(Business Edge columnist Gyle Konotopetz regularly profiles the top three picks of some of Canada's most accomplished investment pros).

FEATURED PRO: Martin Ferguson is a partner and portfolio manager with Mawer Investment Management (www.mawer.com).

He manages the Mawer New Canada (small-cap) Fund and is also on the team that manages the Mawer Canadian Equity Fund.

Martin Ferguson

Fund Form: The Mawer New Canada Fund had a one-year return of 30.1 per cent and a five-year compound annualized return of 23.3 per cent (through February).

Management Expense Ratio: 1.46 per cent.

Ferguson's Perspective: "I see some value in financials, industrials and even some cyclical stocks. The small-cap asset class has considerable volatility as it can be up 40 per cent in a year or down 20 per cent in a year. What I've been guiding my clients to expect this year is single-digit returns - modest but positive returns.

"Lately, there has been some fear creeping into the market with people seeing a company like General Motors (TSX:GM) hacking down estimates and production, and doing layoffs. I think things will be good but psychology in the market can still cause some swings."

First Star

* ZCL Composites (TSX:ZCL)

* Recent Price: $2.99.

* 52-Week Range: $1-$3.82.

* Snapshot: ZCL manufactures and supplies fibreglass tank systems to the petroleum industry in Canada.

* CEO: Ven Côté.

* Head Office: Edmonton.

* Vital Stats: Current Price/Earnings Ratio, 19.9; Revenue (last 12 mos), $36.3 million; 5-Yr Revenue Growth, 7.1 per cent; Earnings (last 12 mos), $2.8 million; Market Cap, $53.31 million; Shares Outstanding, 17.8 million; Dividend Yield, two per cent.

* Ferguson's View: "This company has about 90-per-cent market share in Canada for underground gasoline storage tanks and they're also moving into the market for above-ground storage tanks.

We think there's value here because they have good cashflow and a good competitive advantage."

* Ferguson's Trading Strategy: "Over the past six months, we've established our position and we plan to hold on to it for a while. There is some blue-sky potential with their new products. I think the base product will support the stock and give it a 10- to 15-per-cent return but, above that, you have some blue sky."

* Web Watch: www.zcl.com

Second Star

* Russel Metals (TSX:RUS)

* Recent Price: $16.64.

* 52-Week Range: $8.11-$18.05.

* Snapshot: Russel is a metals distribution and processing company, operating in North America primarily in three segments - metals service centres, energy tubular products and steel distribution.

* CEO: Bud Siegel Jr.

* Head Office: Mississauga, Ont.

* Vital Stats: Current Price/Earnings Ratio, 5.9; Revenue (last 12 mos), $2.2 billion; 5-Yr Revenue Growth, 5.2 per cent; Earnings (last 12 mos), $142 million; 5-Yr Earnings Growth, 16.2 per cent; Market Cap, $829.2 million; Shares Outstanding, 49.8 million; Dividend Yield, 4.8 per cent.

* Ferguson's View: "This company had an absolute blowout year in 2004 when steel prices and demand for steel products went through the roof and they've also increased their dividend. They're now one of the highest-paying dividend stocks (in Canada). They have good competitive advantages relative to their competitors in Canada and they're very astute managers who keep tight financial controls."

* Ferguson's Trading Strategy: "We've done very well on this stock. We've trimmed some of it from our portfolio because it had too large a weighting. We have a maximum six-per-cent exposure to any stock in the portfolio. The stock's been under pressure because a lot of people foresee a peak in commodity prices. We actually see a good steel market for 2005. It would have to be some large extraneous event that would cause us to sell this stock."

* Web Watch: www.russelmetals.com

Third Star

* Transat AT (TSX:TRZ.B)

* Recent Price: $25.

* 52-Week Range: $24.60-$28.24.

* Snapshot: Transat is a holiday travel services company that organizes and distributes vacation packages through tour operators, airlines and hotels.

* CEO: Jean-Marc Eustache.

* Head Office: Montreal.

* Vital Stats: Current Price/Earnings Ratio, 8.7; Revenue (last 12 mos), $2.1 billion; 5-Yr Revenue Growth, 2.1 per cent; Earnings (last 12 mos), $107.1 million; Market Cap, $680.89 million; Shares Outstanding, 35 million.

* Ferguson's View: "The stock ran up to about $28 as some hedge funds tried to coerce the company into doing a share buyback with their excess capital. Transat and the board stood their ground and said, 'We will do what's best for the company.' So they're looking at other options, including acquisitions in the U.S. and in the U.K., and taking market share in Ontario. They have a very good return on their invested assets, they have excess capital and the stock is trading at very reasonable valuations in our mind."

* Trading Strategy: "What we have to watch for are the risks for this company that include an event of terrorism that would cause a lot of people to quit travelling.

* Web Watch: www.transat.com

* Ferguson's Edge Record: +15 per cent. Best Pick: Home Capital Group (TSX:HCG) +46.5 per cent. Worst Pick: Steeplejack (TSX:SID) -4.8 per cent.

Disclosure: Mawer partners are restricted from owning shares in equities held in the company's funds but may own shares in the funds.

* NOTE: This feature is provided for informational purposes. Investors should do their own research or consult a qualified investment professional before making investment decisions.

(Gyle Konotopetz can be reached at gyle@businessedge.ca)