Composite, driven primarily by strength in the energy and materials sectors.
Smaller companies continue to trade at a substantial discount compared with their larger peers, highlighting a segment of the market that offers investors a rich opportunity set. Notably, we are seeing a significant increase in volume recently among the small and mid-cap stocks that we follow.
Goeasy is a Canadian specialty lender that continues to demonstrate substantial organic growth in their loan book and expansion of their product offering. The company recently reported very strong fourth quarter results, increased their three-year targets, and announced that their will be introducing a credit card product later this year. Based on our estimates, the current valuation represents eight times 2025 earnings, which is very attractive for a company that consistently produces a return on equity in excess of 20 per cent.
Based in Alberta, Enterprise Group provides equipment and services to some of Canada’s largest energy companies. Profit margins are expanding rapidly, driven by Enterprise’s power division, which helps customers power their sites with natural gas instead of diesel, thereby reducing both emissions and costs substantially. High insider ownership, underfollowed, juicy margins, and trades on just over three times 2025 earnings, based on our estimates.
Topicus is a vertical market software vendor that was spun out of Constellation Software in 2021. Following the Constellation Software playbook, Topicus looks to acquire mission-critical, high margin businesses in Europe across several different industries. Consistent with Constellation, Topicus offers investors strong revenue growth, attractive margins, and very high returns on capital.
Jordan Zinberg's Past Picks
Mainstreet Equity (MEQ, TSX)
Under-followed and not well known. 1.7 Billion market cap, but haven't raised money in over 20 years, very little analyst coverage. Acquire and manage small and mid size apartment buildings in western Canada. Been doing this for over 20 years. recent results were quite good. Record low vacancies with high rents. CEO owns half the business. Big institutions don't come in and buy buildings in western Canada so they can come in and buy up properties cheap. Using cheap financing from CMHC. Low cost of capital with good execution of business model.
Lumine Group (LMN, CVE)
Spun-out from Constellation Software. Focus on specific sectors (media and telecommunications). Does larger deals than Constellation, specialize on corporate carve-outs (buying divisions of companies that are no longer wanted by the parent). Buying up small vertical software businesses.
Source Energy services (SHLE, TSX)
One of the largest providers of frack sand in western Canada so their customers are all the big E and P's. they mine the sand in Wisconsin and ship it up by rail to western Canada. Priority in paying down debt, are about to announce a joint venture nest month. Could make 4 dollars a share next year (price is currently at 12 dollars), Going at 3 times forward earnings. Lots of catalysts in the fire.
Other Comments
Terravest Industries (TVK, TSX)
Under-the radar billion dollar market cap, Don't talk to the street very much (The Outsider's). Specialize in storage tanks for energy fuels, it's a pretty much diversified business. Very good stewards of capital, 20 percent grower.
Propel Holdings (PRL, TSX)
He likes and knows it really well. Management is doing an excellent job. It has doubled its profits every year for the last 3 years. It is hard to keep up this pace but it should be able to continue to have healthy growth and profits. Has a high ROC, good dividend, single digit multiples. Management and insiders own lots
Payfare (Pay, TSX)
It is one of his favourites with a fantastic business model, a very good core business and ROC, and trading at 8 or 9 times earnings. It is good for Uber drivers and others in the gig market since they can access their money quickly. The gig market is growing at 30% per year. It is not well known but there are lots of catalysts coming. It may move outside the gig space. For example it may start to provide fast access to capital in the fast food industry meaning that workers can access their money right after a shift. It is a capital light business.
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Source
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/jordan-zinberg-s-top-picks-april-8-2024-1.2056456
https://stockchase.com/expert/view/1469/Jordan-Zinberg
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