2007 stock choices had varied returns but did OK overall

Two of the five favourite stocks chosen by the Bizword column last January gained ground while three lost turf in a volatile market.
However, the average price gain of the five stocks - Manulife, Jos A. Bank Clothiers, Cemex SAB, Hanfeng Evergreen, HSE Integrated - handily beat the comparable benchmarks.
A little-known fertilizer company, listed in Canada but operating in China, gained a spectacular 229 per cent during the year to keep the favourite five average on the plus side.
The performance of Hanfeng Evergeen, rising from $4.08 to $13.44 while four other picks languished, indicates the need for diversity in investments.
Global life insurer, Manulife of Canada, increased a mere 2.5 per cent in price, not including the 2.3 per cent dividend.
U.S. men's clothing store chain, Jos A. Bank Clothiers ($26.89 US), lost 18 per cent, nearly all of which was from currency exchange as the Canadian loonie soared in value.
Similarly, global cement giant Cemex SAB lost 38 per cent, nearly half from currency exchange to $25.83 US. Uncertainty over the outlook for an acquisition that shifted U.S. revenues from 27 per cent to 45 per cent of income, caused a price decline.
Alberta-based national industrial safety/environmental services operator, HSE Integrated shed 54 per cent to 80 cents as Alberta oil patch revenues fell. National industrial and environmental business jumped as HSE repositioned operations, but earnings dropped and investors were spooked.
Average price gain of the five stocks was 23 per cent beating the eight per cent gain by the Toronto Stock Exchange Composite and the 5.6 per cent loss by the TES Venture Exchange.
The five-year average return of the favourite five sits at a 34 per cent gain.
My favourite five for 2008 includes three from 2007 - Manulife, Jos A. Bank Clothiers, Hanfeng Evergreen - and two new stocks, Neo-Material Technologies and Comaplex Minerals.
Manulife continues double digit growth in the Asian unit, and having digested John Hancock's wealth management business in the U.S., is ready for another acquisition.
Well-managed Jos A. Bank, on it its way to 500 stores with 15 per cent annual growth in 2007, was the victim of investor fears about consumer spending in 2007.
Neo-Material, priced at $4.89, is one of two world leaders in the rare earth metals and powdered metals business as well as a leading producer of zirconium, another technology material in high demand.
Every sensor from the self--cleaning lens sensor on my camera to the computer chip sensors in your vehicle, phones, flat panel TVs and so on, contains rare earth metal powders.
Neo-Material of Toronto is in a position to grow swiftly with even slower economic growth.
Comaplex Minerals, priced at $5.85, is a Canadian company developing gold ore bodies in Nunavut. The company has an estimated 3.2 million ounces of gold resources from two small portions of the Medialine Complex.
Watch for drilling programs to increase the resource of this highly speculative venture and provide better confidence in the existing resource.
Closing prices as of Dec 21,were used for this column.
Remember, do your own homework before taking any action.
Bizword columns do not solicit buying or trading of securities. Investors need to do their own homework or consult advisers.

Ron Walter can be reached at 691-1264.