top stocks

A: BMO International Dividend ETF, $19.67, symbol ZDI on Toronto (Units outstanding: 22.2 million; Market cap: $440.6 million; www.bmo.com), offers exposure to a portfolio of high-yield dividend-paying companies in developed market....

The best way to learn how to avoid losing money on investments is to look for ways to invest in high-quality stocks and make lower-risk decisions

Generally speaking, Canadians are blocked from buying mutual funds that are registered in the U.S. unless those funds are also registered with provincial securities commissions. (Moreover, some Canadian mutual funds are only available in a limited number of provinces.)


Investors in this country can, however, buy exchange-traded funds, ETFs, listed on U.S....

All of the major global stock markets fell with the initial outbreak of COVID-19. But many top markets have since rebounded. We think the outlook remains positive for quality stocks, and one way to profit from that—while cutting your risk—is to invest in quality ETFs.


Here’s a look at four international funds that we believe are well-suited for your new buying....

The best way to learn how to avoid losing money on investments is to look for ways to make lower-risk decisions and invest in high-quality stocks

A: The Fidelity Global Innovators Fund is a mutual fund that aims to invest in companies with the potential to be disruptive innovators. The fund looks globally in its search for top firms that are positioned to successfully apply innovative and emerging technology or that employ innovative business models.


The fund has an MER of 2.30%.

The Fidelity Global Innovators Fund has holdings in 104 companies....

Vaccination plans in the U.S. and globally have spurred a more positive economic outlook for 2021. Still, there are risks on the horizon, like potential delays in the rollout of those vaccines as well as political and trade-war tensions.


Here’s a look at three popular ETFs and whether we think they are buys for investors in 2021.


VANGUARD U.S....

SPDR S&P 500 ETF $379.79 (New York symbol SPY) lets you hold the top stocks of the S&P 500 Index; they’re the major U.S. companies based on market cap, liquidity and industry.


The fund’s highest-weighted stocks offer a lot of appeal for investors: Apple, 6.5% of assets; Microsoft, 5.2%; Amazon.com, 4.2%; Alphabet, 3.3%; Tesla, 2.1%; Facebook, 2.0%; Berkshire Hathaway, 1.4%; Johnson & Johnson, 1.3%; and JP Morgan Chase, 1.3%.


The ETF’s distribution also offers you a solid 1.5% yield, while the fund charges you a very low 0.095% MER.


Going forward, investors should directly gain from U.S....

Here’s an excerpt from a recent issue of Advice for Inner Circle Pro Members:


“Early in my investment career, I developed a keen interest in what we called “investor rules of thumb.” Here are some random examples:


“Stocks trading at a P/E ratio of 10 times per-share earnings or less are good buys.”


“As January goes, so goes the year.” In other words, if the stock market goes up in January, it will probably have a gain for the year, as a whole.


“When a stock rises and its volume of trading expands as well, it’s likely to keep rising.”


The downfall of all market indicators is that they entice you into basing a decision on a narrow range of information....

A lot can change in 20 years.

As long-time readers may recall, we launched our Wall Street Stock Forecaster around 20 years ago. It got a good reception from our clients and investors (and it’s still going strong today). However, I recall one cancellation email that we received in late 2002, about a year after 9/11....