Trying to predict and successfully time when the next storm will arrive is not a substitute for sturdy construction. Financial storms tend to arrive with little warning. The key to resilience is to know that they will inevitably come and to prepare in advance.
During the quarter we initiated a position in TVA Group (TSX:TVA.B). Based in Quebec, the company is a leading broadcaster and owner of specialty channels targeting the French-Canadian audience.
…when we see foolishness all around us, we remind ourselves that we are investors. Not speculators, investors. Value will once again have its day. It always does.
“As Mark Twain so aptly put it, history doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes. The current market environment — especially in certain tech stocks — reminds us a little of the late ‘90s stock market.
COVID-19 pulled a bear market out of hibernation and humanity took its place.
“This past year was our eighth consecutive year of positive returns. Our two biggest contributors to the portfolio in 2019 were our investments in Apple +58.8% (AAPL) and Facebook +56.6% (FB), both of which were purchased during the Q4 2018 selloff. Just a few meaningful and timely decisions can make a big difference to portfolio returns.”
“… We meaningfully increased our exposure to the U.S. health insurers by adding to our position in Anthem (ANTM) and initiating a new position in UnitedHealth Group (UNH). Democratic presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are touting “Medicare for All” and propose an outright ban of private health insurers. The heated rhetoric on the campaign trail led to a sector selloff which we took full advantage of…”
We like to invest in industries with long-term tailwinds and pharma distribution checks that box. An aging population leads to increased drug utilization, drug price inflation increases revenues as does the introduction of new drugs. The “Big 3” – McKesson, AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health – are a distribution oligopoly with over 90% market share in the United States.
