Seniors, Shovels, and Sparks: The Stocks Steering Andrew Pink’s Ship
How Andrew Pink is Navigating 2025's Market Volatility With Three Canadian Powerhouses
Editorial Team (ET)April 30, 2025
The first quarter of 2025 was anything but predictable. As the global economy found itself caught in the tightening coils of tariff wars and retaliatory trade barriers, markets were sent into a tailspin of volatility. Investors, already grappling with a fragile macroeconomic backdrop, were now contending with shifting exemptions, falling forward estimates, and a fog of uncertainty that obscured once-stable strategies. For Andrew Pink, portfolio manager at LDIC, the answer was not to chase risk—but to retreat into strength.
Pink’s strategy is rooted in the fundamentals of Canadian large caps, preferred shares, and fixed income, and his current stance reflects a deliberate shift towards resilience. As equity markets wobble under the weight of macro uncertainty, LDIC has moved quickly to trim equity exposure in low- to medium-risk mandates. Sectors vulnerable to trade disruption have been quietly exited. Valuation-heavy growth plays have been sidelined. In their place, Pink has leaned into large, stable companies that generate strong cash flows, remain defensively positioned, and are less exposed to global supply chain snarls.
With this approach, three names have risen to the top of his conviction list: AtkinsRéalis, Sienna Senior Living, and Capital Power. Each represents a different corner of the Canadian economy, but all three share one thing in common—they offer security, income, and long-term growth potential in a market that’s screaming for stability.
AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis, formerly known as SNC-Lavalin, is a name synonymous with Canadian engineering on the global stage. The company has undergone a major transformation, shedding underperforming segments and embracing an asset-light strategy that emphasizes value creation over brute-scale growth. With $17 billion in backlog and a $12 billion market cap, this Montreal-based firm is firing on all cylinders. Its focus spans transportation, water, defence, and power—essential infrastructure sectors that are often backed by long-term contracts and public investment. But the real gem in AtkinsRéalis’ portfolio lies in its specialty nuclear division, which accounts for nearly a fifth of the company’s backlog. As the world increasingly pivots toward cleaner energy alternatives, the strategic value of nuclear expertise is rising rapidly. Pink sees this segment as a high-margin growth engine, poised to benefit from global demand for low-emission power sources. With a fortified balance sheet—thanks in part to the recent divestiture of its Highway 407 stake—AtkinsRéalis now has the ammunition to pursue accretive acquisitions, raise its dividend, and buy back shares, all while maintaining its reputation as a global leader in infrastructure development.
Sienna Senior Living
On the other end of the spectrum lies Sienna Senior Living, a steady, predictable income play deeply tied to Canada’s demographic future. With 94 properties across four provinces, Sienna serves the rapidly growing senior population with a mix of long-term care homes, retirement residences, and managed properties. Under its Aspira brand, Sienna offers everything from independent living to specialized memory care—a diversified suite that appeals to families seeking quality and flexibility. The company is well positioned to ride the wave of aging boomers, especially with the 85+ population projected to triple over the next 25 years. Sienna’s recent quarterly report was encouraging: net operating income jumped roughly 15 percent, driven by improved pricing, stronger occupancy, and ancillary revenue gains. The company continues to invest in expanding its capacity, and with a secure balance sheet and a juicy 6 percent dividend yield, it remains one of the most compelling names in the senior living space. Pink’s bet on Sienna is simple: Canada’s population is aging fast, and Sienna is ready to meet the demand head-on.
Capital Power
Then there’s Capital Power, the Alberta-based utility that has emerged as a key player in North America’s energy transition. Once a regional operator, the company now boasts over 10,000 megawatts of power generation capacity, spread across Canada and the United States. Its portfolio is broad—spanning natural gas, solar, wind, battery storage, and more—but the jewel in its crown is the Genesee Generating Station. Once coal-fired, Genesee has been fully repowered with natural gas, transforming it into one of Canada’s largest low-emission power plants and a cornerstone of Alberta’s electricity supply. Capital Power has not only decarbonized one of its largest assets but has also positioned itself as a credible partner for AI data centers and hyperscale operators seeking reliable, clean power. With AI’s energy demands projected to skyrocket, Capital Power’s infrastructure could become mission-critical to the digital economy. For investors, the value proposition is just as compelling: a sustainable dividend yield of 5.2 percent, low-carbon exposure, and an increasingly strategic footprint in the new energy economy.
In totality, Pink’s top picks tell a coherent story. This isn’t about high-octane speculation or chasing the next growth darling. This is about making intelligent, risk-aware allocations in a world where confidence is in short supply. AtkinsRéalis brings global infrastructure leverage with a nuclear kicker. Sienna Senior Living captures a demographic trend that is as predictable as it is profound. And Capital Power straddles the line between legacy energy stability and future-focused clean power innovation.
What binds them all is not just the income they offer or the sectors they represent—it’s the durability they bring to a portfolio that must now weather the forces of geopolitical fragmentation, economic deceleration, and investor angst. In Pink’s words, equities may have lost their shine temporarily, but the right ones still offer light in the fog. It’s not about playing offense in this market. It’s about picking your spots, staying grounded, and knowing when to pivot. And for now, that means leaning into quality over hype, cash flow over concept, and clarity over chaos.
Conclusion
Andrew Pink’s top picks for April 30, 2025, are more than just three stock suggestions—they’re a strategy in action. Faced with an increasingly unstable macro landscape, his choices reflect a clear, disciplined approach to portfolio construction that favors resilience over risk. AtkinsRéalis, Sienna Senior Living, and Capital Power each deliver something essential: global infrastructure momentum, demographic tailwinds, and clean energy leadership. As the dust settles on a volatile Q1 and the global economic engine sputters through policy turbulence, these names could offer the stability, income, and upside that investors are craving in uncertain times.
