Plunging petroleum prices may have chilled the oil patch and the halls of government alike. But they’ve given investors a heaven-sent opportunity to scoop up some best-of-breed outfits in the   Read More

Montreal-based SNC-Lavalin is one of the world’s leading engineering and construction groups and a major owner of infrastructure. It provides services in a variety of sectors including oil and gas,   Read More

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are looking pretty good in current markets. After lagging the S&P/TSX Composite Index for much of 2014, the S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index held up well   Read More

Corus Entertainment (TSX—CJR.B) earned more in fiscal 2014. But since it earned less than expected and lowered its expectations for 2015, its share price fell.

Corus is expected to earn more   Read More

Canadian Pacific Railway earned record results in the first nine months of 2014. As trade with Asia and traffic grows, so should its earnings. This will give the railroad the   Read More

Hardwoods Distribution (TSX—HWD) is doing better than it seems. We expect it to earn more this year and next. It remains a buy for long-term share price gains and dividends.

In   Read More

Great-West Financial, a subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco, a member of the Power family, has completed the acquisition of the J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services large-market recordkeeping business. Great-West considers the   Read More

More companies are buying back their shares. According to The Economist, the companies in Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index spent $500 billion on share buybacks in 2013. The trouble is,   Read More

Ensign Energy Services’ shares fell in a recent selloff of oil services stocks. But the company is building its fleet of rigs in Canada, the U.S. and overseas. This will   Read More

CAE’s share price has fallen recently but it did better than it seems in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. It has also sharpened its strategic focus. The company raised   Read More

Manulife Financial (TSX: MFC) has agreed to acquire the Canadian-based operations of Standard Life plc for about $4 billion in cash. A key reason for the acquisition is Standard Life’s   Read More

Charles Ellis, author of Winning the Loser’s Game, believes that you should build your portfolio as you would a house. Your house should be suitable to the climate, not last   Read More

The advantage of investing internationally lies mainly in broadened diversification, which cuts risk. Similarly, you can cut risk by investing in dividend-paying stocks.

Here are two complementary exchange-traded funds that together   Read More

We believe that it pays to buy dividend-paying stocks. Dividends can assist you in paying your bills, of course. Even better, dividends are likely to improve your returns from your   Read More

Atco Ltd. (TSX—ACO.X) suffered temporary setbacks in the second quarter and the first half of 2014. But its earnings are expected to recover in the second half of the year   Read More

Technology and health care analyst Steven Zicherman of Vancouver-based Odlum Brown reiterates his “buy” recommendation and 12-month target price of $117 for health-care giant Johnson & Johnson (JNJ—NYSE).

The company, which   Read More

Tim Hortons, one of our Key stocks, has agreed to its acquisition by Burger King to form a new company. You’ll receive much more than Tim Hortons’ former market price.   Read More

Pierre Beaudoin is likely hoping Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t do anything else to raise Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s hackles.

Mr. Beaudoin, after all, is the president and CEO of   Read More

One of our U.S. Key stocks is Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ—ITRI). While it remains profitable, we’re disappointed with its mediocre performance.

In 2014, Itron is expected to earn $1.65 a share. That’s   Read More

Sometimes things just go on and on and on. Take, for example, the loonie’s duel with the greenback.

So observes Keith Richards, Barrie, Ontario-based portfolio manager of Value Trend/Wealth Management, who   Read More

          Saputo Inc. earned more in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. It has raised its dividend for 15 years in a row. The company is also paying a stock   Read More

Teck Resources Limited (TSX—TCK.B) is a diversified resource company with business units focused on copper, steelmaking, coal, zinc and energy. The company owns or has an interest in 13 mines   Read More

Buy-rated TransForce Inc. is acquiring Contrans Group—after recently acquiring Vitran Corp. and Clarke Transport. Since Contrans’ management is tendering, you should too.

One transportation stock we used to regularly review in   Read More

We don’t usually think of companies like Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (TSX—POT) as bargain stocks. But about a year ago Russia’s Uralkali quit one of the world’s two big potash   Read More

It pays to keep an eye on an exchange-traded fund’s volatility as well as on its performance. That can affect your comfort level with your investments. And you may prefer   Read More

PPG Industries’ earnings per share keep setting new records. This lets it reinvest and reward its shareholders with attractive dividends and buybacks.

PPG operates three segments in nearly 70 countries worldwide.   Read More

BCE Inc. wants to buy the Bell Aliant shares that it doesn’t already own. BCE (TSX—BCE) remains a buy. If you hold Bell Aliant (TSX—BA), you should perform your own   Read More

Emera’s subsidiary, Nova Scotia Power Maritime Link, has entered into the first of the Maritime Link project’s major contracts: the supply and installation of the high-voltage direct current submarine cable.   Read More

Several readers have alerted us that TransForce Inc. announced today it would proceed with a previous conditional offer to acquire all the outstanding Class A subordinate voting shares and Class   Read More

Founded in 1985, Contrans Group (TSX-CSS) has grown by acquiring specialized transportation companies. It owns independently-operated trucking companies in van, flatbed, waste, tank, dump and logistics, and provides these transportation   Read More

There are better investment choices in the transportation industry than a commercial airline for your portfolio. But many investors still seem to be captivated by the notion of glamour attached   Read More

Speculating can be fraught with danger. Hold too long in a bull market and you can quickly lose all your gains. Famed American investor of the 1920s, Bernard Baruch, reportedly   Read More

This investment advisory’s Investment Planning Committee has removed TransAlta Corp. from its list of Key stocks and advised shareholders to sell their shares in favour of other buy-rated utilities. The   Read More

Shaw Communications (TSX—SJR.B) provides broadband cable television, high-speed Internet, home phone, telecommunications (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct), and programming content (through Shaw Media). The latter operates   Read More

THE MARKET THIS MONTH: June is in the weakest six-month period for stock prices. Ongoing rising stocks and a long time with no stock market setback are risks. If a   Read More

Back in September 2013, when Canadian Edge was adding Aggressive Holding Lightstream Resources Ltd. (LTS-TSX, $7.21) to its Dividend Watch List, CE noted that the company would likely “enjoy a   Read More

Analysts follow as many as 20 stocks, most of which are rated “buys.” Of those buys, an analyst has one or two special favorites seen as most suitable for new   Read More

Nova Scotia-based Clearwater Seafoods is one of 10 food stocks that we regularly examine on The Back Page. Since we published our December 13, 2013 issue, its shares have inched   Read More

We’ve added C.I. Financial to our list of Key stocks. This wealth-management firm is a buy for attractive and rising dividends as well as a decent growth stock with long-term   Read More

Instead of declaring special dividend income, company should have continued with its growth strategy

For Winalta Inc. (WTA-TSX/VEN, $0.95), Mr. Mills continues to recommend a “buy.”

He’s also giving the dividend stock   Read More

Building an investment portfolio is a particularly difficult task at potential turning points in the market.

At market lows, investors not only have to be aware of additional downside risk, but   Read More

We update you on each of our Recommended Common Stocks on a rotating basis every three months, as well as in between those regular updates where events warrant. The following   Read More

Five spring times ago, the doomsayers were running roughshod. This spring, the principal worries are of how much longer a bull run for the ages can last, how big the   Read More

Announcing a REAL target for your retirement savings goals.

For a couple of issues of this newsletter advisory, I have been (more than) hinting at how the retirement/planning complex has been   Read More

In the first quarter of 2014, Canadian Utilities, or CU, earned an adjusted $186 million, or 71 cents a share. This was up marginally from adjusted earnings of $180 million,   Read More

When the baby boomers retire in large numbers, they’ll need a flow of goods. To pay for them, retired boomers will have to sell financial assets including stocks. The baby   Read More

Canadian Natural Resources hikes payout twice in five months

Tyler Reardon and Jeff Martin help cover Canada’s oil and gas industry for Calgary-based Peters & Co.

And they’re nothing if not enthusiastic   Read More

TransAlta Corp. (TSX-TA, $12.65) has long been the acknowledged weak sister in my Canadian Stocks for Dividends 6-Pak. I concluded my last article (February/First Report) keeping my fingers crossed for   Read More

The quest for income can lead in many directions. And capital markets offer plenty of tools for the income investor’s needs. But a little planning can make things easier and   Read More

Making money is just what these blue chip stocks do so well.

They say that, as go the bank earnings, so eventually goes the rest of the market. If that’s the   Read More

Winnipeg-based IGM Financial is one of Canada’s largest personal financial services companies. It’s one of the largest managers and distributors of Canadian mutual funds and other managed asset products.

IGM earned   Read More

This $99,516 portfolio for income shows how you can buy stocks and trusts to receive a regular paycheque. Seven stocks pay dividends at different times of the year. Cycle 1   Read More