Ernest Wong’s Top Picks for Feb. 24, 2026
BNN Bloomberg
Top Picks from Ernest Wong, Head of Research, Baskin Wealth Management
Focus: North American Large Caps
Top Picks: Netflix, Domino’s Pizza, Live Nation
MARKET OUTLOOK:
The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) is extending its 2025 performance in 2026 with gold up 18 per cent, and the energy sector is up over 20 per cent despite weak oil prices. Materials and energy are now over one third of the index, which makes the TSX increasingly driven by gold and oil sentiment. This is offset by worries about AI on the tech sector, and a soft market impacting insurers. The key catalyst for Canada will be the upcoming re-negotiation of Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in the summer, which is important for the banks, railroads, and commodities like forestry, oil, and fertilizer. We think Canada and the U.S. are both motivated to get a deal done, given the lack of alternatives for many key Canadian exports to the U.S.
The U.S. market and the economy are being driven by the top tech firms (over one third of the index), and by extension, spending on data centers and artificial intelligence, which is masking sluggish consumer and industrial activity. The performance year-to-date has been weak given concerns about the return on investment by companies like Amazon, Meta, Google, and Microsoft, as well as the potential for AI disruption in software and data-related sectors.
The impact of the Iran war on fuel prices in Canada may encourage more drivers to go electric, some experts say, but others warn the conflict will drive up prices of "pretty much everything."
The U.S. is temporarily easing some sanctions on Russian oil shipments, reflecting global concerns over sharply higher crude prices due to supply shortages stemming from the Iran war.
The Trump administration this week stepped up its ambitious effort to replace about US$1.6 trillion in lost tariff revenue that was eliminated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a range of the president’s import taxes.
The Bank of Canada will be balancing a last-minute flood of economic data with uncertainty around trade and war in the Middle East as it prepares to make its second interest rate decision of 2026 this week.
The Trump administration has expanded its trade investigations to 60 countries, including Canada, in an effort to shore up the president’s tariff policies.
Canada has committed to supplying 23.6 million barrels of oil as part of a larger International Energy Agency plan to help stabilize energy markets as the war in the Middle East continues.
Canada’s energy-heavy index may cushion stocks from oil shocks, but rising crude prices could boost inflation and pressure consumers.
Venture Global will proceed with phase 2 of its CP2 liquefied natural gas project in Louisiana, the company said on Friday.
The U.S. is temporarily easing some sanctions on Russian oil shipments, reflecting global concerns over sharply higher crude prices due to supply shortages stemming from the Iran war.
Telus Corp.’s global IT and customer services arm says it’s investigating a breach of its systems.
When Jensen Huang strides onto the stage of a packed hockey arena to kick off Nvidia’s annual developer conference on Monday, he is likely to reveal products and partnerships geared toward keeping the AI chipmaker atop a growing array of competitors.
The current Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) crackdown on Canada’s growing army of gig workers has gone beyond Uber drivers, contractors, consultants, handy-people and freelancers.