Canadian Gurus - March '12

Red = consensus of 2 or more gurus

Green = top pick(s) for that guru

Irvin Michael, ABC Funds

Summary: typically an optimist, he claims to be a disciplined value investor. He has a particular focus on Oil, Gas and Mining companies, which make up 1/2 of several of his funds. It is easy to obtain information about his investments and rationale, because he goes into a lot of detail explaining it and makes his thoughts available on his website.
Picks: 
Daylight Energy, Savanah Energy, Flint Energy Services, Legacy were some of his PAST top picks and all have done extremely well.
• Rona $9.73.  He currently believes that RONA is undervalued because it is below tangible book value, and Rona is refocused. 
• Angle Energy $6.15. ABC recently got into this one. Nuttall calls it a "fantastically" run company & a BUY.
• Twin Butte Energy $2.10.  A high dividend which Nuttall believes is sustainable due to low payout ratio. Nuttall likes the company but doesn't see a lot of growth (i.e. a good yield play)

Norman Rothery, Rothery Report

• Summary: I don't think he has any assets under management (other than his own), as he makes some fees from the report he sells. He provides a lot of detailed rationale for his value picks in his Rothery Report, and has a phenomenal track record for that portfolio (33% annualized). I tend to scrutinize his picks and can find 1-3 per year that I like, often they have to have consensus with another guru
• Picks: 
• Unsure. I stopped paying for the report last year, so I'm not sure what his latest picks are. 

Eric Sprott, Sprott Assett Mgmt

Summary: He is a perma-bear with an excellent track record. But he is mainly in cash & precious metals right now.
Picks: 
Cash & Gold are the top held investments in all of his portfolios right now
SIlver. He calls silver the "investment of the decade". Prob worth owning some.
• Glentel $5.45. This is the top stock holding in their Small Cap Fund & is also one of the top 4 picks for Donville/Kent. Stockchase has a lot of "TOP PICK" ratings for this one.

Eric Nuttall, Sprott Assett Mgmt

Summary: he's works with Eric on Sprott's Energy portfolio. 
picks: 
• Angle Energy $6.58. A top pick. Also held by ABC Funds and Lemarche
• Trican Well Services $20.00 . Top holding
• Legacy Oil & Gas  $13.73. A top pick. Also held by ABC Funds
• Painted Pony Petroleum $7.55. A top pick.

Norm Lamarche, Frontier Street Funds

• Summary: introduced to us by Bob Thompson 
• picks: 
• Angle Energy $8.25. A top pick. Also held by ABC Funds and Nuttall
• Trican Well Services $14.28. Top holding

• Angle Energy
• $6.15 - ABC, $6.58 - Sprott Energy, $8.25 - Frontier Street
• Trican Well Services
• ~$20.00 - Sprott Energy, $14.28 - Frontier Street