(Business Edge writer David Hatton regularly profiles the top stock picks of some of Canada's most accomplished investment pros.)

FEATURED PRO: Keith Leslie is vice-president, partner and portfolio manager with Hesperian Capital Management (www.hesperian capital.com). The six-year veteran of the firm manages the Norrep Q Fund and is a co-manager of the Norrep Income Growth Fund.

Calgary-based Hesperian manages the Norrep series of funds.

Fund Form: As of Feb. 29, Morningstar lists the Norrep Q fund as having a year-to-date return of -4.8 per cent and a three-year annualized return of 12.4 per cent.

Keith Leslie

Management Expense Ratio: 2.57 per cent.

Investment Strategy: "I'm a quantitative researcher more concerned with companies that are showing low P/E multiples, high returns on equity (and) what kind of management they have ... I look at the numbers a company is showing now and their track record versus what kind of future potential they may or may not have. If you want picks that are in the index, then you can just copy that. I look at the ones who haven't been really discovered yet."

FIRST STAR

* Sherritt International (TSX:S)

* Recent Price: $14.91

* 52-Week High/Low: $18.04-$11.68 (10/29-1/23)

* Snapshot: Sherritt International Corp. is a diversified natural resource company that operates in Canada, Cuba and internationally. Sherritt, directly and through its subsidiaries, has interests in thermal coal production, a nickel/cobalt metals business, oil and gas exploration, development and production; and electricity generation.

* President and CEO: Jowdat Waheed

* Head Office: Toronto

* Vital Stats: Price/Earnings Ratio (trailing 12 months), 8; Revenue (last fiscal year), $1.389 billion; Earnings Per Share, $1.86; Market Cap, $3.4 billion.

* Leslie's View: "Sherritt has 7.4 times trailing earnings and a return on equity of about 18 per cent, for example. This is a company I like.

They have nickel (producing) operations in Cuba and a refinery in Edmonton. The really big thing here is that they've made a few acquisitions in the past nine months that have set them up nicely. That's not saying they haven't looked nice in the past before that, but this is extra good. Nickel is a good commodity right now. There is some political risk in Cuba, but there are whispers the U.S. might make up with Cuba. If that happens, the stock will go up even more."

* Risk Rating: High

* Web Watch: www.sherritt.com

SECOND STAR

* Agrium Energy (TSX:AGU)

* Recent Price: $69.11

* 52-Week High/Low: $75.25-$37.21 (02/26-08/16)

* Snapshot: Agrium Inc. is a retail supplier of agricultural products and services in North and South America, a global wholesale producer and marketer of all three major agricultural nutrients and a supplier of specialty fertilizers in North America.

* CEO: Michael Wilson

* Head Office: Calgary

* Vital Stats: Price/Earnings Ratio (ttm), 21.40; Revenue (last fiscal year), $4.209 billion; Earnings Per Share (ttm), US$3.23; Market Cap, $10.5 billion.

* Leslie's View: "Agrium trades at about 19 times earnings with a fairly high return on equity. It's what I would call a value investor's play on potash. A year ago, they were trading at about 22 cents; this year they announced their fourth-quarter results back on Feb. 13 were $1.16 a share. Some analysts are predicting it could go as high as $5 in the next two or three years. It's got some great numbers and consistently beating analysts' expectations. That's what I like to see."

* Risk Rating: High

* Web Watch: www.agrium.com

THIRD STAR

* Addax Petroleum (TSX:AXC)

* Recent Price: $42.81

* 52-Week High/Low: $45.58-$29.22 (02/27-08/20)

* Snapshot: Addax Petroleum Corp. is an oil and gas exploration and production company focused on Africa and the Middle East.

* Vital Stats: Price/Earnings Ratio, 13.70 (ttm); Total Revenue, $3.416 billion; Earnings Per Share, US$3.07; Market Cap, $6.5 billion.

* CEO: Jean Claude Gandur

* Head Office: Geneva

* Leslie's View: "One of the things that are common to all of my picks are they're continually beating analysts' quarterly expectations. Addax is at 12.7 times earnings and a 34-per-cent return on equity. There is political risk in some of the countries they are operating in, but that gets somewhat mitigated by the size of the company. A government will think twice before interfering with your operations if you employ a lot of people in that country."

* Risk Rating: High

* Web Watch: www.addaxpetroleum.com

* Leslie's Edge Record (last 12 mo.): 11.4 per cent. Best Pick: Inmet Mining Corp. (TSX:IMN) 14.2 per cent. Worst Pick: Axia NetMedia Corp. (TSX:AXX) -22 per cent.

NOTE: Leslie has shares in the Norrep Q Class-A fund in which some or all of these stocks are held.

(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.)