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Retirement 100 (Fall 2014) The fall has always been a magical time for Canadians as the leaves change and the fills our plates. The crisp air reminds us of the months to come, but there is still time for a slice of pumpkin pie and a cup of apple cider. This is also the time of year when wise souls begin preparing for the winter. They bring their heavy coats out of storage, sock away preserves, and take care of small tasks that will make life easier when the snow arrives. Similarly, you can start preparing for a comfortable retirement by putting together a dependable income-producing portfolio, and dividend stocks can help. They have a long and distinguished record of providing income to investors. And while stocks don't offer the guarantee that comes with government bonds, the income they generate tends to grow over time. To help you find the best dividend stocks in Canada, we're pleased to present the latest edition of the MoneySense Retirement 100. It grades the largest dividend-payers in the country and helps you pick those that are right for your portfolio. We're happy to report that our efforts have paid off handsomely so far. If you had rolled your portfolio into our new batch of A-graded stocks every year since our launch in 2007, you would have enjoyed a total gain of 142%. You'd be up a total of 91% if you had followed stocks with either A or B grades. That's pretty good, considering that the market suffered from a huge crash during that period. By way of comparison, the S&P/TSX Composite Index ETF (XIC), which tracks the broad Canadian stock market, logged a total return of just 38% over the same period. We also beat the dividend-oriented iShares Canadian Select Dividend ETF (XDV), which climbed by 58%. Long-term results are one thing, but the Retirement 100 also generated solid returns over the past year. The 2013 A-graded Retirement 100 stocks advanced by 24% on average since last time, while those rated either A or B climbed 20%. In an unusual state of affairs, however, the index was a real competitor this year. The broader market surged over the past 12 months, with the S&P/TSX Composite ETF (XIC) advancing 24% and the Canadian Select Dividend ETF (XDV) gaining 20%. To produce the Retirement 100, we grade each of Canada's largest dividend payers based on its ability to provide generous income to investors for a reasonable price. The process is sophisticated, but the letter-grade results are simple - they're as easy to understand as a report card. To rate each stock we take a no-nonsense numbers-based approach. We start by scouring the Bloomberg database for detailed financial information on the largest dividend- paying stocks in Canada. Then we trim the list to remove firms that have been around for less than a year, and those lacking the detailed financial data we need. The grades we assign the remaining stocks are based on yield, reliability, and value. Yield The more money a company can send your way, the better. That's why we give top marks to stocks with generous dividend yields. We also reward businesses that have grown dividends over the lfive years, an indicator of the strength of their franchises. Reliability We want some assurance that a company will continue to pay its shareholders. As a result, we favour stocks that earn more than they pay out in dividends. We give additional marks to those with little debt compared to their peers. After all, companies burdened by debt tend to be risky. Value On the value front we want to buy lots of assets for a low price. The best grades go to companies with moderate or low price-to-book- value ratios. We als table stocks trading at reasonable prices relative to their earnings. Putting all these factors together we arrive final grade for each of the largest 100 dividend stocks in Canada. This year, only two earned an 'A', but 13 managed solid 'B's this time around.
We were pleased to see Power Financial (PWF) and the Bank of Montreal (BMO) get top grades again this year, as they did in 2013. Both offer dividend yields approaching 4% and trade at price-to-earnings ratios of just under 13, which is quite low compared to most Canadian stocks. Three big banks earned solid 'B's this year.they are the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), CIBC (CM), and TD Bank (TD). Of the bunch, TD offers the lowest yield (at 3.3%) but it has also grown its dividend the most over five years. Insurance firms were popular B-listers too, with Industrial Alliance Insurance (IAG), and Genworth MI Canada (MIC) getting the nod. Genworth is the cheapest of the two on a price-to-book-value basis (at 1.1 times), which reflects the market's unease with its mortgage insurance business. Other B-graders include ATCO (ACO.X) and Emera (EMA), which are classified as utilities. But ATCO should really be thought of as an energy-heavy conglomerate. Speaking of conglomefield Asset Management (BAM.A) and Power Corp (POW) also got 'B's. The former is known for its love of real estate and the later prefers insurance and asset management. On the resource side of the ledger, Cameco (CCO), Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ), and Canadian Oil Sands (COS) were also near the top of the class. Cameco's fortunes are tied to the price of uranium and the others are influenced by oil prices. Last, but not least, Canadian Tire (CTC.A) is the only retailer to get a 'B' this year. The firm has done quite well for itself, but it has been under assault by U.S. competitors who have recently invaded its turf. Smart investors should also consider unique or intangible features that are not reflected in the hard numbers. For instance, if a mining company's tailings pond recently collapsed, it could be on the hook for expensive environmental damages not reflected on its balance sheet. Please use our grades as a starting point for your research. Before buying any stock, make sure its situation hasn't changed significantly and that it's right for you. While we're overjoyed with our long-term results, that doesn't mean we can guarantee you'll make a fortune with every A- or B-rated stock. The market is too wild and woolly for that. Nonetheless, we think such stocks deserve your attention and further research. Perhaps while sipping a little apple cider this fall. Download the Retirement 100 table (a .xls file) First published in the November 2014 edition of MoneySense magazine. Past Retirement 100 / Income 100 / Top Trusts Articles Retirement 100: Fall 2013 Retirement 100: Fall 2012 Retirement 100: Fall 2011 Retirement 100: Fall 2010 Income 100: Summer 2009 Income 100: Summer 2008 Income 100: Summer 2007 Top Trusts 2006 Top Trusts 2005 |
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| Disclaimers: Consult with a qualified investment adviser before trading. Past performance is a poor indicator of future performance. The information on this site, and in its related newsletters, is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, financial advice or recommendations. The information on this site is in no way guaranteed for completeness, accuracy or in any other way. More... | |||||||
