canadian

The major Canadian and U.S. stock markets, while still subject to volatility, continue to offer attractive returns for investors—especially if you buy the top stocks. All in all, we think that if you can afford to stay in the market for several years or longer, now is a good time for new buying....

Both these Canadian insurance stocks offer investors growth prospects as well as high dividend yields. We see each as a buy.


MANULIFE FINANCIAL, $40.06, is a buy. This safety-conscious stock (Toronto symbol MFC; Shares o/s: 1.8 billion; Market cap: $72.1 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Yield: 4.0%; www.manulife.ca) represents one of Canada’s largest life insurers....

Knowing the ins and outs of the dividend calendar is an important part of dividend investing and a conservative investing philosophy.

BUTTERFLY NETWORK INC., $1.58, symbol BFLY on New York, is a Guilford, Connecticut-based company founded in 2011. It has created a portable, pocket-sized ultrasound device that plugs into a smartphone or tablet.

The Butterfly iQ uses patented, miniaturized computer-chip technology to replace expensive cart-mounted ultrasound devices....

MICROSOFT CORP., $428.02, Nasdaq symbol MSFT, remains a buy for aggressive investors.

The company is the world’s largest computer software firm. Its main product is the Windows operating system, which powers about 85% of the world’s personal computers....

ELECTRONIC ARTS INC., $144.65, (symbol EA on Nasdaq), is a buy for aggressive investors. The company is a developer of video games for play on consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. Its hugely popular game franchises include Madden NFL, The Sims, Need for Speed, Battlefield, and Apex Legends.

Electronic Arts recently outlined plans for two of the company’s most important games: “The Sims” and “Battlefield.”

The company’s long-running The Sims franchise began as a virtual city-building game 24 years ago....

These two leading packaged foodmakers continue to sell parts of their product portfolios in response to changing consumer tastes. These moves should spur their long-term growth and dividends. Note—we prefer Kraft Heinz for your new buying.


GENERAL MILLS INC....

The Bank of Canada has cut its benchmark interest rate three times since June, from 5.00% to 4.25%. Lower rates are good news for these two REITs, as they make it easier to attract new tenants and service their debt.


ALLIED PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $20 is a buy. The REIT (Toronto symbol AP.UN; Cyclical-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Units outstanding: 128.0 million; Market cap: $2.6 billion; Distribution yield: 9.0%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.alliedreit.com) owns 192 office buildings and 10 properties under development, mainly in major Canadian cities....

CANOE EIT INCOME FUND $14.42 (Toronto symbol EIT.UN; Units o/s: 178.8 million; Market cap: $2.6 billion; Divd. yield: 8.3%; www.canoefinancial.com) is a closed-end fund that invests in a portfolio of dividend paying stocks. U.S. stocks account for 49.2% of its holdings, followed by Canadian at 47.5%.


Canoe pays a monthly distribution of $0.10 a unit; that makes for a high 8.3% yield....

MASTERCARD INC., $492.74, symbol MA on New York, is the world’s second-largest payment processor behind only Visa (symbol V on New York).

Mastercard makes money from every transaction it processes for Mastercard-branded credit cards, both domestically and cross-border....