Must-Watch Insights from Industry Leaders
Our Fall Due Diligence session was extremely well-received, featuring engaging discussions with our award-winning investment team including Richard Evans and Paul Sagawa from SSR LLC, as well as special guest CEOs such as Brad Cutsey of InterRent REIT and Marty Staples of Topaz Energy.
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Session 1: REIT Opportunities in Canada – Why InterRent is Poised for Growth
Speaker: Brad Cutsey, President & CEO, InterRent
Moderator: Dean Orrico. President & CEO, Middlefield
This session explored how strategic geographic positioning and urban-centric investments are driving resilience in the real estate market. Brad Cutsey, CEO of InterRent, explained the company’s focus on areas close to transportation hubs, universities, and medical centers to capture demand, especially as affordability challenges persist. The discussion also covered the policy landscape for immigration and housing supply and how that could shape future opportunities. Overall, despite recent headwinds, the real estate sector represents a long-term growth opportunity, particularly for well-positioned portfolios.
Key takeaway: Real estate portfolios that leverage strategic urban locations and capitalize on government incentives can thrive, even amidst broader supply and affordability challenges.
Session 2: Unlocking Canadian Energy Potential – Topaz, Natural Gas, and Canada’s Future
Speakers: Marty Staples, President & CEO. Topaz Energy | Dennis da Silva, Senior Portfolio Manager, Middlefield
Moderator: Rob F. Lauzon. Chief Investment Officer, Middlefield
In this session, Marty Staples, CEO of Topaz Energy and Dennis da Silva discussed the growing role of natural gas infrastructure in the Canadian energy landscape, particularly as a defensive investment strategy. Marty talked about how Topaz Energy has evolved by leveraging royalties and infrastructure assets, while Dennis highlighted the importance of natural gas in a low-carbon future. With significant advancements like the completion of LNG Canada and the growing demand for energy infrastructure, the sector is positioned for long-term stability and growth.
Key takeaway: Natural gas infrastructure offers both growth and income opportunities, making it a compelling choice for investors looking to hedge against volatility while benefiting from long-term energy demand.
Session 3: Revolutionizing Healthcare – AI, Weight Loss Drugs & Other Innovations
Speakers: Dr. Richard Evans, SSR Co-Founder, Portfolio Advisor | Rob Moffat, Portfolio Manager, Middlefield
Moderator: Dean Orrico, President & CEO, Middlefield
This session dove into the transformative potential of key innovations in healthcare, including the growth of the weight-loss drug market. Rob Moffat and Dr. Richard Evans discussed the immense financial potential of drugs like Ozempic, which, in aggregate, could reach $130 billion in revenue by 2030. The conversation also covered the role of artificial intelligence in reshaping drug discovery and patient care, with AI applications expected to revolutionize diagnostics and clinical outcomes. These advancements make healthcare an exciting, high-growth sector to watch in the coming years.
Key takeaway: The intersection of AI and healthcare, coupled with breakthrough weight-loss drugs, is driving a new wave of innovation that could reshape the entire healthcare sector.
Session 4: The AI Revolution – The Next Wave of Tech Investing
Speakers: Paul Sagawa, SSR Co-Founder, Portfolio Advisor | Shane Obata, Portfolio Manager, Middlefield
Moderator: Mark Aboud, Managing Director, Middlefield
AI is positioned to be the most transformative technology of the next two decades, and this session focused on why. Shane Obata and Paul Sagawa compared AI’s potential to the early days of the internet, emphasizing that we are only in the “stadium-building” phase of what AI could achieve. They explained how AI is already driving profits in sectors like semiconductors and cloud infrastructure, but its full productivity potential has yet to be realized. The session made clear that companies currently embracing AI will be the leaders of tomorrow.
Key takeaway: AI is not just another tech trend—it’s a revolutionary force that will reshape industries and offer compelling long-term investment opportunities for early adopters.
Session 5: Income Investing with Middlefield – Navigating Market Cycles with Dividends
Speaker: Rob F. Lauzon, Chief Investment Officer, Middlefield
Moderator: Dean Orrico, President & CEO, Middlefield
This session focused on the importance of income-focused strategies in a volatile market. Rob Lauzon explained how Middlefield’s flagship funds, including Income Plus and Global Dividend Growers, are structured to provide stable income and growth. With an emphasis on quality companies that can withstand market volatility, Rob highlighted why now is an ideal time to allocate capital to income-generating strategies. His insights provided clarity on how to balance growth and income in portfolios leading into 2025.
Key takeaway: Diversified income portfolios offer stability and attractive returns, making them a key investment strategy for long-term growth as well as income generation.
Disclaimer
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This material has been prepared for informational purposes only without regard to any particular user’s investment objectives or financial situation. This communication constitutes neither a recommendation to enter into a particular transaction nor a representation that any product described herein is suitable or appropriate for you. Investment decisions should be made with guidance from a qualified professional. The opinions contained in this report are solely those of Middlefield Limited (“ML”) and are subject to change without notice. ML makes every effort to ensure that the information has been derived from sources believed to reliable, but we cannot represent that they are complete or accurate. However, ML assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages, whether direct or indirect which arise from the use of this information. ML is under no obligation to update the information contained herein. This document is not to be construed as a solicitation, recommendation or offer to buy or sell any security, financial product or instrument.
These videos were filmed on September 10, 2024.
Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements in this press release may be viewed as forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects”, “is expected”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “estimates” or “intends” (or negative or grammatical variations thereof), or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements including as a result of changes in the general economic and political environment, changes in applicable legislation, and the performance of each fund. There are no assurances the funds can fulfill such forward-looking statements and the funds do not undertake any obligation to update such statements. Such forward-looking statements are only predictions; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks facing one or more of the funds, many of which are beyond the control of the funds.
