investment

Algonquin Power has soared 48.0% for our subscribers over the past year—even with the recent market downturn. We think it can go higher. The company aims to add value for investors through big acquisitions. While that adds risk, Algonquin focuses on making purchases that immediately contribute to its cash flow; its renewable energy projects also sell power under long-term government-guaranteed contracts....

Even top drug stocks can be riskier than many investors assume, but here’s how to spot the best ones

A: Blue Ribbon Income Fund, $8.37, symbol RBN.UT on Toronto (Units outstanding: 12.8 million; Market cap: $107.1 million; www.bromptongroup.com), was formerly called the Citadel Diversified Investment Trust.

This fund holds a lot of former oil and gas trusts, pipeline or other utility trusts (most if not all now converted to conventional corporations), real estate investment trusts and stocks....

A: Lowe’s Cos., $111.04, symbol LOW on New York (Shares outstanding: 766.5 million; Market cap: $85.1 billion; www.lowes.com), operates a chain of 1,977 hardware and home improvement superstores in the U.S. and Canada. Product categories include appliances, lumber/plywood, paint, flooring, millwork, building materials, seasonal living, fashion plumbing, tools, hardware, lighting, and more....

A: Iron Mountain Incorporated, $32.17, symbol IRM on Nasdaq (Shares outstanding: 287.3 million; Market cap: $9.1 billion; www.ironmountain.com), stores, protects, and manages documents and information for more than 225,000 organizations, including 96% of the Fortune 1000....

A: Three main factors continue to drive demand for healthcare products and services: the rapid aging of the population in developed countries; the expansion of medical services in developing countries; and significant new developments in the field of medical technology and innovation.

The iShares Global Healthcare ETF, $66.31, symbol IXJ on New York (Units outstanding: 31.8 million; Market cap: $2.1 billion; www.ishares.com/us), invests globally in healthcare companies.

The fund tracks the S&P Global Healthcare Index....

A: Capital Power Corp., $36.57, symbol CPX on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 105.4 million; Market cap: $3.7 billion; www.capitalpower.com), is one of Canada’s largest independent electrical power producers, with its 25 facilities across North America offering nearly 6,000 megawatts of power....

Successful investors, like successful businesses, need to keep an open mind about the way they do things. Neither one can afford to keep doing something just because “we’ve always done it that way.” That applies to investing basics such as bonds.

Many casual investors, financial journalists and brokers take it for granted that owning some bonds is a good thing....

Owning your house is a great tax shelter. That’s because gains on your principal residence involve a capital gains exemption. Note, though, that this benefit only applies to your principal residence. You must still pay tax on gains on the sale of a recreational property such as a cottage or a ski chalet. But these properties generally appreciate at a much slower rate than, say, a home in a major urban centre.

Recognizing that Canadian preferred shares are not like bonds will help you make better investing decisions