Toronto and Edmonton Host 2025 IKO ROOFPRO Profit Power Events
~ Six More U.S. Workshops to Follow In Spring and Fall ~
TORONTO, May 6, 2025 /CNW/ - IKO Residential (IKO) has officially kicked off its 2025 Profit Power events, an exclusive series of contractor-focused events taking place across Canada and the U.S., designed to help roofing pros grow their business. The first two stops—Toronto on February 25 and Edmonton on February 27—pulled in over 150 roofers ready to level up their business game with practical, results-driven strategies. Profit Power is all about real-world advice from folks who know roofing, plus straight-up conversations with fellow roofers.
IKO Logo (CNW Group/IKO INDUSTRIES INC.)
"This isn't a seminar. It's a toolbox," said Jack Gottesman, Director of Marketing Services and Loyalty Programs at IKO North America. "Every session is built to give contractors something they can actually use. If you leave without at least three ideas you can use tomorrow, we didn't do our job."
The first stop for this year's Profit Power events was Toronto, where the workshop took place at the iconic Hockey Hall of Fame, a venue that perfectly embodied teamwork. Meanwhile, the Edmonton edition was held at The Rec Room, a popular Canadian chain of entertainment restaurants offering a relaxed and interactive atmosphere.
Both events featured real-world advice from people who live-and-breathe the roofing business. Travis Hallman from ROOFPRO partner Ignite explained how contractors can boost their digital presence and get clicks and grab eyeballs. Dmitry Lipinskiy from Roofing Insights shared hard-earned tips for scaling a roofing business. Jessica Stahl from Ignite Results led an engaging, hands-on session in Edmonton on hiring, retention, and getting the most out of a sales team. And in Toronto, Joe Puleo from Financeit showed how financing options can help close more deals.
The workshops concluded with ROOFPRO Happy Hour, giving contractors the chance to unwind and have some fun. In Toronto, attendees enjoyed exclusive access to the Hockey Hall of Fame, where they explored legendary exhibits and got up close to the Stanley Cup. In Edmonton, the fun continued with axe throwing, racing simulators, and arcade games, making networking both enjoyable and memorable.
Beyond the workshops, IKO shared key updates, including plans for new manufacturing plants, a redesigned website with refreshed shingle visuals, and news that all IKO laminate shingles — including Cambridge — now carry a Class 3 or higher impact resistance.
IKO's Profit Power 2025 series is heading to the U.S. next, with six more workshops in the U.S. throughout the spring and fall.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Minister Lightbound visits Chantier Davie as part of the shipyard's 200th anniversary celebration
LÉVIS, QC, June 7, 2025 /CNW/ - Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), the Government of Canada is committed to strengthening its sovereign shipbuilding capabilities in an increasingly complex global environment. Building vessels domestically creates strong supply chains that help safeguard Canadian naval capabilities and ensure that the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and Transport Canada (TC) are equipped to conduct operations at home and alongside allies. Today, the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, visited Chantier Davie Canada Inc. (CDCI) to celebrate the shipyard's 200th anniversary. He also took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of prioritizing Canadian supply chains and highlighted the role of the NSS in supporting domestic industry and innovation. As one of the 3 strategic partner shipyards under the NSS, CDCI plays a critical role in strengthening the country's maritime capabilities. The shipyard was recently awarded a major contract to build a polar icebreaker for the CCG. In addition, design work is currently underway at CDCI for 6 program icebreakers, which are essential for maintaining year-round access to Canada's Arctic and supporting northern communities. Beyond new ship construction, CDCI is a key contributor to the third pillar of the NSS: vessel repair, refit and maintenance. The shipyard is actively engaged in vessel life extension projects, refit and conversion work and sustainment operations across a wide range of fleet assets. These efforts ensure that Canada's maritime fleet remains resilient, mission-ready and capable of operating both domestically and alongside international allies. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the NSS. Since its inception, the strategy has revitalized Canada's marine industry, fostered innovation and created a skilled workforce. NSS contracts awarded between 2012 and the end of 2024 contributed close to $38.7 billion to Canada's gross domestic product and created or maintained approximately 21,400 jobs annually from 2012 to 2025. Looking ahead, the Government of Canada remains committed to advancing shipbuilding projects that equip the RCN, the CCG and TC with modern, capable vessels. The NSS will continue to evolve by incorporating lessons learned and working closely with industry partners to deliver long-term value for Canadians. Quotes "We are committed to building a resilient and sovereign marine industry. Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, we are not only delivering world-class vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy, we are also strengthening our economy, creating good jobs, including in the Québec-Chaudière-Appalaches region, and ensuring that Canadian innovation and expertise remain at the heart of our maritime future." The Honourable Joël LightboundMinister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement "With 200 years of expertise behind them, Chantier Davie's ongoing participation in the National Shipbuilding Strategy is vital to ensuring the Canadian Coast Guard has the vessels it needs to protect our waters and serve Canadians today and in the future. Canada's oceans are central to our economy, our sovereignty and the wellbeing of strong coastal and northern communities and economies." The Honourable Joanne ThompsonMinister of Fisheries "Happy 200th anniversary to Davie shipyard! Two centuries of jobs, innovation and maritime leadership have helped build Canada into the country it is today. And I know that together with Davie, through its role in the National Shipbuilding Strategy, we will build an even stronger economy and better future for people in Lévis and Canada." The Honourable Mélanie JolyMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions "We are honoured to welcome the Honourable Joël Lightbound as we celebrate Davie's 200th anniversary. His presence reaffirms the trust our partners in the Canadian government have placed in Davie and their strong support for Canadian supply chains. Since even before Canada became a nation, Davie people have been strengthening our maritime sovereignty from the banks of the St Lawrence. After two centuries of delivering icebreakers to defend our Arctic interests or maintaining Canada's national fleet, we're ready to write two more. " James DaviesPresident and Chief Executive Officer, Davie Quick facts Shipyards and companies in Quebec are playing an important role in supporting the federal government's shipbuilding needs. Contracts issued under the NSS to Quebec-based companies are worth approximately $7.7 billion, which represents approximately 15% of the total value of NSS-issued contracts. In addition to contracts issued directly by the Government of Canada, Quebec-based companies have received close to $602.6 million in contracts from NSS shipyards to support their respective efforts. These contracts continue to provide meaningful, long-term opportunities for skilled workers across the province of Quebec. CDCI has played a critical role in supporting Canada's fleets, receiving over $7.25 billion in contracts from 2012 to April 2025 for various types of work on ships for the CCG, the RCN and TC. As part of its fleet renewal plan, the CCG is acquiring 2 polar icebreakers through the NSS. To deliver these vessels by the early 2030s, construction work is being done by 2 shipyards: Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards and CDCI. This will ensure that the CCG's operations continue in Arctic waters for longer periods, while allowing its fleet to better support Indigenous Peoples, strengthen Arctic security, advance high Arctic science and better respond to maritime emergencies. On November 13, 2024, Canada signed the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) with the United States and Finland to deepen existing cooperation, strengthen their shipbuilding industries and allow new equipment and capabilities to be produced more quickly. These 3 key Arctic countries will work more closely together to engage allies and partners to help meet future global demand for Arctic and polar vessels. CDCI is also moving forward with an infrastructure modernization project that will help the shipyard better meet NSS requirements and respond to the ICE Pact opportunity. Associated links National Shipbuilding Strategy Repair, refit and maintenance projects Polar icebreaker projects Program icebreakers Industrial and technological benefits Canada signs new partnership agreement with United States and Finland to produce Arctic and polar icebreakers Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada's Defence Follow us on X (Twitter)Follow us on Facebook SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
HOOD vs. IBKR: Which Fintech Broker is Poised for More Growth?
Robinhood Markets HOOD and Interactive Brokers Group IBKR are prominent online brokerage players offering commission-free trading platforms. Robinhood appeals to newer, mobile-first retail investors, while Interactive Brokers serves more advanced traders with its comprehensive the stock markets witnessing massive volatility and client activity, HOOD and IBKR are expected to benefit from increased trading activities. As such, investors are bullish on both. This year, shares of HOOD have soared 65.8%, while Interactive Brokers is up 18.4%. Also, stocks have fared better than the industry, the Zacks Finance sector and the S&P 500 Index in the same time frame. HOOD & IBKR YTD Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research So, the question arises: which brokerage stock — Robinhood or Interactive Brokers — offers greater upside in the evolving trading market? Let's break down their fundamentals, financial performance, growth prospects and more before taking any decision. Robinhood became extremely popular among younger generations in early 2021, riding on the meme stock wave. Nonetheless, since its IPO in July 2021, a lot has happened on the business front. It has evolved from a brokerage firm primarily trading in digital assets to a more mature and diversified entity, striving to become a one-stop shop for building generational wealth. In this context, HOOD has launched several initiatives to attract more clients and strengthen its market share. Some notable ones are Robinhood Strategies, Robinhood Banking and Robinhood Cortex to boost the wealth management offerings; the prediction markets hub; a credit card and a desktop trading platform. Additionally, Robinhood is expanding via strategic acquisitions, which are helping it foray into new businesses and complement existing ones. On Tuesday, it announced an agreement to buy Canada-based WonderFi Technologies Inc. in a C$250 million all-cash deal, which will help deepen its presence in the Canadian digital asset market. In February 2025, it completed the $300 million acquisition of TradePMR, a custodial and portfolio management platform specializing in services for Registered Investment in July 2024, Robinhood acquired Pluto Capital Inc. With the integration of Pluto's advanced capabilities, the company has revolutionized the investment experience for its users. Further, the impending buyout of Bitstamp (announced in June 2024), a globally recognized cryptocurrency exchange (featuring more than 85 tradable assets and popular in Europe and Asia), will significantly enhance the company's crypto these efforts reflect HOOD's ambition to become a full-spectrum financial services provider. HOOD Sales Estimates Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Interactive Brokers' technological superiority remains one of its strongest aspects. The company processes trades in stocks, futures, options and forex on more than 150 exchanges across several countries and technology usage has kept IBKR's compensation expense relative to net revenues (10.8% in the first quarter of 2025) below its industry peers. Further, the company has been emphasizing developing proprietary software to automate broker-dealer functions, leading to a steady rise in Brokers is expanding globally with a series of strategic moves. Earlier this month, it extended trading hours for Forecast Contracts to nearly 24 hours, after having launched them in Canada. In the U.K., it added mutual funds to its ISA offerings, enhancing tax-efficient investing. IBKR also introduced PEA accounts in France and expanded mobile trading via GlobalTrader. Other innovations include almost 24 hours of Overnight Trading on U.S. stocks and ETFs, crypto trading through Paxos with low fees and the launch of IBKR Desktop, a next-gen trading platform for Windows and Mac, underscoring its focus on advanced, global trading company's technological superiority, combined with easier regulations to improve product velocity, will support its net revenues through higher client acquisitions. Net revenues are also expected to strengthen further in the quarters ahead, given the solid Daily Average Revenue Trades (DARTs) numbers and robust trading backdrop driven by higher market participation. IBKR Sales Estimates Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HOOD's 2025 and 2026 earnings indicates an 11.9% and 19.4% rise for 2025 and 2026, respectively. Over the past month, earnings estimates for 2025 have remained unchanged, while for 2026, the same have been revised upward. Earnings Trend Image Source: Zacks Investment Research On the contrary, analysts are less optimistic about IBKR's prospects. The consensus mark for earnings suggests 0.4% and 7% growth for 2025 and 2026, respectively. Earnings estimates for both years have been revised lower over the past 30 days. Earnings Trend Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Hence, on earnings growth prospects, HOOD clearly has an edge over Interactive Brokers. Valuation-wise, HOOD is currently trading at the 12-month forward price-to-earnings (P/E) of 47.17X. The IBKR stock, on the other hand, is currently trading at the 12-month trailing P/TB of 28.86X. Further, both are trading at a premium to the industry average of 13.82X. P/E F12M Image Source: Zacks Investment Research While Robinhood commands a premium over Interactive Brokers, its valuation is justified, given its superior growth trajectory. Additionally, HOOD's return on equity (ROE) of 15.42% is way above IBKR's 4.97%. HOOD also outscores the industry ROE of 11.97%. This reflects Robinhood's efficient use of shareholder funds to generate profits. ROE Image Source: Zacks Investment Research HOOD has undergone a significant transformation since its IPO, evolving from a disruptive trading app into a comprehensive financial services platform. Through strategic acquisitions, it is aggressively expanding its product suite and global reach. It's also investing in advanced tools like Robinhood Cortex and Robinhood Strategies, targeting a broader investor base. These innovations, paired with a robust ROE and accelerating earnings and sales growth estimates through 2026, suggest strong long-term upside the other hand, Interactive Brokers remains a dominant, tech-driven brokerage favored by professional and institutional investors. Its global reach, low-cost model and powerful trading tools continue to support consistent revenue growth. However, while the company's innovation in areas like Forecast Contracts, GlobalTrader and IBKR Desktop is impressive, its earnings outlook is more muted, with only modest growth expected in the next two years. Combined with a lower ROE and downward revisions to earnings estimates, this suggests that while IBKR is a stable, well-run business, it may not match HOOD's upside potential in a growth-focused Robinhood appears to be the better long-term investment for solid returns. At present, Robinhood and Interactive Brokers carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Canada announces new aid to Ukraine worth approximately US$25.5 million
Canada is providing Ukraine with military aid worth over 35 million Canadian dollars (approximately US$25.5 million). Source: Canada's Defence Ministry press service, as reported by European Pravda Details: Canadian Defence Minister David J. McGuinty took part in the 28th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein Format). At the meeting, McGuinty announced that Canada is providing Ukraine with military aid worth 35 million Canadian dollars. He said that 30 million Canadian dollars (US$21.9 million) will be spent on Coyote and Bison armoured personnel carriers, as well as new equipment and ammunition from Canadian companies. This is in addition to the previous transfer of 64 Coyote armoured vehicles, which arrived in Ukraine in December 2024. Another 5 million Canadian dollars (US$3.6 million) will go towards electronic warfare kits from the Canadian defence industry. Background: At the 28th Ramstein meeting, held at NATO headquarters, Ukraine and its partner countries agreed to create a defence production mechanism. The US secretary of defence ignored the Ramstein meeting for the first time. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!