WilliamMLeighty634 blog

Warren Buffett is one of the richest people on earth. His estimated net worth is about US$103 billion, which fluctuates with the price changes of the publicly-listed stocks he owns — primarily Berkshire Hathaway and its top holdings, including AppleBank of AmericaAmerican ExpressCoca-ColaKraft HeinzMoody’sVerizon, and more. Multi-billionaire Mr. Buffett’s tips on how to build wealth are well worth refreshing our minds about periodically. Here are some tips I’d like to highlight. Invest in yourself When a student asked what area of investing he should be studying, Buffett replied, “For most people, the bulk of their income is going to come from earning power in their chosen profession. Therefore, from the standpoint of building wealth, free time is better spent sharpening one’s professional skills rather than studying investing.” You’ll spend a big chunk of your life working. So, you’d better choose something you enjoy doing. Simply put, choose a career path you’re passionate

Canadian seniors want to make sure the returns they get on their savings are above the rate of inflation. GICs don’t achieve that goal these days, so dividend stocks are becoming popular picks. Enbridge Enbridge (TSX:ENB)(NYSE:ENB) went through an important reorganization leading up to the pandemic. The company monetized roughly $8 billion in assets, streamlined the corporate structure by bringing subsidiaries under one roof, and refocused investments on regulated businesses. As a result, Enbridge had a stronger balance sheet when the pandemic arrived, and that helped the company navigate 2020 in good shape. In fact, Enbridge raised the dividend late last year, despite the challenging environment. The oil pipeline segment is seeing a rebound in throughput amid rising fuel demand. At the same time, Enbridge’s natural gas transmission, storage, and distribution businesses, which held up well in 2020, should deliver solid cash flow in the coming years. The renewable energy group

Polkadot (CRYPTO:DOT) is a relatively new cryptocurrency that is gaining popularity at a rapid pace. While this token remains a long way off from a top-five spot in the crypto rankings by market capitalization, there are plenty of bulls who believe such a move is possible. It’s possible, maybe. But given how well established certain crypto players are, perhaps such a move is implausible. Let’s dive into what investors are watching with Polkadot as we head into April. Parachains: A term to understand when assessing Polkadot Polkadot is an open-sourced sharing protocol that allows other blockchains to be built on top of it. Essentially, many investors refer to Polkadot as a “layer-0” network, as it allows other layer-1 networks to exist. These layer-1 networks are built upon parallel chains called parachains. These are native blockchains using the consensus mechanism of Polkadot’s network. Additionally, these parachains benefit from pooled security, allowing for bridges to co

Shopify (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP) will come out with its earnings report this Thursday, and Shopify stock has already started climbing in anticipation. So let’s take a look at what Motley Fool investors could expect from Shopify stock during its announcement on October 28. What analysts estimate First, let’s take a look at analyst estimates. And in the case of Shopify stock, it’s very important to take these with a grain of salt. If you’ve been watching the company for some time, it’s clear the company is very good at outpacing not just the market, but estimates as well. Still, for the next quarter analysts believe Shopify stock will continue to defy expectations. Analysts see Shopify as reaching earnings per share at $2.75. This would be an increase of 45% from the last quarter, but just a 3% increase year over year. Revenue, however, has been climbing at an impressive rate. During the last quarter, the company reported over $1 billion in revenue for the first time. The average

Shopify (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP) stock is down significantly from its all-time high. At $1,746, it’s down nearly 15% from its peak price of $2,068. Many factors accumulated to bring this about. On the one hand, we had a number of scare stories about Facebook in the news, leading to weakening sentiment toward tech stocks as a whole. Then later, we had Snap deliver unimpressive earnings, which seemed to confirm the issues the Facebook selloff got investors worried about — IoS tracking, political controversy, etc. These news items led tech stocks to collectively sell off. The thing is, though, that e-commerce stocks like Shopify are mostly immune to them on a fundamental level. Almost all of the issues investors worried about last week mostly affected advertisers. IoS tracking rules and fears about Facebook’s content policy shouldn’t affect an e-commerce firm like Shopify too much. The IoS thing might affect Shopify’s vendors that advertise on Facebook, but the effect would be smaller th

Growth stocks have the potential to increase your wealth at an exponential rate over time. As these stocks have a high beta, they tend to outpace the broader markets in a bull run. Alternatively, when markets turn bearish, investors should also be ready for a significant pullback in their portfolio value. Here, we look at three quality growth stocks in Shopify (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP), WELL Health Technologies (TSX:WELL), and The Trade Desk (NASDAQ:TTD) that have already returned over 1,000% to investors in the last five years. Shopify Canada’s largest company in terms of market cap, Shopify stock has been up 2,900% in the last five years. In 2020, the e-commerce giant increased sales by 86% year over year. Its stellar top-line growth continued this year, evidenced by sales that were up 57% in Q2. The ongoing pandemic served as a tailwind for companies part of the e-commerce space, allowing Shopify to onboard merchants on its platform at an accelerated clip. It now has 1.7 milli

Mining stocks made up nearly half of the TSX30 winners in 2021. Aura Minerals beat Shopify for the top spot and led 13 other mining industry companies in the list of TSX’s top growth stocks. Capstone Mining ranked fifth, while Wesdome Gold Mines (10th) was the lone miner that made the list in all three years of the TMX Group’s flagship program.   Fast-forward to March 2022, and basic materials (+21%) is the second-best performing sector year-to-date after energy (+40.30%). However, Victoria Gold Corporation (TSX:VGCX) should be in your buy list among all the mining stocks. The gold stock (13th) was also a winner last year. But the compelling reason to purchase it today is the company’s mind-blowing profit growth. Record annual production The $1 billion gold exploration and development company owns 100% of Eagle Gold Mine in central Yukon. Notwithstanding the global pandemic, Victoria Gold successfully ramped up the largest gold mine in Yukon history into production. Apart from

Investors looking at the commodities sector do so for various reasons. Among the key reasons investors may pick a commodity stock as a core portfolio holding is the portfolio diversification such a position can provide. In this context, investors looking for top commodity plays may want to consider companies with size, scale, value, and staying power. One such company I’ve had my eye on of late is Teck Resources (TSX:TECK.B)(NYSE:TECK). Let’s dive into why this producer of metallurgical coal, zinc, and copper may be a great portfolio fit for many investors. nalysts bullish on this top commodities stock It turns out, I’m not the only one bullish on Teck stock right now. Indeed, Wall Street analysts have recently increased their target prices on Teck. This is for good reason. Indeed, Teck stock has been on a nice run of late. This is a stock that’s trading near multi-year highs. And for investors who are bullish on the commodities rally continuing, there’s a lot to like abo

Canadian markets were on fire on March 29, as the TSX continued to build momentum after its dip in the beginning of March. That said, there are still many undervalued dividend stocks that are available to Canadian investors right now. Today, I want to look at three of the top options to snatch up at the end of March. Let’s jump in. This income-focused energy stock is dirt cheap right now Vermilion Energy (TSX:VET)(NYSE:VET) is a Calgary-based company that is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas in North America and around the world. Shares of this dividend stock have climbed 65% in 2022 as of close on March 29. The stock has soared 185% in the year-over-year period. Earlier this month, I’d discussed the oil bull market and suggested that investors get in on the energy space. The company unveiled its fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 results on March 7, 2022. In Q4 2021, funds flow from operations (FFO) climbed 23% yea

The Canadian equity markets have resumed their stellar run after a rough month in September. At writing, the S&P/TSX Composite Index is up by over 5% since its October 4th low, and it is touching new all-time highs with each passing day. The Canadian benchmark index is up by over 21% year to date. Despite concerns of rising inflation, the stock market looks ripe for the picking. If you are just starting investing, it is crucial to make a well-informed decision about the assets you can add to your portfolio to make a running start as a self-directed investor. You might feel tempted to go after the biggest names on the stock market if you have the capital to invest. However, I would highly recommend taking a good look at mid-cap TSX stocks in the current operating environment. Investing in mid-cap stocks could provide you with the stability that high-growth stocks do not have while offering superior short- and medium-term returns than well-established blue-chip stocks that have

Dividend stocks, in my opinion, are the cheapest way to generate a steady passive income for the long term. However, investors should take caution and focus on a company’s earnings potential and payout ratio before buying its stock for dividend income. Equally important is the company’s dividend-hike history, as it signifies the resilience of its cash flows and sustainability of its payouts.  With income stocks in the background, let’s dig deeper into three stocks that have been growing dividends for at least 25 years. Thanks to their resilient cash flows, these Dividend Aristocrats are a reliable bet for investors. Also, all these stocks are offering a higher yield amid a lower interest rate environment. Let’s look at the stocks. Enbridge Enbridge (TSX:ENB)(NYSE:ENB) has consistently raised dividends since 1995. Moreover, its dividends have CAGR of 10% since then. Enbridge’s higher dividend payments are backed by its highly diversified cash flow streams, a contractual framewor

Canadian savers are taking advantage of their RRSP contribution space to build self-directed pension funds using their online brokerage accounts. One popular strategy for building retirement wealth involves buying top dividend stocks and using the distributions to acquire new shares. TD Bank TD (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) recently put to bed any speculation about how it will use the cash hoard it built up during the pandemic. Canada’s second-largest bank by market capitalization is purchasing First Horizon Corp. in a US$13.4 billion deal that will expand TD’s presence in the American retail banking sector. In fact, the addition of First Horizon will bring more than 400 branches to the portfolio and make TD one of the six largest retail banks in the United States with more than US$600 billion in assets. TD has agreed to pay US$25 per share to acquire First Horizon, representing a 37% premium to the closing price before the announcement of the deal. First Horizon has operations in 12 U.S.

There are plenty of credit card rewards hacks out there, but if you’re at the Motley Fool, it’s likely you came here for investment advice. So what if I told you there’s a way to take advantage of both? All it takes is the use of your credit card rewards, and a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). How do you do it? Let’s take a look at an example of how you can use your rewards program to invest in your TFSA. Why do it at all? First, let’s look at why credit card rewards can benefit you in the first place. Let’s say you’ve been a Motley Fool investor for a while. You’ve been great at contributing to your TFSA and making smart investments. But then, some sort of financial burden weighs on your finances. Whether it’s health problems, a new house, a new car, or a roof being fixed, suddenly you can’t afford the luxury of investments. Scratch that. You definitely can. All it takes is your credit card and dividend stocks. Here at Motley Fool we always recommend paying down debt, and

Canadian savers are searching for top TSX dividend stocks to add to their TFSA portfolios focused on generating a growing passive income. Retirees make up a large part of this crowd, but investors of all ages can benefit from a steady stream of tax-free income to help pay the bills these days. Suncor Suncor (TSX:SU)(NYSE:SU) looks undervalued right now when you consider the margin the company is making on every barrel of oil it produces. The firm also has refineries that turn oil into fuel and retail locations that sell the finished product. Suncor raised the dividend by 100% last fall to bring the payout back to the 2019 level after reducing the distribution in a surprise cut in 2020. Investors still haven’t forgiven the company for that move, and this is largely why the stock has trailed its peers in the past year. New investors still have a chance to buy Suncor at a reasonable price. The shares trade neat $41 at the time of writing, with WTI oil above US$100 per barrel. Sunc

All investors want to earn some passive income, if not today, then eventually. In a similar manner, most investors realize the long-term importance of diversifying their portfolios. Unfortunately, constantly adjusting portfolio investments for market shifts isn’t something that most investors want. This is particularly true for those of us that adhere to lazy investing. Don’t get me wrong; I am totally into lazy investing. And what I mean by that term is that I prefer to find those stellar investments that I can buy now and not worry about for a decade. To put it another way, I want my money to work for me rather than constantly chasing that next big thing. Fortunately, the market has plenty of options to consider for all investors considering the art of lazy investing. Hop on the growth train and order some income It never ceases to amaze me how many investors continue to bypass Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR)((NYSE:CNI). At first glance, it’s easy to see why. Railroads

When it comes to building wealth, follow these simple rules. First, spend less than you make. Be smart about using loans and use your credit cards wisely. Second, save regularly. Third, invest your savings. Save regularly Wealth creation originally comes from a high savings rate. If you only save $100 a month, you’ll only manage to save $36,000 over 30 years. A high savings rate is even more critical early on in your wealth-building journey when you’re investing your money for the long haul. The savings of $36,000 over the three decades would jump to $100,562 when returning 6% per year. 30 years! That’s taking too long to reach $100,000. To achieve the $100,000 milestone sooner, one straightforward action you can take is to save more. What if you’re able to boost your savings to $500 a month? On savings alone, you’ll reach $100,000 in 12 years and $180,000 in 30 years. If you get a 6% return annually, you’ll achieve about $502,810 at the end of the period. These scenarios as

These days, pandemic reopening plays are all the rage. With COVID-19 cases trending down, and Canada approximately 78% vaccinated, it’s looking like we’re about to turn the corner on COVID-19. It should come as no surprise then that value stocks are rising. In the past month, the value-heavy Dow has risen 2.55%, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ has risen only 1.78%. Value stocks famously got hit much harder by COVID-19 than tech stocks did. While banks, energy stocks, and retailers got smacked by all kinds of headwinds, tech companies made more money than ever from the pandemic era surge in online shopping. Today, value stocks are making a recovery while tech stocks are looking overvalued. Accordingly, I’m betting big on value these days. In this article, I’ll explore a long-time value stock I’d held all through the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue holding going forward. TD Bank Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) is a top Canadian bank stock that is a value play in every s

Bitcoin, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency, reached an all-time high this week. On Wednesday, each BTC was trading at US$67,016 or C$82,658.54. The digital asset is now worth $1.5 trillion in aggregate. This stellar bull run has created many billionaires and millionaires.  But some wonder if smaller, lesser-known crypto alternatives, such as Ethereum, could outperform Bitcoin over the long run. Here’s a closer look.  Bitcoin’s performance Adoption is the key driver of Bitcoin’s value. Since it was launched in 2009, there’s been a steadily expanding pool of investors willing to buy and hold BTC. Meanwhile, the total supply of BTC is capped. There are only 18.85 million BTC in circulation right now and there can only ever be 21 million in existence.  Limited supply and growing demand on a global scale make Bitcoin an excellent investment. However, supply-demand isn’t the only factor investors need to consider. The law of large numbers is another factor to consider here. 

Ripple Labs, the XRP (CRYPTO:XRP) token creator, has been fighting a lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the past year. It is a monumental lawsuit that could have far-reaching consequences on regulations regarding the cryptocurrency industry. The cryptocurrency could receive a massive boost if Ripple Labs comes out as the winner. And then there is Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC), the world’s first and most popular cryptocurrency. It was the first of its kind to come along and introduce the disruptive blockchain technology that’s changing the face of how global financial markets work. The largest cryptocurrency in market capitalization has had its share of ups and downs. However, the cryptocurrency token is here to stay and will likely regain momentum based on historical trends. The question in the Ripple vs. Bitcoin debate is which of the two is a better investment today? Let’s take a look at the two giants in the cryptocurrency industry to help you make

Even though every investor has certain investment tendencies that remain consistent throughout their lives, the investment approach changes over time. And it’s not just because they become better investors over time, but because the investment goals change with age. Near-retirees may have very different goals than retirees. So, even if the two choose the same stocks, they may have a different perspective for choosing those stocks. dividend stock As a retiree, you might be interested in a stable dividend stock that offers a decent mix of capital preservation and income production. Inovalis REIT (TSX:INO.UN) could be a good option in this regard. It’s one of the REITs that didn’t slash its dividends during the pandemic, and its payout ratio remained below the danger level. Another point in the REIT’s favour is its European portfolio, which shields it from local headwinds. As a dividend stock, it’s quite generous with its yield, which is currently 8.66%. If a retiree can divest a