stanley

iShares MSCI Canada ETF: Smart investors should ditch this overpriced ETF for a lower-cost alternative that should perform better over time.

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....

Stanley Black & Decker yields 4.0% as it continues to aggressively cut costs, expand its margins and generate plenty of cash flow to keep increasing payouts.

NORTH WEST COMPANY, $48.01, is a buy. The retailer (symbol NWC on Toronto) sells food, and everyday products and services through 227 stores. Those locations are mainly in northern communities across Canada and Alaska. Through your shares, you also tap the company’s operations in remote regions of Hawaii, the wider South Pacific and the Caribbean.

North West’s food offerings consist of perishable and non-perishable products including groceries, dairy, produce, meat, convenience foods, food service, home meal replacement, health and beauty aids, paper products and cleaning supplies....

STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC. $90 is a buy. The company (New York symbol SWK; Conservative Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 154.2 million; Market cap: $13.9 billion; Dividend yield: 3.6%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.stanleyblackanddecker.com) is one of the world’s largest makers of hand and power tools.


With the September 2024 payment, Stanley raised your quarterly dividend by 1.2%, to $0.82 a share from $0.81....

WALMART INC., $90.44, New York symbol WMT, is a buy.

The company is the world’s biggest retailer, with over 10,660 outlets in 19 countries.

Walmart continues to benefit as inflation draws more shoppers to its value-focused stores, particularly for groceries and health products....

ISHARES MSCI JAPAN INDEX FUND, $69.38, is a buy. The ETF (New York symbol EWJ; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) aims to mirror the return of the Morgan Stanley Capital International Japan Index.


The fund’s top holdings include Toyota, 5.3%; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, 3.2%; Sony Corp., 2.8%; Hitachi (conglomerate), 2.5%; Tokyo Electron (computer chips), 2.3%; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, 2.3%; Keyence (sensors), 2.1%; and Shin Etsu Chemical, 2.1%....

GE HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGIES INC. $89 is a buy. The company (Nasdaq symbol GEHC; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 456.7 million; Market cap: $40.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.1; Dividend yield: 0.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.gehealthcare.com) makes X-ray equipment, MRIs and ultrasound scanners.


On January 3, 2023, General Electric Co....

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....

iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund charges a high management fee you can avoid by choosing a similar, cheaper fund in its place.