Tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) offer Canadians who are 18 and older the opportunity to set money aside and earn investment income without having to worry about the taxman, even when the income is withdrawn.
If you don’t already have a TFSA, you should strongly consider opening one. If you do have one, here are five excellent dividend-growth stocks that you could add to it right now.
1. ATCO Ltd.
ATCO Ltd. (TSX: ACO.X) is a diversified global corporation with operations in the utilities, energy, structures, and logistics industries, and its principal subsidiaries include Canadian Utilities Limited.
It pays a quarterly dividend of $0.285 per share, or $1.14 per share annually, which gives its stock a yield of about 2.6% at today’s levels. It’s also important to note that it has raised its annual dividend payment for 22 consecutive years, and its 15.2% hike in January has it on pace for 2016 to mark the 23rd consecutive year with an increase.
2. Shaw Communications Inc.
Shaw Communications Inc. (TSX: SJR.B)(NYSE: SJR) is one of Canada’s leading pure-play connectivity providers. It’s also the country’s fourth-largest wireless carrier through its WIND Mobile subsidiary.
It pays a monthly dividend of $0.09875, or $1.185 per share annually, which gives its stock a yield of about 4.9% at today’s levels. It’s also important to note that it has raised its annual dividend payment for 12 consecutive years, and its 7.7% hike in March 2015 has it on pace for 2016 to mark the 13th consecutive year with an increase.
3. Intact Financial Corporation
Intact Financial Corporation (TSX: IFC) is Canada’s leading provider of property and casualty insurance. Its subsidiaries include Intact Insurance, belairdirect, BrokerLink, and Jevco Insurance Company.
It pays a quarterly dividend of $0.58 per share, or $2.32 per share annually, which gives its stock a yield of about 2.6% at today’s levels. It’s also important to note that it has raised its annual dividend payment for 10 consecutive years, and its 9.4% hike in February has it on pace for 2016 to mark the 11th consecutive year with an increase.
4. High Liner Foods Inc.
High Liner Foods Inc. (TSX: HLF) is one of North America’s largest producers and distributors of value-added frozen seafood. Its brands include High Liner, Fisher Boy, Mirabel, Sea Cuisine, and C. Wirthy.
It pays a quarterly dividend of $0.13 per share, or $0.52 per share annually, which gives its stock a yield of about 2.8% at today’s levels. It’s also important to note that it has raised its annual dividend payment for eight consecutive years, and its two hikes since the start of 2015, including its 8.3% hike last month, have it on pace for 2016 to mark the ninth consecutive year with an increase.
5. Brookfield Canada Office Properties
Brookfield Canada Office Properties (TSX:BOX.UN)(NYSE:BOXC) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) with a portfolio 26 “premier” office properties in the downtown cores of Toronto, Calgary, and Ottawa that total approximately 20 million square feet.
It pays a monthly distribution of $0.1092 per share, or $1.31 per share annually, which gives its stock a yield of about 4.5% at today’s levels. It’s also important to note that it has raised its annual distribution for five consecutive years, and its 5.7% hike in January has it on pace for 2016 to mark the sixth consecutive year with an increase.
