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

FEATURED PRO: Kirby Thibeault is president of Calgary-based Kapital Investments Corp. (www.kapital-investments.com).

Thibeault's financial market commentary, available to subscribers online, strives to give investors a three- to six-month lead on anticipated market behaviour.

Thibeault's Perspective: "For 2005, I continue to like certain segments of the technology sector such as data storage, wireless, voice over the Internet protocol (VoIP) and WiMAX. Investment spending in the technology sector is expected to increase by four to six per cent in 2005 as the global economy is shifting to moderate expansion from economic recovery. Moreover, and according to fundamental macroeconomic data, the technology sector is reporting a 12-month real growth rate (growth after inflation) of about 25 per cent. My growth expectations are at least as high for 2005, based on an increasing rate of investment spending and a strengthening venture capital and equity financing market. In my view, the Internet sector also represents additional upside.

Kirby Thibeault

"I am also bullish on the health-care sector, as it is my opinion that this sector has been sold down to an unsustainable low.

"Finally, given that all three of these companies are listed in the U.S., I also expect investors to benefit from an appreciation in the U.S. dollar throughout 2005."

First Star

* EMC Corp. (NYSE:EMC)

* Recent Price: $13.10 US.

* 52-Week Range: $9.24-$15.09.

* Snapshot: EMC provides service for hardware and software products that work to supply the storage, management, protection and sharing of organizations' information.

* CEO: Joseph Tucci.

* Head Office: Hopkington, Mass.

* Vital Stats (U.S. dollars): Current Price/Earnings Ratio, 35.81; Revenue (last 12 mos), $8.20 billion; Earnings (last 12 mos), $871.20 million; 5-Yr Revenue Growth, -0.9 per cent; Market Cap, $33.51 billion; Shares Outstanding, 2.4 billion.

* Thibeault's View: "I expect the company's stock price to jump this year as demand for data storage is expected to grow by more than 70 per cent. Moreover, consensus analysis expectations are anticipating earnings growth of about 40 per cent for 2005 while the company is expecting earnings growth ranging from 30 to 40 per cent. With 3.64 billion US cash on hand and a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, the company's balance sheet is not vulnerable at present."

* Thibeault's Risk Rating: Medium.

* Web Watch: www.emc.com

Second Star

* eBAY (Nasdaq:EBAY)

* Recent Price: $81.50 US.

* 52-Week Range: $64.60-$118.42.

* Snapshot: As one of the world's largest online trading communities, eBay supplies a full scale of goods and services where individuals and small businesses complete transactions. The company's marketplace targets bidders and askers from across the global marketplace.

* CEO: Meg Whitman.

* Head Office: San Jose, Calif.

* Vital Stats (U.S. dollars): Current Price/Earnings Ratio, 72.54; Revenue (last 12 mos), $3 billion; 5-Yr Revenue Growth, 68.5 per cent; 5-Yr Earnings Growth, 112 per cent; Earnings (last 12 mos), $715.30 million; Market Cap, $54.03 billion; Shares Outstanding, 666.9 million.

* Thibeault's View: "I expect the Internet sector to continue to demonstrate strong fundamental growth. On average, the company is expected to report both top- and bottom-line growth of about 30 per cent for 2005. The company's stock sold off recently as a result of lower than expected analyst revenue guidance for 2005. However, once the stock split takes effect in February, I expect the institutions to come back into the stock in anticipation of continued sector and company growth for 2005."

* Thibeault's Risk Rating: High.

* Web Watch: www.ebay.ca

Third Star

* Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY)

* Recent Price: $54.24 US.

* 52-Week Range: $50.34-$76.95.

* Snapshot: Eli Lilly and Co. discovers and manufactures a diverse range of pharmaceutical products and markets them in 138 countries.

* CEO: Sidney Taurel.

* Head Office: Indianapolis.

* Vital Stats (U.S. dollars): Current Price/ Earnings Ratio, 33.48; Revenue (last 12 mos), $13.90 billion; 5-Yr Revenue Growth, six per cent; Earnings (last 12 mos), $1.80 billion; 5-Yr Earnings Growth, -6.9 per cent; Market Cap, $61.38 billion; Shares Outstanding, 1.13 billion; Dividend Yield, 2.7 per cent.

* Thibeault's View: "The stock was sold off with the negative market sentiment created in 2004 among drug stocks, based on certain drugs getting pulled off the market, resulting in the entire sector getting temporarily revalued to an unsustainable low.

"Based on the aging global population, I believe that this stock represents not a quick trade but a multi-year investment as the company's revenue and earnings continue to grow over time. Finally, with a return on equity of 25 per cent at present along with an expected five-year earnings growth rate of 12 per cent, it is my view that this stock price will recover quickly once sentiment shifts in this sector."

* Thibeault's Risk Rating: Low to Medium.

* Web Watch: www.lilly.com

Thibeault's Edge Record: +20 per cent. Best Pick: Yahoo! (Nasdaq-YHOO) +105.8 per cent.Worst Pick: Chinadotcom (Nasdaq-CHINA) -26.2 per cent.

Disclosure: Thibeault says he does not own any of the featured stocks.