Q: Hello to the 5i crew. Are lumber prices on the upswing? The reason I ask is that I still have a half position in Western forest Products (WEF) and it has gone from dead money to up about 25 per cent in 2026. I did notice that the big boy in North American lumber WFG is up a bit as well. So what's up? The home builders are not really blazing ahead with housing starts and the whole forestry industry seems moribund! So why are lumber stocks getting a bit of a lift? Is there something percolating under the surface that us little retail guys can't see? If my shares in WEF were in a taxable account I would have sold them in December but they are in a RSP. Should I count myself lucky and get out of WEF after this upswing or is there something going on that might make it go higher?
5i Research Answer:
Lumber prices in the US have risen recently, reaching $614.50 per 1,000 board feet as of January...