By David Hatton Business Edge

FEATURED PRO: Martin Ferguson is a director and portfolio manager with Calgary-based Mawer Investment Management Ltd.

He is lead manager of the Mawer New Canada Fund as well as the Guardian Group of Funds Enterprise Fund.

Fund form: The Mawer New Canada fund has a three-year annualized return of 10.1 per cent and a five-year return of 19.3 per cent (as of March 31), according to Morningstar Canada data.

Martin Ferguson

Management Expense Ratio: 1.5 per cent Ferguson's strategy: "Our approach hasn't changed in the past 10 years and doesn't vary according to market conditions. We focus on wealth-producing companies well below their intrinsic value as measured on a discounted cashflow basis."

First Star

* Equitable Group (TSX:ETC)

* Recent Price: $20.90

* 52-Week Range: $34.75-$20.05 (05/31-04/16)

* Snapshot: Equitable Group Inc. provides first-mortgage financing, through its wholly owned subsidiary, The Equitable Trust Co. It also offers guaranteed investment certificates to depositors as a nationally licensed deposit-taking institution.

* President and CEO: Andrew Moor

* Head Office: Toronto

* Vital Stats: Price/Earnings Ratio (trailing 12 months), 8.10; Revenue (last fiscal year), $143.2 million; Earnings Per Share (ttm), $2.59; Market Cap, $270 million.

* Ferguson's View: "Equitable is the No. 2 alternative mortgage lender in Canada right now. They look at the non-prime market, (and) of course there's a huge difference between non-prime and sub-prime. Sub-prime loans are what got the U.S. in a lot of trouble recently, especially with their NINJA (no income, no job, no asset) loans. This is entirely different. They were originally focused only on the Greater Toronto Area, but are now expanding into Manitoba and Calgary. A conservative lender with minimal credit losses over the last 10 years."

* Risk Rating: Medium

* Web Watch: www.equitablegroupinc.com

Second Star

* Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities Inc. (TSX: PRK)

* Recent Price: $4.98

* 52-Week Range: $6.94-$4.26 (06/01-03/28)

* Snapshot: Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities Inc. is an owner, operator and developer of land-lease communities in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.

* Co-CEO: David Rozycki

* Head Office: Calgary

* Vital Stats: Price/Earnings Ratio (ttm), 27.70; Revenue (last fiscal year), $70.2 million; Earnings Per Share (ttm), $0.18; Market Cap, $307 million.

* Ferguson's View: "Parkbridge Lifestyle (Communities) deals in land-lease communities, which are very attractive-looking trailer parks. Their manufactured homes are the best in Canada and they are the largest in Canada. This company is positioned well, they have a lot of free cashflow and are currently trading at about 1.9 times price to book value.

* Risk Rating: Medium

* Web Watch: www.parkbridge.ca

Third Star

* Altus Group Income Fund (TSX:AIF.UN)

* Recent Price: $16.90

* 52-Week Range: $19.00-$12.03 (11/29-04/17)

* Snapshot: Altus Group Income Fund is a provider of real estate consulting, advisory and technical services. The fund conducts business through four real estate-related practice areas: Realty tax consulting; research, valuation and advisory; cost consulting and development cost management; and land surveying and geomatic services.

* Vital Stats: Price/Earnings Ratio, 28.20 (ttm); Total Revenue, $148.12 million; Earnings Per Share, $0.60; Market Cap, $223 million.

* CEO: Gary Yeoman

* Head Office: Newmarket, Ont.

* Ferguson's View: "Altus Group is the largest real estate appraisal group in Canada. They also do realty tax consulting and project costing, so they will look at how a project is doing before the developer pays the contractors to make sure they have delivered what they billed for. They also do geomatic surveying. The company is trading at 1.9 times book with an 8.7-per-cent return on equity and a 7.1-per-cent distribution, but a low payout level. They should benefit quite a bit from the new IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) rules. They have also built an extensive database I can see them making quite a bit from selling."

* Risk Rating: Medium

* Web Watch: www.altusgroupincomefund.com

Ferguson's Edge Record (last 12 mos): +11.3 per cent.

Best Pick: Transat A.T. (TSX:TRZ.A) +93.6 per cent. Worst Pick: Neo Materials (TSX:NEM) -10.5 per cent.

NOTE: This feature is provided for informational purposes. Investors are advised to do their own research or consult a qualified investment professional before making investment decisions. Ferguson may own shares in some or all of the above companies listed.

(David Hatton can be reached at hatton@businessedge.ca)