Political conflicts and deadly diseases are hitting the global headlines on a daily basis. Many people who might have been considering a trip are watching the news and thinking it is best to stay put in good old Canada.
Investors are thinking the same way. With so much uncertainty abroad, it may be a wise idea to look at putting new money into Canadian stocks that are relatively immune to global issues.
Here are three stocks that Canadian investors can rely on during global uncertainty.
1. Tim Hortons Inc.
Canada’s favourite coffee chain is probably the safest bet when the world looks like it is headed for anarchy. People love their morning coffee and Tim Hortons Inc. (TSX: THI)(NYSE: THI) is the place where most Canadians go to get their daily caffeine fix.
The company continues to expand its network of coffee shops in both Canada and the U.S. so customers don’t have worry about going very far to get their double-doubles.
Its earnings report for Q2 2014 was very strong as popular new products continued to drive up the average sale per visitor.
The company has increased its dividend from $0.40 per share to $1.28 per share over the past five years. The current yield is about 1.9%. The stock has gone up more than 100% in the same time frame.
2. Canadian Tire Corporation Limited
Despite the concerns abroad, Canadians have to continue with their daily lives. Canadian Tire Corporation Limited (TSX: CTC.A) is the place where they can go for just about everything their families need while still staying close to home.
People can go to Canadian Tire to make sure their family vehicles are well maintained, buy a baseball glove, pick up a new lawnmower, grab some cool tools, and even snag a few new fishing lures before heading to the cabin for the weekend.
The company just reported solid Q2 2014 earnings supported by growth in sports gear and homewares sales.
It has increased its dividend five times in the past four years, including twice in 2014 alone. The current dividend of $2.00 per share yields about 1.8%. The stock price has gone up more than 90% in the past five years.
3. BCE Inc.
As Canada’s largest communications company, BCE Inc. (TSX: BCE)(NYSE: BCE) has everything Canadians need when they want to buckle down in the safety of their own homes yet stay up to speed with developments across the country and around the world.
BCE Inc. provides state-of-the-art wireline and wireless communication services to Canadian households so they can access the information they desire across any platform — TV, mobile, or desktop.
BCE also owns media content. The company’s media division owns TV networks, radio stations, specialty channels, websites, and sports assets.
The company continues to pay investors a handsome dividend. Its current payout of $2.47 yields about 5%. Its shares have increased more than 80% in the last five years.
