WilliamMLeighty634 blog

Canada is home to businesses across a variety of industries, including energy, precious metals, finance, technology, and others. Given the current market volatility and talk of an impending market downturn, there are plenty of top stocks to consider on the TSX, which could be become even more appealing as the year progresses.  Stocks may fall further in the first half of the year as a result of a recessionary weakening in corporate profits, which began in 2022. However, the outlook for the second half of 2023 is brighter, as inflation and interest rate hikes might tone down, and earnings per share may rise. Accordingly, I think these three stocks should be in your portfolio as we head into the second month of 2023. Top stocks to buy in February: Restaurant Brands  Restaurant Brands International (TSX:QSR), the company that owns Tim Hortons, increased 1.4% after BMO Capital Markets rated the stock “outperform.” Furthermore, various analyst reports covering Restaurant Brands...

Investors seeking reliable passive income and total returns inside a self-directed Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) are wondering which TSX dividend stocks might be good to buy today. Enbridge (TSX:ENB) and Telus (TSX:T) are two of Canada’s top dividend stocks with long track records of distribution growth. Let’s see if one these great Canadian stocks might be a better pick right now. Enbridge Enbridge doesn’t produce oil or natural gas. The energy infrastructure giant simply transports the commodities from the production sites to storage facilities, refineries, utilities, or export terminals and charges a fee for providing the service. As long as fuel demand remans robust the pipelines and other energy infrastructure assets operated by Enbridge should be busy. As such, the fluctuations in commodity prices have a limited direct impact on revenue. Enbridge also owns natural gas distribution utilities, renewable energy assets, and is building up its export business. Management kno...

The Canadian equities market started the new week on a negative note after rallying for four consecutive weeks. The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell by 142 points, or 0.7%, to settle at 20,572, marking its biggest single-day losses in over a month. While all main Canadian stock market sectors ended the session in the red, big losses in the shares of healthcare and technology companies primarily led the TSX index downward. In addition, sharp declines in copper and West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures prices kept metal mining and energy stocks under pressure. Top TSX Composite movers and active stocks Westshore TerminalsPeyto Exploration & DevelopmentBausch Health CompaniesShopify, and Lightspeed Commerce were the worst-performing TSX stocks yesterday, as they fell by at least 5% each. On the positive side, Algoma Steel GroupAthabasca OilFairfax Financial Holdings, and Denison Mines rose by at least 2.6% each, making them the top performers on the Toronto Stock Exchang...

You don’t need to look far to find Canadian dividend stocks paying attractive yields. In fact, some of Canada’s largest businesses pay attractive, sustainable dividends. Here’s a list of five large-cap Canadian stocks you can pick up with yields over 4% right now. n energy infrastructure stock with a big dividend With a market cap of $110 billion, Enbridge (TSX:ENB) is the third largest TSX-listed company in Canada. With a price of $54.50, this dividend stock earns a huge 6.4% dividend yield. Enbridge operates an irreplaceable portfolio of energy infrastructure assets. The fact that it helps transport and export 30% of the oil produced in North America indicates how essential this business is. Enbridge has worked hard to diversify its business over the years. It is now a substantial player in natural gas transmission and distribution, but it also has a large renewable power portfolio. The company expects to grow cash flows by 5-7% for the next two years, and dividend gr...

The stock market is off to a great start in 2023. The S&P 500, the TSX Composite Index and the NASDAQ all started off the year with positive gains, and there are signs that the gains will continue. Last year, central banks raised interest rates, which contributed to stocks going down. This year, it is widely expected that there will be only two more small rate hikes followed by a pause. If this occurs, then there will be a lot of room for stocks to rise (though you can expect some turbulence around the dates when interest rates go up). In this article, I will explore three things I’m buying to prepare for the next bull market in stocks. Foreign stocks Foreign stocks have been among my favourite things to buy in 2023. China is re-opening, supply chains are normalizing, and foreign stocks remain undervalued. For this reason, I have been buying foreign stocks like Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:BABA). Alibaba is a Chinese stock that, at its lowest levels last year, was trading ba...

Canada’s big banks are among the best long-term options for investors to consider. The banks offer a long-established history of paying out juicy dividends. They also boast an established domestic network at home and a growing presence in international markets, such as the United States. But among those big banks that are expanding into the U.S. market, which is the better bet for growth? Let’s look at both Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO) and Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD) to determine which bank is better for your portfolio. The case for Bank of Montreal Bank of Montreal has the distinction of being the first company in Canada to pay a dividend to shareholders. And after two centuries, BMO has never failed in paying out a juicy quarterly dividend. Today, that dividend works out to an appetizing 4.28%. This means that a $30,000 investment in BMO, as part of a larger, well-diversified portfolio, will earn an income of just over $1,280. With a solid footing in the domestic mar...

The Canadian Dividend Aristocrats are magnificent buys over the long haul. Their dividends are as growthy as they are dependable. Though they don’t always have market-beating performance, many of them do stand out as names that can produce a portfolio that’s better than the TSX Index. Undoubtedly, the TSX is a top choice for many Canadian passive investors. However, its weighting to certain industries isn’t ideal in all scenarios. Last year, the TSX outshined the U.S. averages, especially the Nasdaq 100, which felt the full force of the growth-driven market selloff. And that’s thanks to its big weighting in the energy sector. Nobody knows if oil prices will continue to hold their own as that earnings recession rolls in. Regardless, I remain a big fan of the TSX’s top dogs. In this piece, we’ll have a look at two ultra-stable TSX stocks that were recently inducted into the S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats Index. Consider shares of agricultural commodities firm Nutrien (...

Building an investment portfolio that generates safe, predictable passive income is not easy, but it is certainly possible. Most dividend-paying stocks fell drastically in 2022. While the market has rallied so far in 2023, there continues to be decent opportunities to invest in stocks for passive income. Likewise, with interest rates rising, there are good opportunities in fixed income and GICs (Guaranteed Investment Certificates). With as little as $24,000, investors can earn $1,000 or more of passive income this year. Here’s one hypothetical portfolio that could do that. 5% GIC for guaranteed passive income If you are extremely risk averse, GICs are an easy investment for passive income. They lack the liquidity, capital upside, and tax efficiency of a stock. However, they are easy to buy, they have zero risk of capital destruction, and their interest is guaranteed (if you hold it through the entire term). Right now, online banks such as EQ Bank are offering 5% GICs for...

The energy sector is chock full of high-yield stocks. Whether you’re looking at oil explorers, refiners, or (most of all) pipelines, you’ll find yields well north of 5%. Among pipelines, 6% is quite common. With oil prices still relatively strong, there are many good opportunities in the oil and gas sector. In this article, I’ll explore three oil and gas stocks: two that I would buy and one that I would avoid. Buy: Suncor Energy Suncor Energy (TSX:SU) is an oil stock that I’ve owned in the past and made decent money on. In principle, I have no opposition to owning it today. I just have other ideas I like better. Suncor is an oil and gas company involved in exploration, production, and gas stations. Its gas station chain (Petro-Canada) is among the largest in Canada. It had a great year in 2022, delivering large increases in revenue, net income, and free cash flow. Why do I like Suncor right now? Because it hasn’t been bid up quite as much as its peers. Suncor, like most o...

When the market dropped sharply last year, many investors focused solely on the short-term impact of that drop. Another, more positive way to see that drop is by the long-term opportunity that now exists thanks to that volatility. Here are two undervalued stocks to consider right now and why. bank with more long-term upside Canada’s big banks are stellar long-term investments, but like most of the market, they witnessed a sharp drop in 2022. And some banks saw a steeper decline than others. One such bank is Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSX:CM). In fact, over the course of the trailing 12-month period, CIBC’s stock has declined over 25%. That’s an incredible drop for an otherwise great long-term pick. So then, why should investors consider CIBC as one of the undervalued TSX stocks to buy right now? That comes down to three key reasons. First, we have that stock price dip. There are several reasons for that drop, but they largely stem from rising interest rate...

When the pandemic shuttered theatres, it completely disrupted the movie-and-popcorn business model. That accelerated a shift towards streaming. By extension, it also gave rise to several compelling streaming stocks to buy. But which streaming stocks should investors consider right now? Here are two options to consider right now as well as one that investors may want to wait on buying. Buy now: Disney Disney (NYSE:DIS) is one company that used the pandemic to not only launch its Disney+ streaming service but to also push content creation into high gear. The house of mouse has inked some stellar content deals over the years. That growing list includes well-known brands such as ABC, ESPN, HULU, Lucasfilm, Marvel, and Pixar. Those acquisitions have provided a treasure trove of content to build off. Disney’s foray into the streaming business has been nothing short of stellar. Disney launched its streaming service just a few months before the pandemic. In three short years, Dis...

Canadian investors who choose to self-direct their own portfolios are typically knowledgeable and ambitious. Those just starting out can find out quickly just how intimidating the market can be. Beginners must learn to be patient, which is typically a lesson that comes with experience. Beyond that, it does not hurt to pick the right equities. Today, I want to look at four top TSX stocks that are perfect for a starters’ portfolio in 2023 and beyond. Let’s jump in. Bank stocks like Scotia are perfect for a beginners’ portfolio Scotiabank (TSX:BNS) is the fourth largest of the Big Six Canadian banks. It is often referred to as “The International Bank” because of its strong global exposure, particularly in Latin America. Shares of this top TSX stock have declined 21% year over year as of close on January 23. However, the bank stock has jumped 6.7% in the new year. Bank stocks are perfect for beginners, as they offer a nice balance of capital growth and consistent dividend...

The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is a good tool for retired Canadians to use to generate tax-free passive income. The TFSA limit for 2023 is $6,500. This brings the total maximum contribution space to $88,000 per person. OAS clawback Seniors who collect Old Age Security (OAS) can use the TFSA to earn income that will help them avoid or minimize the OAS clawback that kicks in when net world income tops a minimum threshold. The number to watch in 2023 is $86,912. This might seem high, but it doesn’t take long to hit that level if a person collects a decent company pension, the Canada Pension Plan, OAS, and other taxable income. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) implements an Old Age Security pension recovery tax of 15% on every dollar of net world income earned above the minimum threshold, but income generated inside a TFSA is not counted. One popular TFSA investing strategy involves owning a basket of top TSX dividend stocks that have good track records of increasing distribu...

While it might seem that every stock out there is an oversold stock, there are very few actually in oversold territory. For this, you need to find an oversold stock that trades below a Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 30. Today, I’ll show you a dividend stock that’s incredibly near oversold territory. It’s been an oversold stock in the past and yet has so much future potential — especially when you factor in a dividend. So, let’s get right to it. Northland Power Northland Power (TSX:NPI) currently trades with an RSI at 39, which is quite near oversold territory. Shares are up 5% in the last year, sure. But in the last six months, shares are down almost 20%! This comes from the company seeing a huge amount of growth given its dividend status as a monthly payer. However, now is a great opportunity for investors to jump back on this dividend stock on the TSX today. Shares are still in value territory, trading at 13.22 times earnings as of writing. You can therefore lock up a div...

It wasn’t just the stock and bond markets that took a left hook to the chin last year. REITs (real estate investment trusts) took quite the beating as well, with some of the higher-yielding ones now boasting slightly higher yields as a result of the share price depreciation amid the U.S. bear market that’s spread across various Canadian securities. Indeed, higher rates from the Bank of Canada have not been great news for REITs across the board. From higher-growth REITs to the Steady Eddies helping Canadian Tax-Free Savings Account passive-income funds across the nation, the REIT selloff has been felt by many investors, young and old. As is the case with most selloffs, the market tends to overdo things when negative momentum is in full swing. When it comes to the REITs, 2023 will definitely see more in the way of challenges. Even higher rates and a recession hitting Canada could weigh heavily on the emotions of REIT investors. Regardless, I view many of the Canadian REITs as worth...

Canadians will go through several recessions during their lifetimes. Some will be awful; others will be mild, such as the one expected this round. And yet, it’s like our brains want to only focus on the good coming out of a recession. In fact, we tend to forget even the basics of a recession, besides that it’s, you know, bad. Today, let’s look over exactly what constitutes a recession in Canada, if we’re getting close, and how you can protect yourself. What exactly is a recession? A recession is a prolonged period of economic decline. Recessions usually happen over a 10-month period but can last longer, such as the Great Recession, which lasted 18 months in the United States. Trade and industrial activity go down, and the recession itself is identified when gross domestic product (GDP) declines for two successive quarters. So, what about now? During the last quarter, Canada’s GDP actually increased for the fifth consecutive quarter. Real GDP rose 0.7% in the third quarter o...

BlackBerry (TSX:BB) stock fell more than 55% last year, as tech stocks faced a selloff from the bubble burst. BlackBerry’s cybersecurity revenue continued to fall throughout the year while its Internet of Things (IoT) business remained steady. Overall, it has been a tepid year for a growth stock like BlackBerry. Weak revenues and challenging macro environments halved the wealth of BlackBerry investors like Prem Watsa. Things are looking slightly bright for growth stocks in the second half of 2023, provided the worst of inflation, interest rate hikes, and the resulting recession is over in the first half.  Could BlackBerry stock be a winner in 2023? For BlackBerry stock to become a winner, its current top line has to grow rapidly. The company is in the business of software for IoT and cybersecurity services. Three events could drive BlackBerry stock up 70-80% in 2023.  QuarterBlackBerry’s RevenueIoT Segment RevenueCybersecurity RevenueQ1 2022$174$43$107Q2 2022$175$40$120Q3 ...