Being that Barrick is the largest...component of this ETF, thought this would be of interest to everyone.
The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, Feb. 13, edition that Desjardins Securities analyst Peter Gibson manages the "Focus 15" basket of stocks. The Globe's Scott Adams writes in the Number Cruncher column the Focus 15 is a basket of 15 stocks that highlight Mr. Gibson's top long-term picks. His approach to choosing stocks is to look at many statistical measurements, but his emphasis is on profit growth and steadily improving return on equity. Last year, Mr. Gibson's Focus portfolio fell 26 per cent, versus 37 per cent for the S&P/TSX composite. Mr. Gibson has grown more cautious in the last few weeks. He sold his Cameco and Pan American Silver holdings and put the proceeds into cash. Three of his 15 positions are now in cash. The latest U.S. economy rescue plan has not inspired confidence in Mr. Gibson. "The U.S. stimulus package is still more of a spending bill for social programs than a pure stimulus/infrastructure package." Here follows the list of 12 stocks Mr. Gibson is depending on to make a profit: TransAlta, Emera, National Bank of Canada, Saputo, Rogers Communications, Shaw Communications, Bombardier, Barrick Gold, Agrium, Canadian Oil Sands Trust, Husky Energy and Research in Motion.