Jardine Matheson (JMHLY)

(A Top Pick July 27/17, Up 7%) Still pretty good, compared to Chinese stock market. Like a proxy for investing in Southeast Asia and China, without taking on political risk. Owns IKEAs, some Starbucks, car dealerships, hotels, heavy construction equipment. Leveraged only about 35%. Smart guys.

There are 2 big conglomerates in south east Asia, and this is an easy way for Canadian investors to have access to the south-east market with a big conglomerate. The stock has done nothing for the last 5 years, because of the rise in the US$. They report their numbers in US$, but currencies in Indonesia, China, etc. have been falling, so they’ve been hurt. This has a clean balance sheet and they can make acquisitions. 10-year dividend growth rate has been 15%. Dividend yield of 2.5%. (Analysts' price target is $67.)

A great trading company that started back in the 1800s. A very diversified conglomerate. Her only issue is its valuation. It is expensive. It typically trades stronger or rallies if there is a surprise to the upside on a dividend. Prefers to look at some of the underparts they are invested in. Dividend yield of 2.3%.

He is buying half positions for new clients right now. He has done this because the US dollar has dropped. This is the time of year when their stock price starts to move. If you believe the US$ will continue to fall, then the price should continue to rise. They don’t have a lot of leverage right now. If anything bad occurs they will step into the market to take advantage of opportunities. This is a way to be in Asia.

A big conglomerate that dates all the way back to the 1600s. They have the tentacles throughout China and other Asian countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam, etc. They have hotels, supermarkets, BMW and Mercedes dealerships, IKEA, 7-Eleven and even some Starbucks franchises. They have insurance. They’ve got Hong Kong land. If the Chinese market recovers, the US$ will start to fall and emerging market currencies will start to rise, and this company will start to make bigger profits. (Analysts’ price target is US$63.)

A very unique company. It started as a trading company and now owns a number of businesses throughout the Asia Pacific. On a fundamental valuation perspective, the stock has rallied really hard and it is expensive. Dividend yield of 2.4% is safe and there is possibly room for it to be hiked in the next 12-18 months.

A Conglomerate based in Hong King. He finds conglomerates too complicated.

(Market Call Minute.) Has owned this for about 10 years and will continue to own it. They are throughout South East Asia, so it is his proxy.

(A Top Pick Jan 15/16. Up 4.76%.) A big conglomerate that has been around since the 1600s. They are into everything in south east Asia and are really good allocators of capital. He is buying more at this price, because it is really cheap.

A Hong Kong company, based in Singapore and listed on the Singapore exchange. They own 83% of a company called Jardine strategical. They also own a lot of brands. Trading at about 14X earnings with a 2% dividend yield. You have to look at this company on its NAV, not on its earnings, because it is a conglomerate. You can probably get to a $48-$50 price target on NAV. The stock is trading at about a 36% discount to that. There is upside from here.

(A Top Pick April 4/16. (Actually Jan 15/16.) Up 0.95%.) They own a number of things including insurance, stores, hotel chain, supermarkets, car dealerships, etc. He likes that he has to only invest in one company to cover all of Southeast Asia, but their leverage is very thin.

(Top Pick Jan 15/16, Up 7.60%) They are not heavily indebted. If China suffers, they have a lot of cash on the books to make acquisitions. They are a play on the Asian economy.

(Singapore exchange.) A gargantuan conglomerate that goes back to the 1600s. They do everything in South East Asia including hotels, restaurants, groceries, car dealerships, etc. In 2008, Hong Kong prices fell almost in half, and the stock stepped up to the plate and doubled their development position by buying up land in Hong Kong and developing it. A very underleveraged company with lots of room to make acquisitions if the South East Asian countries continue to suffer. A good stock to own for complete coverage in Southeast Asia.