Articles

European defence stocks have vastly outperformed the S&P 500 this year and so far, show no sign of slowing down. Despite the currency risk, Canadian investors may be able to ride the momentum.

The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the Standard & Poors 500 Index (S&P) both delivered strong returns in 2024, on top of strong returns the preceding year, with both exchanges ending 2023 and 2024 on a high note. Markets so far this year have performed less steadily, and investors may be experiencing losses. But losses, under certain conditions, could present a hopeful prospect: Tax-loss selling.

Like many Canadians, I am doing my best to boycott U.S. products given current tense relations. I would also like to diversify my investments outside of the U.S., and I wonder what my global alternatives are for investments in fine wine.

Like every consumer industry, investment tastes change to reflect the times. The utilitarian 60/40 portfolio is now deemed passé and poorly suited for these tumultuous times. Alts (a.k.a. ‘alternative investment strategies’) are roaring down the product pipeline. Once the exclusive domain of institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals, these often pricey and opaque strategies, such as private equity, private credit, and venture capital, are now being pitched to the hoi polloi. But are they “a must-have”—or “a most hyped”?

When your family circle grows, there are financial implications. Whether it is due to the birth of a child or grandchild, the start of a common-law relationship, or celebrating a marriage, there may be opportunities and challenges that result.

In 2023, central banks across the globe instituted a series of interest rate hikes in an effort to curb inflation. Given its susceptibility to high interest rates, these measures had a negative impact on real estate as an asset class. Consequently, real estate investors in both private markets as well as the public markets largely through Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) have experienced meaningful drops in the market value of such assets, ranging from a decline of 30% to 50%. Many overleveraged entities turned into financial hardships that led to bankruptcy because of increasing mortgage expenses.

In October 2024, the Ontario Securities Commission (“OSC”) released a Consultation Paper 81-737 (the Proposal) for comment to enable retail investors access to illiquid long-term assets through a new type of prospectus-qualified investment fund.

If there’s a new child or grandchild in your family, as a Canadian MoneySaver reader, you’re likely already thinking about how to save for their future education. Many Canadians are familiar with the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), but there are a few key opportunities you might be missing out on that could make a big impact.

Spring is all about being refreshed, renewed, and new growth. It also offers a good time to look at your portfolio to make sure it is still doing what you intend it to do, particularly as the markets have been bumpy over the last few months. In many cases, the growth story in many individual stocks may have changed over the last few months. That industrial name exposed to tariff risks might not be quite the growth stock you thought it was. Or maybe, that gold mine has had such a significant run that it is time to rebalance a little. Of course, it is not always easy to find those compelling growth names that will help drive your portfolio to the next level. We wanted to look at three metrics that can help an investor cut through the noise, and hopefully, make it easier to find that next great growth stock.