Traditional telecommunications service providers, such as Telus and BCE, are trading at substantially lower valuations than other “infrastructure” type companies. This is not only true for Canadian companies, but also for U.S. and other similar companies in Europe.


Infrastructure-type companies such as telecommunications, pipeline, utility, and railroad companies delivered comparable financial results over the past 5 years—so this provides no explanation for the significant valuation differences....

Hackers, organized crime, and even state-sponsored groups are increasingly targeting the Internet-linked networks and databases of governments and businesses to gain access to confidential information and demand large ransom payments.


The lucrative nature of online crime, combined with a relatively low risk of being caught, and a massive and growing target market, indicate that this criminal industry will continue its rapid growth....

This month we highlight two new funds: the first is a global equity ETF from a large Canadian asset manager with a considerable number of ETFs already in place; the second is a long-short equity ETF from a Canadian hedge fund manager.


MACKENZIE ALL-EQUITY ALLOCATION ETF $20.66 (Toronto symbol MEQT) invests in a range of other Mackenzie equity ETFs in order to offer investors a single entry point for a global equity portfolio....

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive decline in Brazil’s tourism industry as international visitors declined from over 6 million in 2019 to less than 1 million by 2021.


But the tourists are now returning with estimates indicating that 6.7 million tourists visited in 2023.


Tourism is a sizeable business in Brazil, but it could be much bigger....

Brazil is one of the top-10 global economies, and it is richly endowed with a range of base commodities.


The country has great long-term growth potential, although in the near term, it needs to get its economy back on track. Here is one ETF that provides exposure to the top Brazilian publicly listed companies for investors who want to tap the country’s long-term prospects.


ISHARES MSCI BRAZIL ETF $33.99 (New York symbol EWZ; TSI Network ETF Rating: Aggressive; Market cap: $6.0 billion) tracks the performance of the largest publicly listed Brazilian companies.


Basic Materials and Energy account for 38% of the ETF’s assets, while Financials (23%), Industrials (12%), Utilities (10%), and Consumer Defensive (6%), are other key segments.


The ETF holds a portfolio of 48 stocks; the top 10 make up a high 56% of its assets....

Telecommunications form an integral part of the economic infrastructure. Moreover, existing players benefit from strict licensing standards and high capital requirements that act as barriers to entry for any new companies. In addition, many of the major telecommunication companies have strong cash flows, high levels of profitability, and rising dividends....

SPDR S&P 500 ETF, $476.56 (New York symbol SPY; TSINetwork ETF Rating: Conservative; buy or sell through brokers; www.spdrs.com) offers investors exposure to the stocks in the S&P 500 Index; they are 500 major U.S....

Cybercrime can have major consequences for individuals, corporations, and governments, alike; the two highly publicized cyberattacks on T-Mobile last year provide good examples from the recent past. Meanwhile, people still working from home and growth in gaming have also spurred a jump in cyberattacks....

If you’re like most investors, you should invest the major portion of your money in stocks from our Conservative Growth Portfolio....

TOROMONT INDUSTRIES LTD. $115 (www.toromont.comwww.toromont.com) is a buy. The company distributes bulldozers, backhoe loaders and drills, mainly in eastern Canada and the U.S....