WilliamMLeighty634 blog

Valued at a market cap of US$18.65 billion, Shiba Inu (CRYPTO:SHIB) is the 13th-largest cryptocurrency in the world. It has been a top-performing cryptocurrency in 2021, and the SHIB token has surged by over 53,000,000% in the last year. So, a $100 investment in Shiba Inu in December 2020 would be worth a staggering $53 million right now. Despite these market-thumping gains, Shiba Inu is also down 60% from all-time highs, allowing investors to buy the dip. But is the meme coin a viable bet for long-term investors right now? The bull case for Shiba Inu Shiba Inu is an altcoin developed on the Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH) blockchain in August 2020, by an anonymous group known as Ryoshi. While it will be impossible for Shiba Inu to replicate its historical gains in 2022, there are several positive drivers for the digital token in the near term. If the bull run continues in the cryptocurrency market, Shiba Inu should derive robust gains for investors in 2022, given its popularity and w...

High yield combined with low risk is the winning formula for passive-income investors. Unfortunately, most stocks offer only one of the two. If the dividend is too high, the stock is probably exposed to some risk. If the risk is too low, the fixed-income component is mediocre.  However, there are some exceptions. Some companies offer essential services in industries with relentless demand. If these stocks are overlooked or undervalued, they’re potentially less risky for investors. Here are a few high-yield dividend stocks that are undervalued enough to offer downside protection.  Senior living Extendicare (TSX:EXE) strikes the perfect balance between payout and low risk. The Markham-based company operates 120 senior living and healthcare assistance facilities across the country. It’s a safe and boring business with predictable revenues. The company’s been around since the 1960s, which means the team has plenty of experience managing costs and operation risks in this line of wor...

Back in the summer, I’d looked at some of the top dividend stocks to target in a retirement portfolio. Many Canadians were already in a troubling position when it came to their preparedness for retirement ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are about to enter the third year of the pandemic. RRSP investors should gear up for rate hikes and potential volatility in an overheated market. Today, I want to look at one TSX stock that is set to become a Dividend King by the middle of the 2020s. Why should RRSP investors target a Dividend King? A Dividend King is a stock that has achieved at least 50 consecutive years of dividend growth. As it stands today, there are no equities on the TSX that have met that goal. Meanwhile, some of the top Dividend Kings in the United States include Emerson ElectricCoca-ColaJohnson & Johnson, and ABM Industries. RRSP investors should be eager to seek exposure to companies that have a proven track record of rewarding shareholders for decades. Fortuna...

Hands down, the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) is one of the best retirement accounts in Canada and possibly the world. That’s not an exaggeration. With a contribution space up to 18% of your earned income (or $29,210 for 2022, whichever is less), not to mention immense tax benefits, the RRSP can help you sock away some serious cash. But RRSPs aren’t reserved just for those with traditional retirement plans. If you’re looking to retire earlier than 65, or if you’re following the F.I.R.E. movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early), an RRSP could be the most efficient saving vehicle for you. Yes, even more so than the RRSP’s sister account, the TFSA. Let’s take a look at why you should use an RRSP if you’re thinking about retiring early. More contribution space Perhaps the number reason to choose an RRSP over a TFSA is to get more contribution space. Let’s be real — if you’re looking to retire early, you’ll need all the contribution space you can get. With an ...

I’m a real believer that Shopify (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP) has a chance to double in value in 2022. Of course, there are a couple caveats that could prevent this from happening. However, if everything lines up, I don’t think it’s an outlandish thing to imagine. Shopify is continuing to show its ability to grow, and the secular trends supporting the company remain strong worldwide. In this article, I’ll discuss why I believe Shopify could double in value in 2022. Can Shopify double in value in 2022? The main reason why many investors have a hard time believing Shopify could still double in value next year is that it already has a very large market cap. Valued at about $220 billion, Shopify is the largest company in Canada. It’s also known that small-cap stocks tend to grow at a faster rate due to the law of large numbers. However, it’s not unheard of for companies much larger than Shopify to double within a year either. Look at Apple’s rise to a US$2 trillion company. As long as the...

The stock market continues to remain volatile, as the newer variants of the coronavirus add uncertainty over future earnings potential. While investors’ fear is obvious, I believe it’s time to accumulate high-quality TSX stocks on pullbacks. So, if you plan to invest $3,000, consider buying the following three stocks.  goeasy goeasy (TSX:GSY), in my opinion, is one stock that has the potential to make its investors super-rich, and there are good reasons for that. Its consistent financial performance, ability to expand product offerings, acquisitions, and the omnichannel shift has led this subprime lender to deliver impressive revenues and earnings.  goeasy’s sales and earnings have grown at a CAGR of 13% and 31%, respectively, in the past 20 years. Meanwhile, goeasy expects to deliver solid double-digit top- and bottom-line growth in the coming years. Higher loan originations, strong payment volumes, increased penetration of secured loans, and higher loan ticket size augur well...

Dividend stocks are wise options for passive investors or those needing extra cash flows aside from their active income. However, not all dividend-paying companies are reliable income providers. Some companies will slash dividends or stop the payouts during economic downturns. The 2020 COVID year (2020) is an example, as many companies experienced business reversals due to government-imposed lockdowns. They had to preserve cash or protect the balance sheet to stay afloat. If you have the capital and appetite to invest in 2022, limit your choices to Dividend Aristocrats. TC Energy (TSX:TRP)(NYSE:TRP) and TELUS (TSX:T)(NYSE:TU) are solid investments for long-term growth. The energy stock boasts a dividend-growth streak of 21 years, while the telco stock has raised its dividends for 17 consecutive years. Utility-like business model TC Energy is a stalwart in North America’s oil and gas midstream industry. According to management, the $56.99 billion energy infrastructures company...

Shares of Canadian retail company Gildan Activewear (TSX:GIL)(NYSE:GIL) gained close to 11% last month and are currently trading at $52.28. The stock has risen by almost 50% in the last year and is up over 1,000% in the last decade, creating significant wealth for long-term investors. Let’s see why GIL stock outpaced the broader markets in November and if it can keep crushing index returns in the future as well. Gildan reported Q3 results last month Gildan Activewear reported sales of US$802 million and adjusted earnings of US$0.80 per share in Q3 of 2021. Comparatively, Bay Street forecast Q3 sales at US$715.5 million and adjusted earnings at US$0.55 per share for the company. Gildan president and CEO Glenn J. Chamandy stated that the record performance in Q3 was driven by improved economics of its business and its back-to-basics model, as well as an increase in consumer spending, which drove sales volumes higher. Chamandy also emphasized that Gildan is well positioned to ...

Income investors and those seeking to generate attractive total returns in their TFSA and RRSP portfolios are searching for top dividend stocks to buy for 2022. The overall TSX Index looks overbought right now, but there are still stocks that appear undervalued as we head into the new year. Suncor Suncor (TSX:SU)(NYSE:SU) trades near $32 per share at the time of writing. That’s up more than 100% from the 2020 lows but Suncor stock has a long way to go before it returns to its pre-pandemic price around $44 per share. The slow recovery compared to some of its peers who have regained their pandemic losses might be attributed to investor anger that Suncor slashed its dividend in 2020 when the other major producers held their payouts steady. Suncor also waited until it released the Q3 2021 results to bump up the dividend again. The board announced a 100% increase to the payout, bringing the dividend back to the 2019 levels. This still trails other large producers who raised distribu...

Are you travelling during the holiday season? If you or someone you know will be travelling, their schedule may have been altered. Air Canada (TSX:AC) was already struggling to cope with the ongoing pandemic. Then the airline cancelled hundreds of flights over the holiday week. Another Air Canada disruption could be risky and spell trouble for investors. What is going on? Last week Air Canada cancelled over 170 of its regularly scheduled flights, that amounts to about 4% of its flights. That surge was attributed to bad weather, particularly in the western provinces. While unfortunate, it’s better than the alternative that many thought it would be — a surge in COVID-19 cases. That would lead to a major Air Canada disruption. The more-transmissible Omicron variant is steadily making its way around the world, including in Canada. The expected surge from Omicron isn’t likely to hit until after the holiday travel season has ended. South of the border, however, the effects of Omicron...

While the taxes in Canada are some of the highest in the world, the federal government and the Canada Revenue Agency provide residents with tax credits that can help reduce their financial burden. One such non-refundable tax credit is the basic personal amount (BPA) that can be claimed by all residents. The BPA credit aims to provide a reduction from federal income tax to individuals with taxable income below the BPA. It also provides a partial reduction to those with a taxable income above the BPA. For 2022, the Canada Revenue Agency has increased the BPA to $14,398. So, you will be able to save $2,160 (15% of $14,398) in your annual taxes if your taxable income is less than $155,625. Invest these tax savings in dividend stocks such as Enbridge It’s always good to save on taxes. But you need to invest these savings to create long-term wealth. Equities remain the best bet for long-term investors, and investing in dividend stocks such as Enbridge (TSX:ENB)(NYSE:ENB) can help y...

Several cryptocurrencies have generated exponential returns to investors in 2021. One of the top-performing cryptocurrencies this year is Solana (CRYPTO:SOL), which has gained close to 9,500% year to date. So, a $100 investment in the SOL token at the start of 2021 would be worth almost $10,000 today. Solana has multiple advantages over peer blockchain networks that have driven its rapid growth and widespread adoption. It offers an inexpensive, fast, and easily scalable network to users, which has allowed the Solana blockchain to onboard projects at a rapid pace. At the time of writing, Solana has executed close to 50 billion transactions on its network with an average fee of $0.00025 per transaction. Its stellar rise has meant Solana is now the fifth-largest cryptocurrency in the world, valuing the SOL token at a market cap of US$54.5 billion. While Solana has delivered staggering gains this year, let’s take a look at three other digital tokens that have outpaced SOL in 2021. ...

Tax-Free Savings Account top-up season is right ahead, with another $6,000 that investors can contribute for 2022. Undoubtedly, many investors may be wondering where to put their next contribution. It’s a tough environment, with an extended valuation on the broader stock markets. Bonds and other fixed-income debt securities are also ridiculously unrewarding, with rates as low as they are. Further, continued inflationary pressure could also stand to punish savers seeking to put $6,000 in TFSA funds into a savings account. There’s no question that TFSA investors have hard choices to make going into the new year. There are no clear answers, with the massive uncertainties that could weigh on markets and the guaranteed loss of purchasing power by hoarding excessive amounts of cash. For reluctant TFSA investors, I’d argue that diversification remains key to doing well in what’s shaping up to be a harsh environment in 2022. That means having some cash on the sidelines to take advantage ...

I’m heavily invested in the tech sector. One glance at my portfolio would tell you that much. That’s why I always enjoy discussing my favourite tech companies. In this article, I’ll discuss three top TSX tech stocks that investors should consider buying in 2022. This is a generational stock It’s impossible to write an article about top tech stocks without including Shopify (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP). The company has gone from a small tech startup in Ottawa to being one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. To put everything into perspective, Shopify drew more customers than Amazon for the first time in Q2 2021. Over that period, Shopify saw an average of 1.16 billion monthly unique users. This compares to 1.10 billion monthly unique users on Amazon. Shopify has already generated massive returns since its IPO just a few years ago. However, I believe the company still has a lot of room to grow. In Canada, the e-commerce industry only accounted for about 11% of the broader ...

It hasn’t been a great year for tech investors. Several hyper-growth stocks that soared in 2020 crashed through 2021. Their outlook in 2022 is unclear. However, if your investment time horizon stretches beyond the next year, there are some attractive opportunities available right now.  Here are the top three best tech stocks to buy in Canada right now.  Best payment stock to buy  Lightspeed Commerce (TSX:LSPD)(NYSE:LSPD) is one of the best tech stocks to buy right now. That’s because its valuation is finally attractive enough to recommend to everyone. The stock lost half its value in November alone! It’s down another 60% since hitting an all-time high in September.  The stock now looks cheap, especially when you consider its underlying fundamentals. The company registered a 193% jump in total revenue in its most recent quarter. Although net losses widened over the same period, the team declared $1.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents on its books. This implies that the st...

After a dire December for the TSX Index, Canadian stocks look like they could be primed for a Santa Claus rally over the next few weeks. While volatility will continue to persist in 2022, Canadian stocks should still enjoy decent performance in the coming year. 2021 was an exceptional year, so perhaps return expectations do need to be tempered to a more normal average. Are you new to investing and looking for somewhere to start? Here are four top TSX stocks that should collectively outperform the TSX Index in 2022 and likely beyond. top TSX bank stock If interest rates are set to gradually rise, that could be positive for Canadian banks. So long as the economy remains relatively robust, banks get the bonus of higher interest rate margins. One bank that should provide solid capital and income returns is Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD). This is the second-largest bank in Canada and amongst the largest in North America. I like it for its diversified retail and commercia...

There’s no such thing as a stock that doesn’t carry at least some risk. Seasoned investors will often be quick to remind some of the links between risks and rewards. But does that apply to all investments? When it comes to Cineplex (TSX:CGX), is an investment in the company really worth the risk? Let’s try to answer that question. Risk vs. reward: Time to set expectations There’s an old saying that goes something like this: the greater the risk, the greater the reward. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Some investments are rife with risk and will take nothing short of a miracle for any type of reward. Others can offer some reward with very little risk. Whether or not Cineplex is worth the risk isn’t as clean cut. Where exactly does Cineplex fall? In short, Cineplex has more than its share of problems. Canada’s largest entertainment company has seen its theatre audience shrink during the pandemic. Following a dismal set of results in 2020, the figures for 2021 do sh...

One of the biggest stories and hardest hit stocks from the pandemic as we approach 2022 continues to be Air Canada (TSX:AC). The airline saw one of the biggest declines when the pandemic initially started and has never come close to recovering. Even in the latter half of 2021, as case counts were dropping and vaccinations were rising in North America, the pandemic was not under control in other parts of the world which meant that global travel companies continued to see a major disruption in their operations. And now, with the resurgence of the virus and a new strain rapidly circulating, travel plans and flights are once again being cancelled. So will Air Canada stock finally rebound in 2022? Can Air Canada stock rebound in 2022? To answer the question of whether it can rebound depends on your definition of a rebound. Could we finally start to see the pandemic wind down, allowing Air Canada stock to begin to rally and post a positive year? I think that’s possible. Could Ai...