high quality stocks

We think foreign stocks can safely make up 10% of a conservative investor’s portfolio. One way is through the selection of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with an overseas focus.


The best of those ETFs continue to offer very low management fees and well-diversified, tax-efficient portfolios of high-quality stocks.


Here’s a look at four international ETFs we see as suitable for new buying and two others we feel you should continue to hold.


ISHARES MSCI EMERGING MARKETS ETF $41.63 (New York symbol EEM; buy or sell through brokers) is designed to track the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.


The fund’s geographic breakdown is as follows: China, 30.7%; South Korea, 14.0%; Taiwan, 11.6%; India, 8.6%; Brazil, 7.8%; South Africa, 6.2%; Russia, 3.8%; Mexico, 2.9%; Malaysia, 2.4%; Thailand, 2.4%; Indonesia, 2.1%; and Poland, 1.2%.


Its top stocks are Tencent Holdings (China: Internet), 4.5%; Taiwan Semiconductor (computer chips), 3.8%; Samsung Electronics (South Korea), 3.8%; Alibaba Group (China: e-commerce), 3.5%; Naspers (South Africa: media and Internet), 1.8%; China Construction Bank, 1.6%; China Mobile, 1.2%; Baidu (China: Internet), 1.1%; Ping An Insurance Group (China), 1.1%; Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, 1.0%; Vale SA (Brazil: mining), 1.0%; and Reliance Industries (India: conglomerate), 0.9%.


iShares launched the ETF on April 7, 2003....

For investors like Warren Buffett, investments are best picked with a value investing strategy that focuses on blue chip stocks that can be held for long periods.

Investing in mutual funds for beginners: Here are some of the best ways to do it—and also what to avoid

A conservative investing approach means building a well-balanced portfolio gradually, over time. Conservative investing is an investment strategy that involves a focus on lower-risk, predictable and stable businesses.

For new investors learning how to start a stock portfolio, buying high-quality stocks and diversification are key parts of the process

The six ETFs we update below mainly hold high-quality stocks that are widely traded on Canadian and U.S. exchanges. Each fund tracks the performance of a major stock market index. That’s different from ETFs focused on narrower indexes or themes such as cryptocurrencies or biotechnology.


Of course, you pay brokerage commissions to buy and sell these investments....

What to Invest in to Make Money: We recommend not just high-quality stocks, but a well-balanced portfolio as well

As you probably know, Canada plans to legalize recreational marijuana use in less than a month. You may also know we recently launched a FREE email/web advisory, our TSI Cannabis Investing Bulletins.

Friends and business associates inside and outside the company wonder why we’re giving our cannabis newsletter away for free, especially with a cannabis stock boom underway....

Some of the best stock market tips focus on selecting the right blue chip stocks, and then diversifying and balancing your portfolio

Generally we see safer investments for retirees as ones that focus on a long-term conservative strategy and make calculated use of RRSPs and RRIFs to boost returns