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BCE INC., $31.61, is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol BCE; Shares outstanding: 932.5 million; Market cap: $30.4 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Yield: 5.5%) is Canada’s largest traditional telephone service provider. It also has 4.42 million high-speed Internet users and 2.10 million fibre-optic TV subscribers. In addition, it sells wireless services to 13.56 million cell users across Canada, and it owns TV and radio stations.
ENBRIDGE, $65.78, is a buy. The firm (Toronto symbol ENB; Shares outstanding: 2.2 billion; Market cap: $152.4 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 5.7%; www.enbridge.com) recently announced that it would proceed with two new natural gas pipeline projects to spur its growth.


They include increasing capacity on its Algonquin Gas Transmission pipeline, which delivers natural gas in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. It expects to complete these improvements in 2029.
LOBLAW COMPANIES, $57.73, (Toronto symbol L; Shares ooutstanding: 1.2 billion; Market cap: $65.3 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 1.0%; www.loblaw.ca) is a buy. The company, through its Loblaw Advance marketing unit, operates roughly 2,000 screens at more than 700 locations. Those screens display ads and other promotions.
IBM and TC Energy are leading competitors in their respective markets; look for that to cut your ongoing risk. We see both as attractive buys.


IBM, $306.77, is a #1 Buy for 2025. The company (New York symbol IBM; Shares o/s: 934.7 million; Market cap: $267.1 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 2.2%; www.ibm.com) is one of the world’s largest computer firms, with operations in over 175 countries.
TD BANK, $113.85, is a buy for patient, income-seeking investors. The lender (Toronto symbol TD; Shares outstanding: 1.7 billion; Market cap: $193.4 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 3.7%; www.td.com) now plans to improve its efficiency, mainly by making better use of technology.
That includes using artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up the processing of transactions. It will also cut jobs and close branches.
ISHARES MSCI JAPAN INDEX FUND, $82.80, 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.
GREAT-WEST LIFECO, $59.32, is still a hold. The company (Toronto symbol GWO; shares o/s: 924.8 million; Market cap: $52.4 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Yield: 4.1%; www.greatwestlifeco.com) is Canada’s second-largest life insurer, after Manulife Financial. It also offers pension and wealth management services. Power Corp. (Toronto symbol POW) owns 68.3% of the firm.
We think foreign stocks can safely make up 10% of a conservative investor’s portfolio. One way is through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with an overseas focus. The best of those ETFs charge you very low management fees yet offer you well-diversified, tax-efficient portfolios of high-quality stocks.
Here’s a look at four international ETFs we see as suitable for new buying and two others we feel you should continue to hold.
GLOBAL X COPPER MINERS ETF, $59.30, is a buy. The ETF (New York symbol COPX; buy or sell through brokers; www.globalxfunds.com) lets you track the Solactive Global Copper Miners Index, with 41 global mining and exploration firms. The fund launched in April 2010.
Most precious metal stocks dropped along with the market in March 2020. They then quickly reversed that trend to soar for investors, in part because of gold’s appeal as a “safe harbour” in times of economic uncertainty. In fact, in August 2020, gold jumped to over $2,000 U.S. an ounce for the first time ever. Gold stocks also jumped.