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

FEATURED PRO: Jean-Francois Tardif has been a portfolio manager on the team that manages the Sprott series of funds at Sprott Asset Management (www.sprott.com) in Toronto since 2001. He is the lead manager of one of the firm's newest funds, the Sprott Opportunities Hedge Fund, which was launched a year ago.

Fund Form: The Sprott Opportunities Hedge Fund has a six-month return of 46.2 per cent as compared to the group average of 9.81 per cent.

Management Expense Ratio (MER): Two per cent.

Jean-Francois Tardif

Tardif's Perspective: "We believe the trend of rising oil prices will continue so we remain very bullish on energy stocks (approximately 27 per cent of the Opportunities fund is weighted in energy stocks). One day, maybe the decline in (oil) production will occur which could lead to a big energy crisis. Sooner or later, we will probably run into a worldwide energy crisis.

"We also remain bullish on gold for many reasons, largely because the U.S. dollar is falling. Since gold is priced in U.S. dollars, the price of gold should go up and there is also a shortage of gold supplies."

First Star

* Aldila Inc. (Nasdaq:ALDA)

* Recent Price: $18.14 US.

* 52-Week Range: $5.14-$19.39 US.

* Snapshot: Aldila designs and manufactures graphite golf shafts used in clubs manufactured by major club companies as well as component distributors and custom clubmakers.

* CEO: Peter Mathewson

* Head Office: Poway, Calif.

* Vital Stats (U.S. dollars): Current Price/Earnings Ratio, 10.3; Revenue (last 12 mos), $52.8 million; 5-Yr Revenue Growth, -1.3 per cent; Earnings (last 12 mos), $9.3 million; Market Cap, $93 million; Shares Outstanding, 5.13 million; Dividend Yield, 1.10 per cent.

* Tardif's View: "This company had a $1 (US) of earnings (per share) last year and I think that they have a shot at $2 of earnings (per share) in 2005. Having a shot doesn't mean that it will happen, but I think that there is a good chance of that and this would push the stock to the $30 range."

* Trading Strategy: "Right now, in my opinion, the stock seems so cheap that there is no strategy here besides buying. We have bought some recently and I'm sure we'll continue to buy more in the coming weeks. I believe this stock is going to double."

* Web Watch: www.aldila.com

Second Star

* Syneron Medical Ltd. (Nasdaq:ELOS)

* Recent Price: $31.40 US.

* 52-Week Range: $8.99-$39.30 US.

* Snapshot: Syneron designs and manufactures medical esthetic devices, which are powered by the company's exclusive ELOS combined energy technology. The ELOS technology is designed to provide safe and cost-efficient systems for applications such as hair removal, cellulite treatment and acne treatment.

* CEO: Moshe Mizrahy.

* Head Office: Yokeneam, Israel.

* Vital Stats (U.S. dollars): Current Price/Earnings Ratio, 29.8; Revenue (last 12 mos), $57.9 million; Earnings (last 12 mos), $27.3 million; Market Cap, $619.2 million; Shares Outstanding, 19.72 million.

* Tardif's View: "This is a company that is growing very fast. They have a great balance sheet, great earnings growth and the stock is not that expensive. Depending on their success, they may reach $2.50 in earnings per share."

* Trading Strategy: "It depends on the product success. There is a chance for this stock to double if their cellulite product goes to the market."

* Web Watch: www.syneron.com

Third Star

* Mundoro Mining Co. Inc. (TSX:MUN)

* Recent Price: $2.80.

* 52-Week Range: $1.33-$3.30.

* Snapshot: Mundoro Mining Co. is involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties with its major focus on the Moaling gold exploration project in northeast China.

* CEO: Colin McAleenan.

* Head Office: Vancouver.

* Vital Stats: Revenue (last 12 mos), $0; Earnings/Loss (last 12 mos), $6.48 million Loss; Market Cap, $72 million; Shares Outstanding, 27.7 million.

* Tardif's View: "This company has eight million ounces of (gold) defined now in China. They are still drilling and my hope is that eight million ounces (of gold) could grow to 15 million ounces. The market cap is so low on Mundoro that if the ore body could be expanded to 15 million ounces, then they could be producing a few hundred thousand ounces per year. If that happened, then I think that the stock could go to $10.

"There is risk involved here because it's in China and they still have to conduct a feasibility study, but if things work out there is a lot of potential. Since the market cap is so low, the risk is probably lower than other companies with a higher market cap."

* Trading Strategy: "How long we hold this stock depends on whether or not they have an expansion of the deposit with their drilling as well as the results of the feasibility study. If (the study) comes out unfavourably - which I don't expect but is always possible - then we have to change our mind."

* Web Watch: www.mundoro.com

* Tardif's Edge Record (past 12 mos): +25.7 per cent. Best Pick: Cameco (TSX:CCO), +166.8 per cent. Worst Pick: Queenstake Resources (TSX:QRL), -77.4 per cent.

* Disclosure: Tardif has investments in the Sprott Funds in which the featured stocks are held.

* note: This feature is provided for informational purposes. Investors should do their own research or seek advice from a registered investment professional.