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Philip MacKellar

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philip.mackellar@contratheheard.com

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Philip MacKellar is a writer for the Contra the Heard Investment Letter.

Latest articles

March 3, 2026

Chessboard With Wooden Blocks Showing Mergers And Acquisitions Concept

Chessboard With Wooden Blocks Showing Mergers And Acquisitions Concept

Contra Guys: The rally in Enerflex shares shows why patience is a virtue when it comes to M&A

4 min read

January 27, 2026

The S&P TSX composite index screen at the TMX Market Centre in downtown Toronto is photographed on Nov. 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

The S&P TSX composite index screen at the TMX Market Centre in downtown Toronto is photographed on Nov. 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

Contra Guys: My top income stock pick for 2026

Philip MacKellar

4 min read

December 29, 2025

$The S&P TSX composite index screen at the TMX Market Centre in downtown Toronto is photographed on Friday, November 11, 2022. When an attractive tech stock seems out of budget, fractional trading can help fulfil that dream of owning a piece of the company — a small portion at a time. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin$ $The S&P TSX composite index screen at the TMX Market Centre in downtown Toronto is photographed on Friday, November 11, 2022. When an attractive tech stock seems out of budget, fractional trading can help fulfil that dream of owning a piece of the company — a small portion at a time. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin$

Contra Guys: How our picks made out in 2025

Philip MacKellar

5 min read

December 11, 2025

Contra Guys: December tax-loss selling may be your perfect buying opportunity

Philip MacKellar

4 min read

October 26, 2025

The TransAlta headquarters building is shown in Calgary, on Tuesday, April 29, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal

The TransAlta headquarters building is shown in Calgary, on Tuesday, April 29, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal

Contra Guys: Why we sold our stake in TransAlta

Philip MacKellar

4 min read

September 15, 2025

The S&P TSX composite index screen at the TMX Market Centre in downtown Toronto is photographed on November 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin

The S&P TSX composite index screen at the TMX Market Centre in downtown Toronto is photographed on November 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin

opinion

Trump is right: Semi-annual earnings reports make a lot of sense, and for Canadian stocks too

Philip MacKellar

4 min read

August 25, 2025

Contra Guys: This revolutionary biotech pioneer has joined our watchlist

Philip MacKellar

4 min read

July 22, 2025

Official conversion rates to the euro for the 11 euro-zone nations are displayed in the main hall of the European Commission building in Brussels, Tuesday November 30, 1999. Since the euro's market premiere on Jan. 4, the rookie European currency has been just a hazy idea for many Europeans and tourists, since Euro coins and banknotes won't be introduced until Jan. 1, 2002. (AP Photo/Pierre Thielemans)

Official conversion rates to the euro for the 11 euro-zone nations are displayed in the main hall of the European Commission building in Brussels, Tuesday November 30, 1999. Since the euro's market premiere on Jan. 4, the rookie European currency has been just a hazy idea for many Europeans and tourists, since Euro coins and banknotes won't be introduced until Jan. 1, 2002. (AP Photo/Pierre Thielemans)

Contra Guys: We scored more than double with this brave overseas ETF pick – and believe there are more gains to come

Philip MacKellar

5 min read

June 4, 2025

Century Aluminum stands apart from many of its peers and has applauded the Trump administration’s tariffs because it does not have any assets in Canada.

Century Aluminum stands apart from many of its peers and has applauded the Trump administration’s tariffs because it does not have any assets in Canada.

Contra Guys: U.S. tariffs could make this aluminum producer shine

Philip MacKellar

4 min read

May 27, 2025

Beyond Meat's stock is down roughly 90 per cent from its all-time high of US$240.

Beyond Meat's stock is down roughly 90 per cent from its all-time high of US$240.

Contra Guys: This stock is beyond investable

Philip MacKellar

4 min read

April 11, 2025

FILE PHOTO: Bull and bear statues are pictured outside Frankfurt's stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, December 17, 2015. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski/File Photo

FILE PHOTO: Bull and bear statues are pictured outside Frankfurt's stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, December 17, 2015. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski/File Photo

Contra Guys: Here’s our playbook for navigating the extreme market volatility we’re now seeing

Philip MacKellar

4 min read

March 13, 2025

Canopy Growth Corp. reported a loss of $121.9 million in its latest quarter compared with a loss of $216.8 million in the same quarter a year earlier.Staff work in a marijuana grow room that can be viewed at the new visitors centre at Canopy Growth facility in Smiths Falls, Ont. on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canopy Growth Corp. reported a loss of $121.9 million in its latest quarter compared with a loss of $216.8 million in the same quarter a year earlier.Staff work in a marijuana grow room that can be viewed at the new visitors centre at Canopy Growth facility in Smiths Falls, Ont. on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

opinion

Contra Guys: Pot stocks are getting closer to a buy - but only some

Philip MacKellar

3 min read

March 3, 2025

FILE - Gold bars are stored at the U.S. Depository in Ft. Knox, Kentucky, Sept. 24, 1974. (AP Photo/Barry Thumma, File)

FILE - Gold bars are stored at the U.S. Depository in Ft. Knox, Kentucky, Sept. 24, 1974. (AP Photo/Barry Thumma, File)

Contra Guys: Why I’m slowly taking profits after gold’s record run

Philip MacKellar

4 min read

February 3, 2025

FILE - Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig), File)

FILE - Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig), File)

opinion

Contra Guys: My top stock pick of 2024 more than doubled. Here’s why I’m now taking profits

Philip MacKellar

4 min read

January 21, 2025

$The S&P TSX composite index screen at the TMX Market Centre in downtown Toronto is photographed on Friday, November 11, 2022. When an attractive tech stock seems out of budget, fractional trading can help fulfil that dream of owning a piece of the company — a small portion at a time. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin$ $The S&P TSX composite index screen at the TMX Market Centre in downtown Toronto is photographed on Friday, November 11, 2022. When an attractive tech stock seems out of budget, fractional trading can help fulfil that dream of owning a piece of the company — a small portion at a time. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin$

Contra Guys: My top stock pick for 2025

Philip MacKellar

4 min read

November 22, 2024

FILE PHOTO: A Boeing 737 MAX airplane takes off on a test flight from Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, U.S. June 29, 2020. REUTERS/Karen Ducey/File Photo

FILE PHOTO: A Boeing 737 MAX airplane takes off on a test flight from Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, U.S. June 29, 2020. REUTERS/Karen Ducey/File Photo

opinion

Contra Guys: Are Boeing shares finally ready to ascend?

Philip MacKellar

5 min read

November 12, 2024

FILE PHOTO: Logos of Super Micro Computer are pictured at COMPUTEX Taipei, one of the world's largest computer and technology trade shows, in Taipei, Taiwan May 30, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo

FILE PHOTO: Logos of Super Micro Computer are pictured at COMPUTEX Taipei, one of the world's largest computer and technology trade shows, in Taipei, Taiwan May 30, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo

opinion

This stock play on AI is down 75% since joining the S&P 500 this year. Is it a buy?

Philip MacKellar

5 min read

October 22, 2024

FILE PHOTO: A sign advertising the online seller Etsy Inc. is seen outside the Nasdaq market site in Times Square following Etsy's initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq in New York April 16, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo/File Photo

FILE PHOTO: A sign advertising the online seller Etsy Inc. is seen outside the Nasdaq market site in Times Square following Etsy's initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq in New York April 16, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo/File Photo

Contra Guys: Etsy’s down, but unclear if out

Philip MacKellar

4 min read

October 8, 2024

A view of smelted gold bars at a smelting facility in Accra, Ghana August 22, 2024. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko

A view of smelted gold bars at a smelting facility in Accra, Ghana August 22, 2024. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko

opinion

Contra Guys: Gold’s rally, Sprott Inc., and the art of selling in slices

Philip MacKellar

4 min read

September 2, 2024

The S&P TSX composite index screen at the TMX Market Centre in downtown Toronto is photographed on November 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

The S&P TSX composite index screen at the TMX Market Centre in downtown Toronto is photographed on November 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

opinion

Contra Guys: This materials technology company is in a multi-year turnaround that should pay off big for investors

Philip MacKellar

4 min read