Canada's top stocks: the insight investors need to navigate today's volatile
markets

Canadian Business magazine unveils its annual ranking of the country's 500 largest publicly traded companies

TORONTO, May 10 /CNW/ - What happens next? With the market being about evenly populated with bulls and bears, there are convincing arguments for both optimism and pessimism. Canadian Business magazine's Investor 500 - its 11th annual ranking of Canada's 500 largest publicly traded companies - not only ranks stocks, but tells Canadian investors how to build a strategy and manage their portfolio in troubled times.

Last year, life couldn't be simpler for investors. After a devastating 2008, share prices went up faster and farther than even the most optimistic market watchers had forecast, and even the worst stock pickers cleared favourable returns.

This year, perhaps more than ever before, investors will need the insight that Canadian Business magazine offers.

Highlights from this issue of Canadian Business, on newsstands now, include:

    
    -   Black Swan Hunting: We asked experts to suggest some potential black
        swans - unpredictable, high-impact events comparable to the invention
        of the Internet, the outbreak of the First World War or the 2001
        terrorist strikes on America - that could shake things up in the
        coming year.

    PLUS:
    -   Stock picks: Six fund managers weigh in
    -   Why alternative investments don't work
    -   Three heretical strategies
    

Readers will also find rankings for best growth, best-value, best turnaround, best defensive and best-managed stocks - and dogs of the TSX. Also ranked: the top 15 performers on Canadian markets by profits, market cap, total revenue, and 5-year return.

    
    Top 3  Large-cap Companies by 1-Year Return

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    Rank      Company                                   1-Year Return (%)
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    1.        Teck Resources Ltd.                       482.1
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    2.        Brookfield Properties Corp.               132.3
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    3.        Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.                        106.4
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    Top 3  Mid-Cap Companies by 1-Year Return

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    Rank      Company                                   1-Year Return (%)
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    1.        Jinshan Gold Mines Inc.                   886.7
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    2.        Western Coal corp.                        733.3
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    3.        Linamar Corp.                             626.8
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    Top 3  Small-Cap companies by 1-Year Return

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    Rank      Company                                   1-Year Return
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    1.        Electrovaya Inc.                          1,514.3
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    2.        BNK Petroleum Inc.                        1,223.1
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    3.        East Asia Minerals Corp.                  1,005.5
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How We Did It:

The Investor 500 package was compiled by the Canadian Business editorial team using Bloomberg. See the issue on newsstands for a detailed explanation of methodology or go to www.canadianbusiness.com.

About Canadian Business magazine:

Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-serving, best-selling and most-trusted business publication in Canada. Canadian Business stands alone as the business magazine in Canada with 100% paid circulation. With a readership of more than one million, the magazine is published every second Monday, except in January, July, and August, when monthly issues are published. Special annual issues of Canadian Business include he Investor 500, the MBA Guide, the Rich 100 and the Best and Worst Boards. Visit www.canadianbusiness.com.

For further information: Louise Leger, [email protected], [phone]