Hello!
Today, I’m reporting in on how our imaginary stock market portfolio did in the month of August. But first … a shameless promotion:
| Shameless Promotion! Give a boost to a creative project Library Life Hack is working on with Canadian writers Natasha Deen and Trent Wilkie, and illustrator Daniel Schneider: it’s a comic book set in Strathcona County, Alberta — the origin story of a wild west female superhero named Boy. You can help this project soar by visiting our indiegogo page and leaving behind a teeny tiny investment (you’ll get something back in return), by leaving a comment, or by sending this along to your networks (all of which will earn you my undying gratitude and a whole lot of good karma.) Thank you, thank you, thank you! P.S. Let me also say that if you’ve ever wanted to be a comic book character yourself, this is your big chance … |
And now, back to business. Our portfolio performed in August much the same as it did in July. Four stocks are in negative territory, and the star of the show continues to be Magna International, with a stellar 63% gain over its Jan 1 price. Canadian Tire and Sparton Corp. are in second and third place, at 36% and 35% gains.
Overall, the Canadian stocks have performed very well, cruising from a 3% gain on Feb 1 to a 34% gain as of Sept 1. (This despite a 35% loss from AEterna Zentaris.) The US stocks have held their own, wavering a few percentage points in each direction. It would be nice to see them start to gain a little bit of ground — but we’ll see what the final quarter of the year brings.
| Company Name | Closing Price Dec 31 |
Closing Price Aug 31 |
% Change |
| AEterna Zentaris Inc. | 2.38 CDN | 1.55 CDN | -35% |
| Bombardier Inc. | 3.76 CDN | 4.79 CDN | +27% |
| Callaway Golf Co. | 6.50 US | 6.92 US | +6% |
| Cameron International Corp. | 56.46 US | 56.79 US | +1% |
| Canadian Tire Corp. | 81.00 CDN | 109.85 CDN | +36% |
| Cott Corp. | 8.03 US | 7.99 US | 0% |
| Indigo Books & Music | 10.68 CDN | 10.60 CDN | -1% |
| Koninlijke Philips Electronics | 26.54 US | 30.82 US | +16% |
| Magna International Inc. | 49.68 CDN | 80.96 CDN | +63% |
| BlackBerry | 11.80 CDN | 10.64 CDN | -10% |
| Ryder Systems Inc. | 49.93 US | 55.61 US | +11% |
| Sherwin-Williams Co. | 153.82 US | 172.40 US | +12% |
| Sparton Corp. | 13.87 US | 18.77 US | +35% |
| USG Corp. | 28.07 US | 23.34 US | -17% |
| Westjet Airlines Ltd. | 19.81 CDN | 21.96 CDN | +11% |
| Total Value $CDN | $179.11 | $240.35 | +34% |
| Total Value $US | $343.22 | $372.64 | +9% |
