The S&P/TSX Composite Index rose another 133 points on August 5. Mining and materials combined with the energy space to power another green day for the Canadian market. Earlier this week, I’d discussed whether investors should look to prepare for a stock market crash. It is almost never a good idea to try to time the market. However, piling up on defensive stocks may be prudent in what looks like an overvalued climate. Today, I want to look at three dividend stocks that can protect your portfolio for the rest of 2020.
Why grocery stocks can defend against a stock market crash
In the early spring of 2020, the TSX Index suffered a sharp correction along with its global peers. However, consumer staples like grocery stocks managed to provide stability to shareholders during this turbulent period. These stocks continue to be great targets for those who are worried about a stock market crash.
Loblaw Companies(TSX:L) is the largest grocery retailer in Canada. Its shares have climbed 5.2% in 2020 as of close on August 5. The company released its second-quarter 2020 results on July 23. It put together a strong performance in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Revenue increased 7.4% year over year to $11.9 billion. Like other retailers, grocers have also accelerated their e-commerce push. Loblaw’s Everyday Digital sales soared 280% to $1.2 billion in Q2 2020. The board of directors announced a quarterly dividend of $0.315 per share, which represents a modest 1.8% yield.
Shares of Loblaw last had a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 25 and a price-to-book (P/B) value of 2.2 It is still in solid value territory compared to industry peers.
One dividend stock to stash
Back in July, I’d discussed how millennials could build a green energy portfolio. A stock market crash is impossible to predict. However, the continued growth of the renewable energy sector appears to be a sure bet as we kick off the 2020s.
Polaris Infrastructure(TSX:PIF) is a Toronto-based renewable energy company that acquires, explores for, develops, and operates geothermal and hydroelectric energy projects in Latin America. Its stock has climbed 21% in 2020 so far.
In Q1 2020, Polaris generated $20.3 million in revenue from energy sales. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $17.0 million over $15.9 million in the prior year. It declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a strong 5.7% yield.
The stock last possessed a P/E ratio of 11 and a P/B value of 0.8. This puts Polaris in attractive value territory as we start the month of August. I’m bullish on this renewable energy stock going forward.
Stock market crash: Why telecom is a solid option
Telecom stocks have been quiet since the stock market crash in March. Rogers Communications, one of the largest telecoms in Canada, has seen its shares drop 12% in 2020 as of close on August 5. The stock looks undervalued in the middle of the summers. Shares last had a favourable P/E ratio of 16. Meanwhile, Rogers offers a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share, representing a 3.6% yield.
One super interesting stock to watch in this hot market…
One little-known Canadian IPO has doubled in value in a matter of months, and renowned Canadian stock picker Iain Butler sees a potential millionaire-maker in waiting…
Because he thinks this fast-growing company looks a lot like Shopify, a stock Iain officially recommended 3 years ago – before it skyrocketed by 1,211%!
Iain and his team just published a detailed report on this tiny TSX stock. Find out how you can access the NEXT Shopify today!
Most job search advice is cookie-cutter. The advice you’re following is almost certainly the same advice other job seekers follow, making you just another candidate following the same script.
In today’s hyper-competitive job market, standing out is critical, a challenge most job seekers struggle with. Instead of relying on generic questions recommended by self-proclaimed career coaches, which often lead to a forgettable interview, ask unique, thought-provoking questions that’ll spark engaging conversations and leave a lasting impression.
Your level of interest in the company and the role.
Contributing to your employer’s success is essential.
You desire a cultural fit.
Here are the top four questions experts recommend candidates ask; hence, they’ve become cliché questions you should avoid asking:
“What are the key responsibilities of this position?”
Most likely, the job description answers this question. Therefore, asking this question indicates you didn’t read the job description. If you require clarification, ask, “How many outbound calls will I be required to make daily?” “What will be my monthly revenue target?”
“What does a typical day look like?”
Although it’s important to understand day-to-day expectations, this question tends to elicit vague responses and rarely leads to a deeper conversation. Don’t focus on what your day will look like; instead, focus on being clear on the results you need to deliver. Nobody I know has ever been fired for not following a “typical day.” However, I know several people who were fired for failing to meet expectations. Before accepting a job offer, ensure you’re capable of meeting the employer’s expectations.
“How would you describe the company culture?”
Asking this question screams, “I read somewhere to ask this question.” There are much better ways to research a company’s culture, such as speaking to current and former employees, reading online reviews and news articles. Furthermore, since your interviewer works for the company, they’re presumably comfortable with the culture. Do you expect your interviewer to give you the brutal truth? “Be careful of Craig; get on his bad side, and he’ll make your life miserable.” “Bob is close to retirement. I give him lots of slack, which the rest of the team needs to pick up.”
Truism: No matter how much due diligence you do, only when you start working for the employer will you experience and, therefore, know their culture firsthand.
“What opportunities are there for professional development?”
When asked this question, I immediately think the candidate cares more about gaining than contributing, a showstopper. Managing your career is your responsibility, not your employer’s.
Cliché questions don’t impress hiring managers, nor will they differentiate you from your competition. To transform your interaction with your interviewer from a Q&A session into a dynamic discussion, ask unique, insightful questions.
Here are my four go-to questions—I have many more—to accomplish this:
“Describe your management style. How will you manage me?”
This question gives your interviewer the opportunity to talk about themselves, which we all love doing. As well, being in sync with my boss is extremely important to me. The management style of who’ll be my boss is a determining factor in whether or not I’ll accept the job.
“What is the one thing I should never do that’ll piss you off and possibly damage our working relationship beyond repair?”
This question also allows me to determine whether I and my to-be boss would be in sync. Sometimes I ask, “What are your pet peeves?”
“When I join the team, what would be the most important contribution you’d want to see from me in the first six months?”
Setting myself up for failure is the last thing I want. As I mentioned, focus on the results you need to produce and timelines. How realistic are the expectations? It’s never about the question; it’s about what you want to know. It’s important to know whether you’ll be able to meet or even exceed your new boss’s expectations.
“If I wanted to sell you on an idea or suggestion, what do you need to know?”
Years ago, a candidate asked me this question. I was impressed he wasn’t looking just to put in time; he was looking for how he could be a contributing employee. Every time I ask this question, it leads to an in-depth discussion.
Other questions I’ve asked:
“What keeps you up at night?”
“If you were to leave this company, who would follow?”
“How do you handle an employee making a mistake?”
“If you were to give a Ted Talk, what topic would you talk about?”
“What are three highly valued skills at [company] that I should master to advance?”
“What are the informal expectations of the role?”
“What is one misconception people have about you [or the company]?”
Your questions reveal a great deal about your motivations, drive to make a meaningful impact on the business, and a chance to morph the questioning into a conversation. Cliché questions don’t lead to meaningful discussions, whereas unique, thought-provoking questions do and, in turn, make you memorable.
Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers “unsweetened” job search advice. You can send Nick your questions to artoffindingwork@gmail.com.
CALGARY – Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. reported a third-quarter profit of $2.27 billion, down from $2.34 billion in the same quarter last year.
The company says the profit amounted to $1.06 per diluted share for the quarter that ended Sept. 30 compared with $1.06 per diluted share a year earlier.
Product sales totalled $10.40 billion, down from $11.76 billion in the same quarter last year.
Daily production for the quarter averaged 1,363,086 barrels of oil equivalent per day, down from 1,393,614 a year ago.
On an adjusted basis, Canadian Natural says it earned 97 cents per diluted share for the quarter, down from an adjusted profit of $1.30 per diluted share in the same quarter last year.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 90 cents per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2024.
CALGARY – Cenovus Energy Inc. reported its third-quarter profit fell compared with a year as its revenue edged lower.
The company says it earned $820 million or 42 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, down from $1.86 billion or 97 cents per diluted share a year earlier.
Revenue for the quarter totalled $14.25 billion, down from $14.58 billion in the same quarter last year.
Total upstream production in the quarter amounted to 771,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day, down from 797,000 a year earlier.
Total downstream throughput was 642,900 barrels per day compared with 664,300 in the same quarter last year.
On an adjusted basis, Cenovus says its funds flow amounted to $1.05 per diluted share in its latest quarter, down from adjusted funds flow of $1.81 per diluted share a year earlier.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2024.
