Greg Newman, senior wealth advisor, director and portfolio manager at the Newman Group, Scotia Wealth Management
Focus: North American dividend stocks and protection strategies

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MARKET OUTLOOK

Will higher interest rates, a higher U.S. dollar, the concern of peak visibility and potential trade wars keep the stock market going sideways to down? While these are areas to monitor, at these levels, the more probable answer in our view is “no.”

Markets usually don’t unfold in a straight line and the current concerns look more like the typical “wall of worry” variety than that of a bull-ender category. Use the weakness to pick up some bargains that can still score points in this more tepid environment.

TOP PICKS

All three of these companies offer investors an attractive growth profile at a compelling valuation. You can earn a nice, safe dividend while the valuation surfaces.

TD BANK (TD.TO)
MANULIFE FINANCIAL (MFC.TO)
RESTAURANT BRANDS (QSR.TO)

PAST PICKS: JUNE 16, 2017

INTACT FINANCIAL (IFC.TO)
Sold some in discretionary funds late last year at $107-ish as concerns of weaker personal auto lines began to surface. Holding the remaining one-fourth still.

• Then: $93.82
• Now: $96.35
• Return: 2.69%
• Total return: 4.72%

ENBRIDGE (ENB.TO)
Holding all.

• Then: $51.44
• Now: $39.75
• Return: -22.72%
• Total return: -19.46%

RUSSEL METALS (RUS.TO)
Holding all.

• Then: $25.07
• Now: $30.23
• Return: 20.58%
• Total return: 25.56%

Total return average: 3.60%

WEBSITE: WWW.NEWMANGROUP.CA