(Every week, Business Edge columnist Gyle Konotopetz profiles the top three stock picks of one of Canada’s most accomplished investment pros.)

FEATURED PRO: John Ing is president of Maison Placements Canada. The Toronto-based firm specializes in resource stocks. Ing is the gold specialist.

Ing’s Perspective: “I’m very positive on gold. I’m looking at a gold price of $375 (US per ounce) near term and $510 (US per ounce) next year.”

Six months ago, Ing also projected the gold price to reach $375 US per ounce near term and $510 US per ounce long term. In the past six months, gold has traded in a $300-$330 range and was recently at $322. Nine months ago, Ing predicted the gold price would hit $375 U.S. per ounce this year.



FIRST STAR
* Eldorado Gold (ELD-TSX) Recent Price: $1.57.
* 12-Month Range: .25-$1.84.
* Snapshot: Eldorado’s gold focus is two-pronged. It has a producing mine in Brazil and a major exploration project in Turkey (Kisladag), for which the company is estimating resources of 7.9 million ounces of gold.
* CEO: Paul Wright.
* Head Office: Vancouver (1,036 employees).
* Vital Stats: Current Price/Earnings Ratio, 98.7; Revenue (last 12 mos), $51 million; 5-Yr Revenue Growth, -12.7%; Profit (last 12 mos), $4.8 million; Market Cap, $272.21 million; Shares Outstanding, 175.62 million.
* Ing’s Comment: “Besides being a producer, Eldorado has an ore body in their Kisladag project that could produce five million-plus ounces of gold or potentially it could produce even eight million ounces. So I think that’s one company the majors (senior producers) would like (as a takeover target).”
* Ing’s Risk Rating: Low.
* Web watch: www.eldoradogold.com



SECOND STAR
* Canadian Superior Energy (SNG-TSX)
* Recent Price: $1.30.
* 12-Month Range: 0.97-3.41.
* Snapshot: Canadian Superior is an oil and gas exploration and production company which has several projects in Western Canada, including Alberta’s Ladyfern gas field.
* CEO: Greg Noval.
* Head Office: Calgary.
* Vital Stats: Revenue (last 12 mos), $4.6 million; 5-Yr Revenue Growth, 110%; Profit/Loss (last 12 mos), $1.6 million; Market Cap, $77.32 million; Shares Outstanding, 56.43 million.
* Ing’s Comment: “Canadian Superior has
potentially high-impact plays, one of which is in the Ladyfern area. They’re going to drill 20-plus wells there in the next little while. In addition, they have three potentially big plays offshore on the East Coast. All we need is one discovery from all of these and that would be potentially very big for the stock.”
* Ing’s Risk Rating: Medium.
* Web watch: www.cansup.com



THIRD STAR
* Cascades Inc. (CAS-TSX)
* Recent Price: $15.70.
* 12-Month Range: $9.10-$18.25.
* Snapshot: Cascades is a producer and marketer of paper and cardboard products.
* CEO: Laurent Lemaire.
* Head Office: Kingsey Falls, Que. (14,130 employees).
* Vital Stats: Current Price/Earnings Ratio, 8.1; Revenue (last 12 mos), $3.4 billion; 5-Yr Revenue Growth, 9.5%; Profit (last 12 mos), $150 million; 5-Yr Profit Growth, 16.7%; Market Cap, $1.29 billion; Shares Outstanding, 81.79 million; Dividend Yield, 1.01%.
* Ing’s Comment: “They’re the largest recycler of newsprint on the eastern seaboard . . . and they’re
consistently profitable.”
* Ing’s Risk Rating: Low.
* Web watch: www.cascades.com
* Ing’s Edge Record (6 picks since March): +30.6%. Best Pick: Eldorado (ELD-TSX) +237.8%. Worst Pick: Crystallex (KRY-TSX),-19.3%.
* Disclosure: Ing says he does not hold positions in the stocks he covers.