Canada and the U.S. share many commonalities. Cultural influences, social values, and democratic political systems, to name a few. But the gap between the two countries has widened when it comes to the health of the consumer. Thomas Goldthorpe, portfolio manager, and Brendan Cochrane, equity research analyst, are today’s guests, joining host Pamela Ritchie. They’ll unpack the health of the consumer in both countries, including why U.S. is showing signs of recovery while Canada’s trade down continues to grow. Also, what implications does this have for Canadian investors? And where could they look for winning investment opportunities in this environment? We’ll hear how Thomas and Brendan believe that while the current situation is not ideal for Canadian consumers, few companies are completely exposed to them. And that in any sector, there are lots of companies that have different exposures and benefit from different types of economies, which presents an opportunity to create differentiated returns within a portfolio. They say there are lots of opportunities in the Canadian consumer space, and they just have to focus on the long-run potential instead of current positions. Recorded on May 17, 2024.   At Fidelity, our mission is to build a better future for Canadian investors and help them stay ahead. We offer investors and institutions a range of innovative and trusted investment portfolios to help them reach their financial and life goals. Fidelity mutual funds and ETFs are available by working with a financial advisor or through an online brokerage account. Visit fidelity.ca/howtobuy for more information. For the third year in a row, FidelityConnects by Fidelity Investments Canada was ranked the #1 podcast by Canadian financial advisors in the 2023 Environics’ Advisor Digital Experience Study.