Are you searching for a thoughtful, unique gift idea this holiday season?
Do you know someone who seems to have everything and is difficult to buy for?
Is there a person on your list who loves to shop, craves the latest gadgets, or enjoys watching movies?
Would you like to share your love of investing with others?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, there is one gift that is sure to satisfy you and the recipient this holiday: it’s the gift of a share(s) of stock in a company they love!
There are several ways you can gift stocks. Various websites are specifically designed to sell shares of stock intended as gifts. These sites can guide you through the process. If the company does not issue paper stock certificates, these sites provide a framed, personalized replica stock certificate for display purposes. You can also re-title shares of stocks you own or establish a direct share-purchase plan in the name of the recipient.
Here are four stocks that would make great holiday gifts this year.
For the person who loves to shop: Shopify
Shopify is Canada’s answer to the world’s largest retailer, Amazon. The stock has certainly given investors something to cheer about this year. Trading at $466.42 as of this writing, the stock is up over 140% YTD!
While some investors are concerned with Shopify’s high valuation, the company is showing tremendous sales growth. In the three months ending September 30, Shopify’s sales grew 45% to $390.6 million, helped by recent advancements in its delivery network.
The company also raised its annual revenue guidance to $1.56 billion and boosted its fourth-quarter sales estimates to $482 million.
For the movie lover: Cineplex
Although Cineplex is best known in Canada for its 162 theatres, the company also maintains several entertainment venues. Cineplex’s Rec Room venues offer games, live music, and concessions and can be reconfigured to host anything from small birthday parties to large corporate-sponsored events.
Although the stock price is relatively unchanged over the past year, Cineplex pays a hefty dividend of 7.2%. In the most recent quarter, the company reported total revenue of $418.4 million, an improvement of 8.3% over the same period last year. Net income increased over 30% from the same time last year to $13.38 million.
For the tech hound: Open Text
Open Text is one of Canada’s leading high-tech companies. Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Open Text develops Enterprise Information Management products, which enable businesses to lower operational costs by improving business insight, impact, and process speed.
Trading at $56.89 as of this writing, Open Text is having a great year, up 25% over the last 12 months.
In November, Open Text announced the purchase of Carbonite, a U.S. cybersecurity firm based in Boston, Massachusetts. The addition of Carbonite will expand upon Open Text’s consumer base to key strategic markets.
For the kid in your life: Disney
Few names are as synonymous with childhood as Walt Disney, the most recognized brand in the entertainment industry anywhere in the world.
The company recently jumped into the online streaming wars, with its own streaming service, Disney Plus. With exclusive rights to content from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, few entertainment companies offer the breadth of its programming.
Trading at US$148.58 as of this writing, the stock is up 34% YTD, making it one of the best performers on the Dow this year.
Bottom line
If you’re searching for a unique gift to give this holiday season, why not delight someone with stock from one of their favourite companies? It’s a gift that will be remembered for years to come and be one of the few gifts that appreciates over time.
