As the end of the year is upon us once again, investors have the opportunity to go back and review the decisions they’ve made to see how things have turned out. In my case, I have the opportunity to consider how each of my top stocks of the month has worked out for the year. The good news is that every pick has been profitable with one exception and one name, where the jury is still out (December). Here is each pick of the month, the starting price of the stock, and the closing share price as of December 11.
For January, I’d selected Dream Office Real Estate Investment Trst (TSX:D.UN), which opened the month at a price of $19.55 per share and most recently closed at a price of $22.26. The price return is a gain of 13.8% in addition to a current dividend yield of 4.5%.
For February, I’d selected High Liner Foods Inc. (TSX:HLF), which opened the month at $19.38 and most recently closed at a price of $14.04 per share. In spite of a current dividend yield of more than 4%, this pick is a clear loser for the year, declining by 27.6% since February 1.
For March, Home Capital Group Inc. (TSX:HCG) took the top spot, opening the month at a price of $26.59 per share. Although shares recently closed at $17.70, this name can only be considered a winner, since it was picked multiple times throughout the year. The return since March is no better than a loss of 33.4%.
For April, Empire Company Limited (TSX:EMP.A) opened the month at $20.30 per share and has since climbed to $26.06. The price increase since the beginning of April is no less than 28.4% in addition to a current dividend yield of 1.6%.
For May, Home Capital Group was, again, my top pick, as the company had declined substantially to begin the month at a price of $7.45. The return on this pick is an astonishing 137%, as the company has successfully turned the corner.
Closing out the first half of the year, my top pick for June was none other than AutoCanada Inc. (TSX:ACQ), which opened the month at $18.36 and most recently closed at a price of $23.64. The price appreciation was no less than 28.7% in addition to a dividend yield that currently sits at close to 1.75%.
For July, Lassonde Industries Inc. (TSX:LAS.A) took the top spot, opening the month at a price of $245.48 and most recently closed at $254. Although the percentage increase is only 3.5%, investors needed lower expectations for such a defensive company. The dividend yield is no more than 1%.
For August, shares of another defensive gem, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (TSX:AQN)(NYSE:AQN), took the top spot, opening the month at $13.39 and most recently closing at a price of $14.24, which would translate to price appreciation of 6.3% and a dividend yield in excess of 4%.
For September, shares of oil pipeline company Inter Pipeline Ltd. (TSX:IPL) were the top pick at a price of $22.95. Recently, shares closed at $27.73 and still offer a dividend yield of more than 6%. The price appreciation for the past three months (plus a week) is no less than 20.8%!
For October, I dove into the deep end of the pool by picking Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX:ACB), which opened the month at $2.81 only to increase by 160% to close at $7.31. Clearly, this was a fantastic pick!
In November, I once again chose Home Capital Group for the top spot, as the company was set to report earnings and did a fantastic job, increasing from an opening price of $14 to a current price of $17.70 — an increase of 26.4%.
My pick for December was Crescent Point Energy Corp. (TSX:CPG)(NYSE:CPG), which opened the month at $9.59 and is currently trading at a price closer to $9.25. As we are less than halfway through the month, we will reserve judgement on this name, as the cold weather and snow should bring about higher oil prices.
For the top stock picks for December, please click here, and remember to follow along in 2018!
