WilliamMLeighty634 blog

TSX’s energy sector is having a banner year because of rising crude prices. Its year-to-date gain is 87.27%, with only five trading weeks left in 2021. Furthermore, the oil boom could extend in 2022, so there’s no better time than now to ride on it. Freehold Royalty (TSX:FRU) and Suncor Energy (TSX:SU)(NYSE:SU) display incredible performances in addition to their generous dividends. They’re the top investment prospects for both income and growth investors in December 2021. The share prices are affordable even to those with limited capital to invest. Freehold Royalty outperforms not only the energy sector, but also industry giants Enbridge (+33.14%), Pembina Pipeline (+39.51%), and TC Energy (+24.28%). At $11.83 per share, year-to-date 136.70%, while the trailing one-year price return is 154.97%. The $1.78 billion oil and gas royalty company is a generous income provider with its 6.13% dividend. Lower-risk vehicle Remarkable would be an understatement if you were to describe t...

The last severe market correction occurred in February and March 2020. Markets plunged, as the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic became apparent. Since then, North American markets have thrived in the face of historically low interest rates, radical social spending, and continued quantitative easing. Canada has already dramatically scaled back on the latter two developments. The Bank of Canada (BoC) is now telegraphing rate hikes in 2022. Investors worried about a potential market correction should look to snatch up defensive stocks in the final month of the year. Let’s jump in. Grocery retailers can provide cover in another market correction Inflation has soared to near 20-year highs in Canada this year. Food price increases have been one of the key drivers, along with rising gasoline prices. Grocery retailers like Metro (TSX:MRU) are solid defensive stocks to target in this climate. Shares of Metro have climbed 8.6% in 2021 as of close on November 25. The stock has dropped 2.3%...

The year 2021 is proving to be great for Canadian stock investors. The main Canadian market index has already inched up by nearly 23% this year so far to a record level. While these market gains look impressive, they are not even close to the exceptionally good positive returns that some undervalued stocks have yielded this year. In this article, I’ll highlight one such TSX stock that has staged a massive rally in the last year, which I expect to continue in the next year as well. Bombardier stock’s outstanding returns Prior to the ongoing quarter, Bombardier’s (TSX:BBD.B) stock traded on a strong bullish note for four quarters in a row. Despite the ongoing correction in its stock, it was trading at $1.78 per share at the time of writing — with about 334% positive returns in the last year. It implies that if you’d invested $1,000 in Bombardier stock exactly a year ago, it would have turned into $4,340 by now. By comparison, if you’d invested $1,000 in the TSX Composite benchmar...

Investors looking for top-notch growth stocks at reasonable valuations certainly have quite the task today. Indeed, the stock market is running red hot. And much of this performance has been related to multiple expansion rather than actual growth. However, these three top TSX growth stocks are all among the companies with fantastic growth trajectories that support these companies’ respective valuations. Let’s dive into why investors should take a look at these three stocks right now. Top growth stocks: Spin Master Many investors might not consider Spin Master (TSX:TOY) to be a growth stock. That said, I believe that shares of this toymaker have tremendous long-term upside potential. Indeed, the Toronto-based company does not only engage in wholesaling and producing games for children. Rather, Spin Master has turned itself into an IP and licensing machine. Spin Master has accelerated its growth rate by putting more focus on its digital games segment. This division has been the...

The search for truly undervalued stocks is always on. For those looking for top-notch value stocks, perhaps now is one of the most difficult times to find such value. That said, most investors would undoubtedly like to be in a rising market than one with depressed valuations. Nevertheless, this is where we are. Let’s take a look at three of the top value stocks to buy in December. Top value stocks: Alimentation Couche-Tard Alimentation Couche-Tard (TSX:ATD.B) remains a top Canadian value stock that investors can buy and forget about for a few decades. This underrated global convenience store and gas station giant has its operations spread across Canada, the E.U. and the U.S.  This TSX stock has risen roughly 1,000% over the past decade. And from here, Couche-Tard still has room to run. This organization followed a prudent investment strategy and witnessed growth by leaps and bounds over the past decade. The company bought a number of convenience store chains, such as Circle...

Companies that increase their dividends over time create shareholder value. Therefore, knowing which companies are increasing dividends is key. We simply need this information in our search for top stocks to buy. This year has been a very productive one. The TSX is trading at all-time highs. Also, investors have been benefitting from companies who are rapidly returning capital to shareholders — companies like Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ)(NYSE:CNQ) and Sun Life Financial (TSX:SLF)(NYSE:SLF). Without further ado, let’s look into these two stocks that have recently significantly hiked their dividends by 20-25%. Canadian Natural Resources stock: An oil and gas leader that’s also a top dividend stock The first stock that I want to discuss is Canadian oil and gas giant Canadian Natural Resources. CNQ is a $60 billion, top-tier Canadian oil and gas company. It’s also an example of how a well-run and well-managed oil and gas company can create tons of shareholder value. As you ...

The TSX is on a roll in November 2021, ending higher in each of the last six trading sessions. Barring earthshaking news, it could breach 21,600 easily. Because the oil slump is over, and commodity prices are recovering, energy is on track to be this year’s top-performing sector. Technology stocks were the market movers in 2020, but took a hiatus in 2021. Still, the sector is fourth best after the energy, real estate, and financial sectors. Next year should be exciting, because basic materials, where mining stocks belong, could be the top performer. Energy could remain steady but probably won’t be as red hot as it is today. Thus, I predict that either tech and mining stocks will explode in 2022. Sector representation The 2021 TSX30 List featured 14 mining stocks and five tech constituents. The largest publicly listed company in Canada, Shopify, was the number one growth stock in 2020, but it placed second this year. Aura Minerals took the top spot with its 1,125% return in the ...

Market corrections can be scary, especially for those that haven’t experienced any significant dips before. However, having a plan ahead of time can help you navigate those events. Generally, you don’t want to sell during a correction, because it’s better to sell when a stock is trading at a high. Instead, investors should look to add or start new positions as stock prices become more attractive. In this article, I’ll discuss three stocks that I would buy without hesitation if the market dips. The first stock I would buy At the next correction, the first stock I would consider buying is Shopify (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP). I bought the stock heavily during last year’s market crash, and it has done me well since. Although I don’t expect similar growth today as what I experienced after picking up the stock last spring, Shopify should still do really well over the long term. The company has continued to impress in terms of growth and looks well on its way to become Canada’s first $1 trill...

The drop in the national unemployment rate fell to 6.7% in October 2021, buoying investors’ sentiment. While it was a pandemic-era low, economists agree that further gains could be a tall order. Meanwhile, people are advised to remain cautious because factors such as rising inflation and supply chain disruptions threaten the market’s stability. Income investors, especially, don’t want interruptions in their income streams. However, if you have Dividend Aristocrats in your portfolio, you’d feel safer and not worry about the market noise. Canadians owning shares of BCE (TSX:BCE)(NYSE:BMO) and Imperial Oil (TSX:IMO), in particular, are unruffled. Bank stocks don’t have the monopoly of lengthy dividend track records. The two Dividend Aristocrats have paid dividends for more than a century too. Also, they’ve been increasing dividends every year as a reward to loyal shareholders. Clear strategic roadmap BCE has been gaining since three (+2.76%) and six (+11.06%) months ago. As of N...

Finally, after 19 months of border lockdowns, not to mention three months after Canada reopened its border to Americans, the U.S. is finally open to Canadians traveling by land. That means no more twisted air routes or two-hour drives to the nearest airport when the border is only 20 minutes away. Finally, Canadians can pop over the border and return with little hassle. Well, sort of. Though the border has (hallelujah) opened, you may still have to go through some hoops to go there and back. If you want to go to the U.S. in the near future, here’s what you need to know. The requirements To enter the United States, you need to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have appropriate documentation. That seems simple enough. But, much to everyone’s surprise (and anguish), the real friction happens when you return to Canada. In order to go back across the border, you need to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of crossing. With a rapid test, that isn’t a problem. But here i...

Investors looking for a top-notch growth stock to add right now may certainly have their work cut out for them. Indeed, growth stocks have continued higher, despite valuations continuing to expand at record pace. However, some growth stocks have performed better than others. One growth stock that may not be getting the love it deserves is Sleep Country Canada (TSX:ZZZ). This company has certainly been flying this year. However, this Canadian omni-channel mattress and specialty retailer still remains well off its pre-pandemic highs. Here’s why I think this is a growth stock that could have more room to run from here. Major deal with Hush Blankets to boost this growth stock Sleep Country Canada may not be well known in the investing world. However, the company has been making headlines of late. Recently, the mattress retailer announced an agreement to acquire Hush Blankets. Hush Blankets is a popular direct-to-customer provider of pillows, sheets, weighted blankets, bed-in-a-...

This morning before the market opened, Enbridge (TSX:ENB)(NYSE:ENB), the massive Canadian energy giant, reported its third-quarter earnings for 2021. Energy is one of the hottest industries at the moment, as the world recovers from the pandemic. And with several Canadian energy stocks already posting blowout numbers this quarter, investors have been eagerly waiting to get a look at Enbridge’s progress. What happened with Enbridge stock’s third-quarter report? As expected, the headline number is a 23% surge in profit for Enbridge thanks to both higher prices and a recovery in volumes as well. Enbridge stock transported 2.6 million barrels per day (bpd) on its mainline system, which increased 4.6% from the same quarter last year. Enbridge reported adjusted earnings of $1.2 billion, which were up from $961 million in the same quarter last year. On a per-share basis, Enbridge grew its EPS from $0.48 last year to $0.59 this year. In addition to net income, Enbridge also reported s...

Quebec is by far the largest hydropower producer in the country, which has contributed to the province becoming the cheapest electricity producer in all of Canada. And since Canada is already one of the most “affordable” electricity producers in the world, Quebec’s electricity rates really stand out. This was one of the major draws for many crypto miners that either started out in or relocated to Quebec. They could enjoy low energy costs while still staying green — a win-win from two perspectives. And it’s becoming the key attraction for many European countries. Europe is decarbonizing at a faster rate than many other regions in the world, and there is a high demand for the cleanest burning gas, hydrogen, to power Europe’s industries. But if the hydrogen is produced using fossil fuel, then we are back to square one. That’s why clean power producers like Hydro-Quebec, the public company in the province of Quebec, are in great demand. The company is the fourth-largest hydropower pr...

So you want to become a millionaire, eh? Do you want to build substantial wealth, retire early, or have a comfortable nest egg that you can retire on later? Well, I’ve got good news: if you’re in your 20s (or 30s), you have plenty of time to become a millionaire. And with the right tips (like the three below), you could become a millionaire within the next decade. Exciting, right? Well, let’s see what work you need to do to get there. Start now The best time to start investing was yesterday, the second-best time is today. When you’re aiming for a million dollars in the bank, every second, every minute, counts. To delay your investment plan by a year could cost you thousands in lost interest. Delay it by more than a year and you’re starting to lose a hefty sum of money. The only time I would seriously consider delaying your investment plan is if you’re overburdened with high-interest debt. In that case, you may save more money in the long term by paying off your debts before ...

Last week several cryptocurrencies as well as crypto stocks saw significant rallies. The introduction of crypto ETFs south of the border, among other things, has brought a tonne of momentum back to the space. One of those cryptocurrency stocks that saw a significant gain last week is Galaxy Digital Holdings (TSX:GLXY). Galaxy Digital is a high-quality financial services stock that’s rapidly growing its footprint in the cryptocurrency industry. The company has several segments serving many aspects of the growing crypto industry. One of the reasons why the stock is such an excellent investment is because it’s so unique. There are hardly any companies that have a business model similar to Galaxy Digital’s. In fact, it’s one of the only crypto stocks in the financial sector, rather than being classified as a tech stock. But after gaining 40% last week, is the stock still worth buying today, or should investors wait for a pullback? Galaxy Digital stock To understand what Galaxy ...