These two insurers just raised their dividends

MANULIFE FINANCIAL CORP. $22 (Toronto symbol MFC; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio; Finance sector; Shares o/s: 2.0 billion; Market cap: $44.0 billion; Dividend yield: 4.5%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.manulife.ca) is Canada’s largest life insurance provider. It also sells other forms of insurance, including health, dental and travel plans… Read More

Quality holdings support dividend

POWER CORP. $27 (Toronto symbol POW; Conservative-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 417.0 million; Market cap: $11.3 billion; Dividend yield: 5.7%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.powercorporation.com) is a holding company with a diversified list of businesses. Those include 65.6%-owned Power Financial, which in turn holds… Read More

Diversify with these non-bank financials

Most investors typically hold two, three or more of the big five Canadian banks. That makes sense given their steady profit growth and rising dividends. They also give investors exposure to a wide variety of financial services, including mutual funds, retirement planning and insurance.
Even so,… Read More

Power offers top holdings

POWER CORP. $28.62 (Toronto symbol POW; Shares outstanding: 414.4 million; Market cap: $13.5 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Divd. yield: 5.3%; www.powercorporation.com) is a holding company with a diversified list of businesses. It holds its financial assets through its 65.6%-owned Power Financial.
Power Financial’s assets include 67.6%… Read More

Focus on Asia will help buoy these dividends

MANULIFE FINANCIAL CORP. $24 (Toronto symbol MFC; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio; Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 2.0 billion; Market cap: $48.0 billion; Dividend yield: 3.7%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.manulife.ca) is Canada’s largest life insurance provider. It also offers other forms of insurance, including health, dental and travel plans,… Read More

Diversify with these mid-cap ETFs

For most investors, we still think large-cap companies, or the ETFs that hold them, should form the core of their stock portfolios. However, while a lot of investors look to add a few small companies with high growth potential, many overlook medium-sized companies, or “mid… Read More

GWO deepens its Irish connection

GREAT-WEST LIFECO INC. $32 (Toronto symbol GWO; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Finance sector; shares outstanding: 988.6 million; Market cap: $31.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 4.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.greatwestlifeco.com) is Canada’s second-largest insurance company, after Manulife Financial. It also offers mutual funds and… Read More

Power family offers three high-yield stocks

GREAT-WEST LIFECO INC. $33 (Toronto symbol GWO; Conservative Growth Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; shares outstanding: 988.6 million; Market cap: $32.6 billion; Dividend yield: 4.7%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.greatwestlifeco.com) is Canada’s second-largest insurance company, after Manulife. It also offers mutual funds and wealth management services.
With the March… Read More