Dave at Investing Intelligently noticed that my benchmark Sleepy Portfolio returned a stellar 14.7% in 2006 and asked the obvious question: Why do I even bother with individual stocks instead of taking a passive approach using ETFs? It is a good question and as a matter of fact, I am slowly increasing the percentage of [...]
Many companies offer a Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) that is almost always a sure way to make some extra money. A typical ESPP plan allows employees to contribute some percentage of their pay and the shares are bought at a 15% discount to the lower of the starting or ending date. Even in the [...]
According to Microsoft Money, my portfolio returned 13.5% in 2005. My target “Sleepy” portfolio composed largely of ETFs returned 12.6%. I bought the following stocks over the course of the year: Anheuser-Busch (BUD): Buy: $46.71. Now: $43.51. AIG (AIG): Buy: $53.84. Now: $68.41. Home Depot (HD): Buy: $38.26. Now: $41.09. Bank of Nova Scotia: Buy: [...]
I am selling the iUnits MSCI International Equity Index RSP Fund (TSX: XIN) and buying the equivalent iShares fund that track the MSCI EAFE Index. The XIN ETF has a total expense ratio of 0.5% versus 0.35% for the EFA and provides currency hedging for the extra fee. Since, I am investing for the very [...]
It occurred to me that though I track the performance of my portfolio, I never wrote about its actual composition. Currently, it is 94% equities, 4% cash and 2% other. I don’t have any exposure to bonds or REITs. Top 5 holdings are: Altria Group (NYSE: MO): 8.7% TD Bank (TSX: TD): 7.5% E*Trade (NYSE: [...]
I am buying some more Home Depot (NYSE: HD) for my retirement account. The company needs no introduction. It is a Dow component and most home owners spend a good chunk of their home maintenance budget at their stores. I am planning on making the stock a core holding at roughly 6% of my portfolio [...]
Recently, I enrolled in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan offered by my employer. The plan is typical of its kind and allows employees set aside a portion of total compensation to purchase company stock at a discount to market value. A potentially profitable feature is locking up a low stock price for a 24-month period. [...]
I bought Sears Canada (TSX: SCC) about a year ago for around $17, for much of the same reasons described here. Recently, Sears announced that it is looking into strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of its financial services division. In response, the stock has strengthened considerably. I have sold my entire position, as Sears [...]
The shaky minority government has put my portfolio spring-cleaning efforts on hold. In May, the federal budget (Bill C-43) passed the second reading narrowly and avoided the fall of the government. When the budget bill is finally passed into law, I plan to sell the following losers in my portfolio: JDS-Uniphase (TSX: JDU) – Very [...]
Last week, I bought Bell Canada Enterprises (TSX, NYSE: BCE) for my spouse’s retirement account. BCE and its subsidiaries offer a wide range of services including telecom (fixed line, long distance and wireless), data (dial-up and high-speed internet access) and video (Bell ExpressVu satellite TV). BCE also has significant stakes in Bell Globemedia (CTV and [...]
