MARK BLINCH
The following is the top overall winners of the Starmine 2012 analyst awards, the sectors they cover, and what gave them the edge to outperform their peers.
1. Cutsey, Brad
Dundee Securities Corp.
Real estate (including REITs)
• Outperformed his benchmark by 29.9 per cent.
• Also No. 1 stock picker in real estate.
• Best call: Held a "buy" on InterRent Real Estate Investment from March 29, 2011 through Dec. 17, 2011 as it shot up from 1.56 to 3.16 (up 102 per cent) and outperformed the industry benchmark by 103 per cent.
• Another good call: Retained a 12-month "buy" on Mainstreet Equity as it trekked from 14.86 to 23.99 (up 61 per cent) and outperformed its benchmark by 57 per cent.
2. Kirk, Heather
National Bank Financial
Real estate (including REITs)
• Outperformed her benchmark by 24.9 per cent.
• Also No. 2 stock picker in real estate.
• Most profitable call: Kept an "outperform" on CANMARC Real Estate Investment Trust throughout 2011 as it climbed from 10.22 to 15.92 (up 56 per cent) and outperformed the industry benchmark by 51 per cent.
• A good downside call: Had an "underperform" on Scott's Real Estate Investment Trust for five months of 2011 as it lost 39 per cent of its share value and underperformed its industry peers by 37 per cent.
3. Molnar, Kurt
Stifel Nicolaus
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
• Outperformed his benchmark by 16.8 per cent.
• Most lucrative pick: Retained a "buy" on Trilogy Energy throughout 2011 as it gushed from 12.03 to 37.39 (up 210 per cent) and outperformed its industry peer group by 220 per cent.
• An exceptional downside call: Had a "sell" on Rock Energy from May 12, 2011 through the end of 2011 as it dropped from 4.36 to 2.07 (down 53 per cent) and underperformed the industry benchmark by 44 per cent.
4. Howlett, Keith
Desjardins Securities
Retail
• Outperformed his benchmark by 16.53 per cent.
• Also No. 2 Stock Picker in Retail.
• Most profitable call: Kept a "buy" on Dollarama for the full year as it climbed from 28.52 to 44.32 (up 55 per cent) and also outperformed the industry benchmark by 55 per cent.
• Another good call: Held a "buy" on Forzani Group from the outset of 2011 through May 10, 2011, as it rose from 18.05 to 26.24 (up 45 per cent) and outperformed its benchmark by 44 per cent.
5. Westra, Fred
Industrial Alliance Securities
Financial Services; Insurance
• Outperformed his benchmark by 16.50 per cent.
• Also No. 7 overall stock picker for Canada (2011).
• Best pick: Was bullish on Jovian Capital for his full coverage period (June 10, 2011 through year end) as went from 7.85 to 11.90 (up 52 per cent) and outperformed its industry peers by 60 per cent.
• Another profitable call: Had a "top pick" on Carfinco Income Fund from Feb. 14, 2011 through the end of the year as it gained 21 per cent and outperformed its industry benchmark by 47 per cent.
6. Thompson, Kris
National Bank Financial
IT Equipment; Software & IT Services
• Outperformed his benchmark by 15.2 per cent.
• Also No. 1 earnings estimator in IT equipment.
• Also No. 7 overall earnings estimator for Canada (2012) and No. 3 overall stock picker for Canada (2010).
• Best recommendation: Held an "underperform" on Research in Motion for almost seven months of the awards year as its value declined by 71 per cent and it underperformed the industry benchmark by 20 per cent.
• Another good call: Retained an "underperform" on DragonWave for more than five months of 2011 as it lost 62 per cent of its share value and underperformed its industry peers by 35 per cent.
7. Sturges, Brad
CIBC World Markets
Real Estate (including REITs)
• Outperformed his benchmark by 15.0 per cent.
• Best call: Remained bearish on Scott's Real Estate Investment Trust throughout 2011 as it slid from 6.69 to 4.61 (down 31 per cent) and underperformed its benchmark by 36 per cent.
• Another good downside call: Maintained a full-year "underperform/overweight" on Royal Host as it dropped from 2.10 to 1.48 (down 30 per cent) and underperformed the benchmark by 34 per cent.
8. Doulis, Christos
Stonecap Securities
Metals & Mining
• Outperformed his benchmark by 14.2 per cent.
• Also No. 3 stock picker in metals and mining.
• Most lucrative call: Held an "outperform" on Great Panther Silver for almost three months of 2011 as it shot up 144 per cent and outperformed the industry benchmark by 140 per cent.
• Another good call: Kept a 12-month "outperform" on Argonaut Gold as it went from 4.94 to 6.95 (up 41 per cent) and outperformed its industry peers by 51 per cent.
9. Ng, Nelson
RBC Capital Markets
Chemicals & Utilities
• Outperformed his benchmark by 14.1 per cent.
• Also No. 3 stock picker in chemicals and utilities.
• Best call: Had a full-year "outperform" on Brookfield Renewable Energy Partnership as it climbed from 19.28 to 26.80 (up 39 per cent) and outperformed the industry benchmark by 49 per cent.
•Another good upside pick: Kept an "outperform" recommendation on Algonquin Power & Utilities throughout 2011 as its share price rose from 4.67 to 6.34 (up 36 per cent) and outperformed its benchmark by 52 per cent.
10. Kim, Sera
GMP Securities
Software & IT Services; IT Equipment;
• Outperformed her benchmark by 13.7 per cent.
• Also No. 1 stock picker in software & IT Services, and No. 2 earnings estimator and No. 3 stock picker in IT equipment.
• Most lucrative call: Had a "buy" on Miranda Technologies for the entire year as its share price trekked from 5.50 to 9.11 (up 66 per cent) and outperformed the industry benchmark by 128 per cent.
• Another good "buy" recommendation: Maintained a 12-month "Buy" on Mediagrif Interactive Technologies as it went from 10.19 to 15.93 (up 56 per cent) and outperformed its industry peer group by 45 per cent.