WilliamMLeighty634 blog

I often like to recommend to investors starting out that they don’t put everything they have towards stocks. Even when it comes to their investment income. Instead, I recommend creating a budget, and based on your budget and income, you can usually put 5% to 10% aside per month. Given that as of 2021, Statistics Canada says the average Canadian salary came in at about $60,000, that would mean putting aside about $3,000 per year. And in many cases, that’s $3,000 which continues to sit there, uninvested. So today, I have a recommendation. While they’re down, I would say that tech stocks offer some solid long-term hold options. If you know where to look. And luckily for you, I do! Open Text If you’re going to find tech stocks to hold, they have to stand the test of time. One of those companies is Open Text (TSX:OTEX). The enterprise software company has been around for decades. It’s one of the tech stocks that also doesn’t depend on one source of revenue. Instead, it creates par

The top TSX stocks, especially from the technology sector, lost substantial value in 2022. However, the easing inflation and an expected slowdown in interest rate hikes in 2023 could lead to a steep recovery in tech stocks like Shopify (TSX:SHOP) and Lightspeed (TSX:LSPD).  Both these companies have solid fundamentals and are poised to recover fast, as the operating environment improves. Further, these Canadian stocks are trading cheap, well below their historical average, which makes them an attractive investment at current levels. As both these Canadian stocks have the potential to multiply shareholders’ wealth and are trading cheap, let’s examine which could deliver higher returns. Shopify  Shopify offers tools that support multi-channel commerce. With businesses transitioning towards multi-channel selling models, Shopify is poised to capitalize on this structural shift with its innovative products like Payments, Capital, and Markets.  While the soft near-term outl

Last year, the Canadian government announced that the annual contribution to the Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) would rise to $6,500. That brings the cumulative contribution room, at least for those who have been eligible for a deposit since January 2009, to $88,000. The S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 38 points on Thursday, March 1. Today, I want to look at three stocks that have the potential to make you a TFSA millionaire. Let’s jump in. This crypto-connected stock offers a real shot at huge growth this decade The cryptocurrency space has proven explosive and extremely volatile since being thrust into the mainstream in the latter half of the previous decade. Top cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum erupted following the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bitcoin’s price would shoot to an all-time high in late 2021 before suffering sharp losses afterward. It has only been able to recoup a fraction of its major losses to start 2023. Hut 8 Mining (TSX:HUT) is a Toronto-bas

Tyler Tysdal and Robert Hirsch the best process to sell your business. Contact Freedom Factory Freedom Factory 5500 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Ste 230 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Phone: 844-MAX-VALUE (844-629-8258) Freedom Factory Freedom Factory Managing Partners Tyler Tysdal Tyler Tysdal, Managing Director Robert Hirsch Entrepreneur, Investor, Speaker, Artist Visit His Website Recent News Stupid Human Tricks Explained by Freedom Factory’s Robert Hirsch and Tyler Tysdal Freedom Factory is one of the highly reputable brokerage firms in the country. It is founded by two of the seasoned entrepreneurs – Tyler Tysdal and Robert Hirsch. They help entrepreneurs find their way to success with the ultimate goal of helping business owners sell their business at a maximum value. Tyler Tysdal has a stellar track record of success and together with Robert Hirsch, they founded Freedom Factory, a learning place for all types of businesspeople. They help entrepreneurs learn how to strike a deal

TSX stocks have gained 6%, while a struggling utility Algonquin Power (TSX:AQN) has soared an impressive 20% this year. AQN stock saw notable value erosion last year – quite rare among utilities – after the company reported an earnings decline in Q3 2022. But with a recent rise, is the stock readying for a new growth chapter? Let’s see. What’s next for AQN stock? Utilities is a capital-intensive sector and carry a large amount of debt. As interest rates rose surprisingly higher last year, Algonquin’s interest expenses swelled due to its sizeable variable debt. Its quarterly net income fell remarkably, forcing the company to trim dividends. As cash retention became necessary, Algonquin cut its 2023 dividend by 40%. While utilities are popular for their less volatile stocks and stably growing dividends, AQN disappointed investors on both fronts. For the current year, AQN is now expected to pay a total dividend of $0.43 per share, implying an annual yield of 4%. Accord

The fickle nature of the global economy has once again showcased the importance of creating multiple income streams. Companies are laying off employees across sectors due to an extremely challenging macro environment. The triple whammy of inflation, interest rate hikes, and supply chain disruptions are likely to impact both revenue and profit margins for corporates in the near term, driving down the valuations of several TSX stocks. However, the pullback in share prices has also increased the dividend yields of TSX stocks since 2022. As forward dividend yields and stock prices have an inverse relationship, you can buy shares of undervalued companies and benefit from tasty dividend yields. Investing in quality dividend stocks can help you generate a passive stream of income and benefit from capital gains over the long term. Let’s see how much you need to invest in this TSX stock to earn $1,000 in annual dividend income. Diversified Royalty stock A Canada-based multi-royalty

Three mid-cap superstars (between small- and large-cap companies) trading at less than $10 per share are must-buy stocks right now. Furthermore, they could deliver powerful returns, like in the past, if economic conditions improve or return to normal in 2023. Exciting year Baytex Energy (TSX:BTE) is down 7.2% year to date ($5.64 per share), but market analysts are bullish and see a return potential between 38.3% ($7.80) and 81.7% ($10.25) in one year. The energy stock is also among the TSX’s top 30 growth stocks in 2022 (rank 26). The $3.1 billion energy company produces crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs), representing about 84% of its total production. Baytex operates in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and Eagle Ford in the United States. Last year, cash flow from operating activities jumped 64.6% to $1.2 billion versus 2021. Eric T. Greager, Baytex’s President and CEO, said, “2022 was an exciting year for Baytex as we delivered strong operating results, g

Many Canadians continue to use the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to save towards retirement. However, many also use it in quite a haphazard way. They make contributions here and there, and this can lead to a big problem: missing the RRSP deadline. The RRSP deadline came and went on March 1. Let’s figure out a way to make a plan for the upcoming year and never miss that deadline again. Start out with a goal Before you even start contributing what you can to your RRSP, make sure to have a goal in mind. That goal is going to be what you need in order to retire comfortably in the next few years or decades. This can be done by meeting with your financial advisor and should be revisited at least every few years. One thing you’ll discover is that you also can’t just put a huge chunk away. The RRSP also has a contribution limit, which you can find online through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) My Account. After you’ve discussed your goals and how much you’re able to con

You can build your own dividend stock exchange-traded fund (ETF) with no recurring management fees by investing in commission-free accounts such as at National Bank of Canada or Wealthsimple. In terms of defensive dividend stocks to buy and hold for the next decade, you can consider these names. Fortis stock In the past, Fortis (TSX:FTS) stock has delivered market-like returns. For example, in the last decade or so, the utility stock has returned -7.6% in the worst year. And in the best year, it returned 33%. Its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the period was about 8.4%. This aligned well with the much diversified Canadian stock market, using iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF as a proxy. The ETF’s worst year returned -7.8%, the best year returned 28%, while the CAGR was 8.5% in the period. Investors trust Fortis as a blue-chip stock, which has an achievement of almost half a century of consecutive years of dividend increases. Its 10-year dividend-growth rate is 6.1%. Thr

It’s tax time, and while tax season may be filled with doom and gloom, remember that in many cases you may be entitled to a refund! In fact, there are also plenty of tax benefits and credits that Canadians are missing out on, with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) reporting over $1 billion in unclaimed credits in 2021 alone. However, once you get that tax refund, it can be so incredibly easy to spend it. This is cash you’re being given back from the government, and it’s finally yours once more! But before you go out and buy a new television, there are some things to consider. recession is coming Do you have an emergency fund? How about debt? These are the first places I would consider putting my tax refund as a recession looms. Paying down debt, in particular, is a solid choice. Now I’m not saying you should put every penny towards your mortgage. However, if you have high-interest loans from credit cards or student debt, this is a perfect place to put your cash. As for the eme

Investing in quality growth stocks is a popular strategy on Bay Street, as it allows you to generate exponential gains. Moreover, the massive drawdown in the valuations of growth stocks now allows shareholders to go bottom fishing and buy the dip. Canadians can consider building a portfolio of growth stocks and holding them in a TFSA, or Tax-Free Savings Account. Any returns generated in the TFSA in the form of capital gains are exempt from the Canada Revenue Agency. The maximum cumulative contribution room in the TFSA has grown to $88,000 in 2023. So, let’s see how you can use this contribution room to own growth stocks and build your TFSA portfolio to $1 million by 2035. Shopify stock One of the fastest-growing stocks on the TSX, Shopify (TSX:SHOP) was also the largest Canadian stock in terms of market cap back in November 2021. However, a challenging macro-environment meant Shopify’s top-line growth decelerated rapidly in 2022, driving share prices lower by 80% from all-

Shares of Cargojet (TSX:CJT) fell 10.8% following its fourth-quarter financial results. The company that offers time-sensitive premium air cargo services in North America missed Street’s earnings forecast, which didn’t sit well with the investors.  Cargojet’s revenue of $267 million increased 13.2% year over year and came ahead of the analysts’ expectation of $259.8 million. However, its adjusted earnings of $0.90 per share fell short of Wall Street’s consensus estimate of $1.96.  The company’s management blamed COVID-era extra costs and lower-than-expected volumes in November and December for the pressure on margins. However, this pressure on margins is transitory, and management has already taken cost-control initiatives, which will likely cushion its margins in the coming quarters. Meanwhile, this pullback in Cargojet stock is an excellent opportunity for investors to buy and hold its stock for the long term. Let’s look at factors that support my bull case. 

The North American construction sector has been a top performer in recent months. It’s caught many by surprise, so I thought it would be useful to shed some light on what’s going on. Two major forces are at play in propping up North American construction companies. The first is the aging infrastructure. With much of North America’s infrastructure having been built in the mid 1900s, it has become too old, too outdated, and ready for a face lift at a minimum. The second is the move toward sustainability. This is increasing demand for many new renewable energy projects, as well as non-energy projects in the fight against climate change. Of course, these projects need infrastructure. And construction companies like Aecon Group Inc. (TSX:ARE) are seeing increased demand because of it. In fact, 60% of Aecon’s 2022 revenue is tied to sustainability projects. But this is just the beginning, as Aecon and other North American construction companies continue to see strong demand i

Retirement is a serious thing. It’s supposed to be enjoyable, but it can be incredibly stressful when it comes to the financial aspect. After all, your entire future rests in the ability of your finances to take on the load. That’s why creating $1,000 each month can be a lifesaver. Sure, you have income perhaps through pensions, the government, and your savings. But every bit helps — especially when you consider that your costs may not go down but up, as you age and need more assistance. Therefore, today, I’m going to focus on how to safely create that income each and every month. Don’t just choose one or two stocks! Instead of investing in one or two stocks for your retirement, it’s far better to have a diverse portfolio if you’re seeking passive income. Consider exchange-traded funds (ETF) for this reason. What’s great is that these funds are managed by financial advisors. It’s like have a whole team at advisors looking out for your best interest. What’s more, you can nar

Many people who began investing during the low-interest rate bull market of 2020–2021 probably had a portfolio that looked like this: a few large-cap U.S. and Canadian tech/growth stocks, maybe a little cryptocurrency, and possibly some meme stocks, too. Well, this didn’t work out so well in 2022. As interest rates rose to combat less-than-transitory inflation worldwide, valuations suddenly became important again. Investors realized that paying inflated prices for speculative companies with poor fundamentals in competitive industries might not be a good idea. So, if you’re looking to dial back your stock portfolio’s volatility and reduce its sensitivity to the market’s movements, I suggest considering low-beta, dividend-paying stocks from the consumer defensive sector, which benefits from evergreen demand. Here are my top two picks today. Loblaw My first pick is grocery giant Loblaw Companies Ltd. (TSX:L). This stock held up quite well in 2022, ending the year up 17% with d