canadian

TC ENERGY INC., $68.26, Toronto symbol TRP, is a buy.

On October 1, 2024, TC completed the spinoff of its oil pipeline business as separate company South Bow Corp. (see below). Investors received 0.2 of a South Bow share for every TC share they held....

We continue to recommend investors diversify their Finance sector holdings beyond the big banks by holding high-quality non-bank firms such as the three below.


Each is a a leader in its niche industry, which cuts your risk. As well, despite recent share price gains, all three still trade at attractive multiples to their earnings.


AMERICAN EXPRESS CO....

AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. $138 is a buy. The company (New York symbol A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 285.2 million; Market cap: $39.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 6.0; Dividend yield: 0.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.agilent.com) makes specialized testing equipment for medical research laboratories and industrial clients.


In September 2024, the firm paid $925 million for Biovectra, a Canadian business that helps drug developers research and manufacture their products.


That purchase helped lift Agilent’s revenue in its fiscal 2024 fourth quarter, ended October 31, 2024, by 0.8%, to $1.70 billion from $1.69 billion a year earlier....

Investors interested in dividends should only buy the highest-yielding Canadian dividend stocks if they meet these criteria.

POWER CORP. OF CANADA $47 is a buy. The conglomerate (Toronto symbol POW; Conservative-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 646.3 million; Market cap: $30.4 billion; Dividend yield: 4.8%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.powercorporation.com) holds controlling stakes in Canadian financial services firms Great-West Lifeco (insurance) and IGM Financial (mutual funds)....

NORTH WEST COMPANY $52 is a buy. This retailer (Toronto symbol NWC; High-Growth Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 47.7 million; Market cap: $2.5 billion; Dividend yield: 3.1%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.northwest.ca) sells food and everyday products and services at 229 stores, mainly in northern communities across Canada, as well as in Alaska, the South Pacific and the Caribbean.


With the October 2024 payment, North West raised your quarterly dividend by 2.6%....

These two leading retailers continue to cut their selling prices. That continues to spur customer traffic and to lift their earnings. Moreover, both have long histories of annual dividend hikes.


LOBLAW COMPANIES LTD. $181 is a buy. This retail giant (Toronto symbol L; Conservative-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 303.6 million; Market cap: $55.0 billion; Dividend yield: 1.1%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.loblaw.ca) operates 1,113 supermarkets under several banners, including Loblaws, Zehrs, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore and No Frills....

TSI in the Globe & Mail: Here are 5 companies planning 2025 spinoffs and scoring high Dividend Sustainability marks.

The Bank of Canada and other central banks are now cutting their benchmark lending rates as inflation returns to pre-pandemic levels.

That’s good news for utility stocks like Fortis, which carry large debt loads to finance investments in new power plants and other projects....

RUSSEL METALS INC., $44.24, is a buy. Through their shares, investors tap one of North America’s largest metals distribution companies, with a growing focus on value-added processing.

The company carries on business in three segments: metals service centres, energy field stores and steel distributors....