SAP
We think conservative investors could hold up to 10% of their portfolios in foreign stocks. One way to do that is to buy carefully chosen exchange traded funds (ETFs) that have an overseas focus.
The best ETFs offer very low management fees and well-diversified, tax-efficient portfolios of highquality stocks.
Here are six international ETFs we like:
ISHARES MSCI JAPAN INDEX FUND $11.81 (New York Exchange symbol EWJ; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) is an exchange traded fund that tries to match the return of the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Japan index.
The ETF’s top holdings include Toyota, 6.6%; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, 3.1%; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, 2.4%; Softbank Corp., 2.4%; Honda Motor, 2.3%; Mizuho Financial Group, 1.9%; Japan Tobacco, 1.5%; Takeda Pharmaceutical, 1.4%; Canon, 1.3%; and Hitachi, 1.2%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Financials, 21.4%; Consumer Discretionary, 21.1%; Industrials, 19.6%; Information Technology, 9.6%; Consumer Staples, 6.3%; Materials, 6.2%; Health Care, 5.9%; Telecommunication Services, 5.1%; Utilities, 2.8%; and Energy, 1.2%.
iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund was launched on March 12, 1996....
The best ETFs offer very low management fees and well-diversified, tax-efficient portfolios of highquality stocks.
Here are six international ETFs we like:
ISHARES MSCI JAPAN INDEX FUND $11.81 (New York Exchange symbol EWJ; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) is an exchange traded fund that tries to match the return of the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Japan index.
The ETF’s top holdings include Toyota, 6.6%; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, 3.1%; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, 2.4%; Softbank Corp., 2.4%; Honda Motor, 2.3%; Mizuho Financial Group, 1.9%; Japan Tobacco, 1.5%; Takeda Pharmaceutical, 1.4%; Canon, 1.3%; and Hitachi, 1.2%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Financials, 21.4%; Consumer Discretionary, 21.1%; Industrials, 19.6%; Information Technology, 9.6%; Consumer Staples, 6.3%; Materials, 6.2%; Health Care, 5.9%; Telecommunication Services, 5.1%; Utilities, 2.8%; and Energy, 1.2%.
iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund was launched on March 12, 1996....
SAPUTO INC. (Toronto symbol SAP; www.saputo.com) is Canada’s largest producer of dairy products, including milk, butter and cheese. It also makes snack cakes and tarts. In addition to Canada, Saputo operates in the U.S. and Argentina....
These three food companies continue to cut their costs. They’re using the savings to make acquisitions and invest in new plants and equipment.
These moves should spur their long-term earnings growth. However, we only see one of the three as a buy right now.
SAPUTO INC....
These moves should spur their long-term earnings growth. However, we only see one of the three as a buy right now.
SAPUTO INC....
ISHARES MSCI GERMANY FUND $25.89 (New York Exchange symbol EWG; buy or sell through brokers) tracks the stocks in the MSCI Germany Index. This index aims to replicate 85% of the total market capitalization of the German stock market. The remaining 15% is unavailable for investment, partly due to limitations on foreign ownership.
The ETF’s top holdings are BASF (chemicals), 8.7%; Siemens (engineering conglomerate), 8.6%; Bayer (diversified chemicals), 8.6%; Allianz (insurance), 6.9%; SAP (software), 6.7%; Daimler (autos), 5.7%; Deutsche Bank, 4.6%; Linde AG (industrial gases), 3.5%; and Munich Re (reisurance), 3.3%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Consumer Discretionary, 19.3%; Financials, 17.2%, Materials, 15.4%; Industrials, 13.7%; Health Care, 13.1%; Information Technology, 7.9%; Utilities, 4.7%; Consumer Staples, 4.3%; and Telecommunication Services, 3.1%.
...
The ETF’s top holdings are BASF (chemicals), 8.7%; Siemens (engineering conglomerate), 8.6%; Bayer (diversified chemicals), 8.6%; Allianz (insurance), 6.9%; SAP (software), 6.7%; Daimler (autos), 5.7%; Deutsche Bank, 4.6%; Linde AG (industrial gases), 3.5%; and Munich Re (reisurance), 3.3%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Consumer Discretionary, 19.3%; Financials, 17.2%, Materials, 15.4%; Industrials, 13.7%; Health Care, 13.1%; Information Technology, 7.9%; Utilities, 4.7%; Consumer Staples, 4.3%; and Telecommunication Services, 3.1%.
...
CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY LTD., $129.16, Toronto symbol CP, fell 6% this week after activist investor Pershing Square Capital Management announced that it will sell 7 million of its CP shares over the next year. Pershing holds 24 million CP shares, or 14.2% of the total outstanding. In June 2012, Pershing helped install Hunter Harrison as CP’s chief executive officer. Mr. Harrison is the former CEO of Canadian National Railway (Toronto symbol CNR). Under his leadership, CP has improved its efficiency with new locomotives, upgraded tracks and software that optimizes train loads and speeds. The company is also cutting 25% of its workforce over the next two years....
We think conservative investors could hold up to 10% of their portfolios in foreign stocks. One way to do that is to buy carefully chosen exchange traded funds (ETFs) that have an overseas focus.
The best ETFs offer very low management fees and well-diversified, tax-efficient portfolios of high quality stocks.
Here are six international ETFs we like:
ISHARES MSCI JAPAN INDEX FUND $10.60 (New York Exchange symbol EWJ; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) is an exchange traded fund that tries to match the return of the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Japan index.
The ETF’s top holdings include Toyota, 6.6%; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, 3.0%; Honda Motor, 2.5%; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, 2.1%; Softbank Corp., 1.9%; Mizuho Financial Group, 1.8%; Canon, 1.6%; Japan Tobacco, 1.5%; Takeda Pharmaceutical, 1.4%; and Hitachi, 1.3%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Consumer Discretionary, 21.8%; Financials, 20.1%; Industrials, 18.9%; Information Technology, 10.7%; Consumer Staples, 6.5%; Health Care, 6.2%; Materials, 6.2%; Telecommunication Services, 4.7%; Utilities, 3.1%; and Energy, 1.3%.
iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund was launched on March 12, 1996....
The best ETFs offer very low management fees and well-diversified, tax-efficient portfolios of high quality stocks.
Here are six international ETFs we like:
ISHARES MSCI JAPAN INDEX FUND $10.60 (New York Exchange symbol EWJ; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) is an exchange traded fund that tries to match the return of the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Japan index.
The ETF’s top holdings include Toyota, 6.6%; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, 3.0%; Honda Motor, 2.5%; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, 2.1%; Softbank Corp., 1.9%; Mizuho Financial Group, 1.8%; Canon, 1.6%; Japan Tobacco, 1.5%; Takeda Pharmaceutical, 1.4%; and Hitachi, 1.3%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Consumer Discretionary, 21.8%; Financials, 20.1%; Industrials, 18.9%; Information Technology, 10.7%; Consumer Staples, 6.5%; Health Care, 6.2%; Materials, 6.2%; Telecommunication Services, 4.7%; Utilities, 3.1%; and Energy, 1.3%.
iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund was launched on March 12, 1996....
SAPUTO INC. $50 (Toronto symbol SAP; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 197.2 million; Market cap: $9.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.4; Dividend yield: 1.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.saputo.com) is Canada’s largest producer of dairy products, including milk, butter and cheese. It also makes snack cakes and tarts. Saputo operates in the U.S., Argentina and Europe.
In its fiscal 2013 third quarter, which ended December 31, 2012, Saputo earned $130.0 million, or $0.65 a share. That’s up 0.2% from $129.8 million, or $0.64 a share, a year earlier. Revenue was unchanged at $1.8 billion. Unfavourable currency exchange rates offset the positive impact of higher cheese prices in the U.S. The company’s Argentinian division also sold fewer products at lower prices, which weighed on Saputo’s overall earnings.
These results do not include privately held Morningstar Foods, which Saputo bought for $1.4 billion in January 2013. Morningstar makes milk products, including cream, ice cream and cottage cheese, at 10 plants in the U.S.
...
In its fiscal 2013 third quarter, which ended December 31, 2012, Saputo earned $130.0 million, or $0.65 a share. That’s up 0.2% from $129.8 million, or $0.64 a share, a year earlier. Revenue was unchanged at $1.8 billion. Unfavourable currency exchange rates offset the positive impact of higher cheese prices in the U.S. The company’s Argentinian division also sold fewer products at lower prices, which weighed on Saputo’s overall earnings.
These results do not include privately held Morningstar Foods, which Saputo bought for $1.4 billion in January 2013. Morningstar makes milk products, including cream, ice cream and cottage cheese, at 10 plants in the U.S.
...
Saputo and Maple Leaf Foods have each gained over 20% in the past six months, while Canada Bread is up 4%. That’s mainly because all three companies are doing a good job of controlling their costs in the face of rising prices for ingredients (like wheat), fuel and electricity....
ISHARES MSCI GERMANY FUND $24.74 (New York Exchange symbol EWG; buy or sell through brokers) tracks the stocks in the MSCI Germany Index.
This index aims to replicate 85% of the total market capitalization of the German stock market. The remaining 15% is unavailable for investment, partly due to limitations on foreign ownership.
The ETF’s top holdings are BASF (chemicals), 9.2%; Siemens (engineering conglomerate), 8.8%; Bayer (diversified chemicals), 8.2%; SAP (software), 7.5%; Allianz (insurance), 6.5%; Daimler (autos), 5.5%; Deutsche Bank, 4.5%; Linde AG (industrial gases), 3.4%; and Volkswagen AG (autos), 3.2%.
...
This index aims to replicate 85% of the total market capitalization of the German stock market. The remaining 15% is unavailable for investment, partly due to limitations on foreign ownership.
The ETF’s top holdings are BASF (chemicals), 9.2%; Siemens (engineering conglomerate), 8.8%; Bayer (diversified chemicals), 8.2%; SAP (software), 7.5%; Allianz (insurance), 6.5%; Daimler (autos), 5.5%; Deutsche Bank, 4.5%; Linde AG (industrial gases), 3.4%; and Volkswagen AG (autos), 3.2%.
...
BANK OF MONTREAL, $64.08, Toronto symbol BMO, reported better-than-expected earnings this week. That’s mainly because stronger results from securities trading and wealth management offset lower earnings from its retail-banking business. In the first quarter of the bank’s 2013 fiscal year, which ended January 31, 2013, its earnings rose 7.1%, to $1.04 billion, or $1.52 a share. These figures exclude unusual items, such as costs to integrate U.S. banking firm Marshall & Ilsley, which Bank of Montreal bought in July 2011. On that basis, the latest earnings beat the consensus estimate of $1.48 a share. A year earlier, Bank of Montreal earned $972 million, or $1.42 a share. Overall revenue fell 0.9%, to $4.08 billion from $4.12 billion. Revenue was unchanged at the Canadian banking business, which supplies 39% of the bank’s overall revenue. Low interest rates continue to attract borrowers, but they also hurt the income that Bank of Montreal earns on its loans. Revenue at its U.S. operations (19% of the total) fell 4.4%, partly due to smaller gains on sales of securities....