CENOVUS ENERGY, $23.32, is a buy for long-term gains. Canada’s third-largest oil producer (Toronto symbol CVE; Shares outstanding: 1.8 billion; Market cap: $42.0 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 3.4%; www.cenovus.com) has now agreed to sell its 50% interest in WRB Refining LP to its joint venture partner Phillips 66 (symbol PSX on New York.


The sales price is $1.9 billion, and Cenovus will use the funds to pay down its debt and buy back shares.

The shares of oil and gas stocks remain high as energy demand stays strong. Still, to cut risk, stick with producers that have positive cash flow even in times of low energy prices. Here are two that should meet that requirement. Moreover, they pay solid dividends.


IMPERIAL OIL LTD., $125.58, is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol IMO; Shares o/s: 509.0 million; Market cap: $63.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Yield: 2.3%; imperialoil.ca) gets over 90% of its production from the oil sands of Alberta. It also has conventional oil and gas operations in the West and holds stakes in offshore projects in Atlantic Canada. Other operations include three refineries (one in Alberta, two in Ontario) and a petrochemical plant in Sarnia, Ontario. U.S.-based ExxonMobil (New York symbol XOM) owns 69.6% of Imperial.

Both of these Canadian insurance stocks provide investors with high dividend yields. They also offer strong growth prospects at a more than reasonable price. Each is a buy.


MANULIFE FINANCIAL, $43.85, is a buy. This safety-conscious stock (Toronto symbol MFC; Shares outstanding: 1.7 billion; Market cap: $74.5 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 4.0%; www.manulife.ca) represents one of Canada’s largest life insurers. It’s also a leading insurer in Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, and the Philippines. On June 30, 2025, the insurer had $1.6 trillion in assets under administration.



The company’s revenue in the quarter ended June 30, 2025, increased 21.4%, to $15.64 billion from $12.88 billion, on significantly higher investment income. Earnings decreased by 0.6%, to $1.726 billion from $1.737 billion a year earlier. However, per-share earnings gained 4.4%, to $0.95 from $0.91, on fewer shares outstanding. Excluding currency rates, earnings rose 2%.

IBM, $268.49, is a #1 Buy for 2025. The company (New York symbol IBM; Shares outstanding: 931.5 million; Market cap: $266.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 2.4%; www.ibm.com) is now working on the development of large clusters of quantum computing chips, which should enable it to offer large-scale quantum computing in the next five years.


As part of that effort, IBM recently announced a partnership with chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (symbol AMD on Nasdaq) to “develop next-generation computing architectures.” That plan will rely on a combination of quantum computers and high-performance conventional computing.

So far, most Canadian oil and gas exports to the U.S. have been exempt from new tariffs because of their compliance with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement. That agreement, however, comes up for renewal next year, and uncertainty remains. Still, any possible future tariff on oil and gas would likely be paid by the buyer or seller and not by Enbridge and other pipeline companies. Another plus for this transport giant is that 98% of its gross earnings stem from regulated operations or take-or-pay contracts. That also helps to cut its risk. In addition, Enbridge’s recent acquisition of gas distribution utilities in the U.S. should work to protect shareholder returns.

A: Las Vegas Sands Corp., $54.86, symbol LVS on New York (Shares outstanding: 686.5 million; Market cap: $37.7 billion; www.sands.com), develops and operates vacation resorts.


Incorporated in 2004, the company operates destination properties. These feature premium accommodations, world-class gaming, entertainment and retail malls. Those properties also have convention and exhibition facilities, celebrity chef restaurants and other amenities.



In 2022, Sands sold its properties in Las Vegas to focus on Asia. Sands sold the Venetian Resort Las Vegas and the Sands Expo and Convention Center, for a total of $6.4 billion.

A: In general, activist investors are individuals or groups buying a company’s shares with the intention of boosting shareholder value and ultimately pushing up its share price.


Activist investing has surged in the past decade, led by a relatively small but powerful group of hedge funds. They follow different strategies, but all have the same goal: to wring the greatest possible profits from the company’s assets. This could include forcing a change in its board of directors, bringing in new management, selling off underperforming business units, spinning off other units to unlock value, or even selling the entire company.

A: Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., $25.65, symbol KDP on New York (Shares outstanding: 1.4 billion; Market cap: $35.9 billion; www.keurigdrpepper.com), is a leading North American beverage company. It owns or licenses over 125 beverage brands such as Dr Pepper, Canada Dry, Snapple, Keurig, and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. It has significant market share in several beverage categories, including carbonated soft drinks, coffee, tea, water, juice and mixers. The company’s Keurig single-serve coffee brewing system is the number one in the U.S. and Canada.


On August 25, 2025, Keurig Dr Pepper announced that it would acquire JDE Peet’s (symbol JDEPY on the U.S. Over-the-Counter market) for $18 billion.

A: The Kraft Heinz Company, $25.75, is a buy. The company (symbol KHC on Nasdaq; Consumer sector; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Shares outstanding: 1.2 billion; Market cap: $30.9 billion; www.kraftheinzcompany.com) is a leading producer of processed foods. Its top brands include Heinz Ketchup, Velveeta and Philadelphia cheeses, Oscar Mayer hot dogs, and Ore-Ida potatoes.


In the quarter ended June 28, 2025, Kraft’s sales fell 1.9%, to $6.35 billion from $6.48 billion a year earlier. If you exclude divestitures and currency rates, sales decreased 2.0%. Higher selling prices (up 0.7%) were not enough to offset lower volumes (down 2.7%).

It’s no secret—we’re fond of spinoff stocks! Indeed, we like them for several reasons. Most notably, they have a strong track record of outperforming competing firms following the split from their parent companies. Those former parent companies also tend to outperform their own rivals.

Of course, spinoffs have the potential to reward investors in other ways. Those new stocks—and indeed their former parents—often attract lucrative takeover offers within just a few years of a breakup.

The enhanced takeover appeal reflects the smaller, more-focused operations of both the spinoff and the parent. Their reduced market caps also make it easier for would-be buyers to fund their acquisition. In addition, the smaller operations are easier for buyers to integrate into their existing businesses. That often translates into a quick revenue and earnings boost.