The Canadian stocks on our list have low volatility and have seen stock price gains of at least 30% in 2021
SmallCapPower | December 13, 2021: Beta is a statistical value that measures the rate of change of a stock versus the price change of the overall market. It is commonly used to determine the volatility of a stock. When a stock’s beta is 1, it means the stock price moves with the market. When a stock’s beta is less than 1 but above zero it is less volatile than the overall market. Today we have identified the top four Canadian stocks in 2021 with betas lower than 0.75 and that have seen stock-price gains of 30% or more year-to-date.
*Share prices and other metrics as of December 10, 2021
Park Lawn Corporation (TSX:PLC) – $39.57
Funeral Services
Park Lawn is the only Canadian publicly listed deathcare company. It offers cemetery, cremation and funeral services in five Canadian provinces (Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia) and 10 U.S. states (Michigan, Kentucky, Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, and Mississippi). Park Lawn has been swiftly consolidating the deathcare industry. As of 2021, the Company has 133 funeral homes and 135 cemeteries across the US and Canada. The deathcare industry is highly fragmented, with no one company having more than a ~15% market share, and as such there is ample opportunity for Park Lawn to conduct further M&A.
- Market Cap: $1,341.8M
- 7-Day Return: -0.5%
- 30-Day Return: +4.9%
- YTD-Return: +41.6%
- 7-Day Average Trading Volume: 121,610
- 30-Day Average Trading Volume: 95,700
- Beta: 0.62
Home Capital Group Inc. (TSX:HCG) – $41.32
Alternative Lending
Home Capital Group is a specialty finance company. The Company operates through its subsidiary, Home Trust Company. Home Trust is an alternative lender that operates as a federally regulated trust. Home Trust operates mainly in regions considered low risk where above average returns may be achieved; it also tends to focus on areas largely ignored by other mortgage lenders. The Company offers deposits, mortgages, retail credit and credit-card issuing services. Home Capital has offices across Canada and is regulated under Canadian federal legislation.
- Market Cap: $2,082.3M
- 7-Day Return: +2.9%
- 30-Day Return: -5.1%
- YTD-Return: +39.1%
- 7-Day Average Trading Volume: 217,480
- 30-Day Average Trading Volume: 271,820
- Beta: 0.87
Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSX:LB) – $40.19
Banks
Founded in 1846, Laurentian Bank Financial Group is a Canada-based chartered bank that provides banking services to individuals, and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as to independent advisors across the country and operates as a full-service brokerage firm. The Company provides a broad range of advice-based solutions and services to its retail, business and institutional customers. Laurentian has $45.2 billion in balance sheet assets and $29.2 billion in assets under administration.
- Market Cap: $1,751.8M
- 7-Day Return: +7.5%
- 30-Day Return: -5.3%
- YTD-Return: +28.8%
- 7-Day Average Trading Volume: 299,040
- 30-Day Average Trading Volume: 256,730
- Beta: 0.74
TransAlta Corporation (TSX:TA) – $13.45
Utilities and Renewable Energy
TransAlta is an electricity power generator and wholesale marketing company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. TA operates 75 power plants in Canada, the United States, and Australia. TransAlta operates wind, hydro, natural gas, and coal power generation facilities. The Company has been recognized for its leadership in sustainability by the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index, the FTSE4Good Index, and the Jantz Social Index. TransAlta is Canada’s largest investor-owned renewable energy provider.
- Market Cap: $3,645.0M
- 7-Day Return: +2.2%
- 30-Day Return: -2.8%
- YTD-Return: +39.1%
- 7-Day Average Trading Volume: 306,910
- 30-Day Average Trading Volume: 375,080
- Beta: 0.76
Disclosure: Neither the author nor his family own shares in any of the companies mentioned above.
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