What did two summers as a prison guard teach John Ewing about shareholder activism? A lot, it turns out. Before co-founding Ewing Morris Investment Partners, Ewing learned how to stay calm under pressure, exert influence without force, and solve problems without escalating conflict. In this episode of In the Money with Amber Kanwar, he explains how those early lessons shaped his low-drama, high-conviction approach to engaging with management—and unlocking hidden value.
John breaks down his unique philosophy: why he avoids mega-cap tech and prefers small and mid-cap North American stocks that offer misunderstood value. Learn how he applies private equity-style thinking to public markets digging into balance sheets, calling suppliers, and even walking factory floors to spot undervalued opportunities.
From early activist wins like ZCL Composites to recent battles at Parkland (PKI.TO) and InterRent (IIP.UN.TO), John shares the inside scoop on Canadian shareholder engagement, the importance of aligned boards, and why Canada is an ideal market for activism. In the mailbag: John weighs in on undervalued Canadian REITs like Primaris (PMZ.UN.TO), the shake-up at InterRent, and whether he’s bullish on Mattr Corp (MATR.TO), Computer Modelling Group (CMG.TO), or Red Cat Holdings (RCAT). Plus, why he stays away from balance sheet-heavy lenders like GoEasy (GSY.TO) and Propel (PRL.TO).
Then, it’s time for his Pro Picks – three high-conviction small-cap stocks he’s buying now: Latham Group (SWIM): A pandemic darling turned comeback story in fiberglass pools, Driven Brands (DRVN): The quiet winner in auto quick-lube services with scalable unit economics and Minto Apartment REIT (MI.UN.TO): A potential take-private candidate trading at a steep NAV discount.
If you’re looking to invest with conviction, understand activism without the headlines, or simply want to discover under-the-radar stocks with long-term potential – this episode is packed with actionable insights.
