Best Canadian Stocks To Buy Right Now

On Tuesday, Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE: BNS  ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed, kneejerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.

Canadian banks came through the 2008 financial crisis with flying colors, as Scotiabank and its peers benefited from the more stable structural characteristics of the Canadian mortgage market. Yet while the housing market south of the border has retrenched to relative bargain-levels, Canadian real estate remains extremely expensive, especially in key markets. That has raised concerns of potential trouble ahead. Let's take an early look at what's been happening with Bank of Nova Scotia over the past quarter and what we're likely to see in its quarterly report.

5 Best Food Stocks To Watch For 2015: Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd (AAV)

Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd. and its subsidiaries engage in the acquisition, exploitation, development, and production of oil and gas in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. It produces and sells crude oil, natural gas, sulphur, and natural gas liquids primarily through marketing companies. As of February 5, 2013, the company�s core properties comprised of Glacier Montney natural gas asset with approximately 80 net sections of land located in Alberta. Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd. was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Dube]

  Comparing the netbacks with its peers, we can see that MEG Energy reported Q2 operating netbacks of $41.93/Boe, Advantage Oil & Gas' (AAV) Q2 operating netbacks totaled $14.74/Boe, Baytex has realized $25.76/Boe for Q1 and Bonavista Energy operating netbacks for Q1 amounted to $19.49/Boe. Therefore, with an average netback of $26.11/Boe, BlackPearl's $28.65/Boe is a little higher than the average of its peers with higher realized prices and stronger recoveries.

Best Canadian Stocks To Buy Right Now: Penn West Petroleum Ltd(PWE)

Penn West Petroleum Ltd. engages in acquiring, exploring, developing, exploiting, and holding interests in petroleum and natural gas properties and related assets in North America. The company produces light and medium crude oil, natural gas liquids, heavy oil, and natural gas. It operates in two major regions, including the Southern District, which covers properties within Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and southern and east central Alberta with developed and undeveloped land base totaling approximately 3.3 million net acres; and the Northern District encompassing northeastern British Columbia, northern Alberta, parts of west central Alberta, and the Northwest Territories with developed and undeveloped land position of approximately 2.9 million net acres. The company was formerly known as Penn West Energy Trust and changed its name to Penn West Petroleum Ltd. in January 2011. Penn West Petroleum Ltd. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  The biggest worry that some investors have about Pengrowth is that its dividend is large compared to its earnings. Similar issues forced Penn West Petroleum (NYSE: PWE  ) , also a former Canroy, to cut its dividend a couple months ago. Although extraordinary measures have helped Pengrowth and Enerplus (NYSE: ERF  ) sustain payouts at levels that were last reduced in the middle of 2012, both companies could eventually see further pressure on their payouts in future.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another under-$10 stock that's starting to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Penn West Petroleum (PWE), which is engaged in the business of acquiring, exploring, developing, exploiting and holding interests in petroleum and natural gas properties and related assets. This stock has been under pressure by the bears during the last three months, with shares off by 24%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Penn West Petroleum, you'll notice that this stock has been trending sideways over the last two months, with shares moving between $7.89 on the downside and $8.84 on the upside. Shares of PWE are now starting to spike higher above its recent low of $8.14 a share and it's quickly moving within range of triggering a breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern.

  Market players should now look for long-biased trades in PWE if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $8.84 a share to its 50-day moving average of $8.96 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 2.43 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then PWE will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 200-day moving average of $10.07 to $11 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give PWE a chance to tag $11.50 to $12 a share.

  Traders can look to buy PWE off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $8.14 a share or at $7.89 a share. One can also buy PWE off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Best Canadian Stocks To Buy Right Now: NRG Energy Inc.(NRG)

NRG Energy, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a wholesale power generation company. The company engages in the ownership, development, construction, and operation of power generation facilities. It also involves in the transacting in and trading of fuel and transportation services; the trading of energy, capacity, and related products in the United States and internationally; and the supply of electricity, energy services, and cleaner energy and carbon offset products to retail electricity customers in deregulated markets. The company operates natural gas- fired, coal- fired, oil-fired, nuclear, solar, and wind power plants. As of December 31, 2010, it had power generation portfolio of 193 operating fossil fuel and nuclear generation units with an aggregate generation capacity of approximately 24,570 megawatt (MW), as well as ownership interests in renewable facilities with an aggregate generation capacity of 470 MW. The company portfolio also includes appr oximately 24,035 MW generation capacity in the United States, and 1,005 MW generation capacity in Australia and Germany. In addition, it has a district energy business with steam and chilled water capacity of approximately 1,140 megawatts thermal equivalent. NRG Energy, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sara Murphy]

  Liebreich had, perhaps, the warmest praise for NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG  ) , describing the company as a model of resilience. "NRG is trying to cannibalize its core business model," said Liebreich. Presciently, the company "would rather cannibalize itself than push back and defend against others." NRG, the biggest power provider to U.S. utilities, has begun providing electricity directly to consumers, bypassing its traditional clients. NRG has gotten into the rooftop solar business for both residential and commercial customers, and intends eventually to offer natural-gas generators to pick up the slack when the sun don't shine. And that, my friend, is what we call a paradigm shift.

• [By Sue Chang and Ben Eisen]

  NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) �shares rallied 4.8%. The power company said Friday that it will buy Edison Mission Energy from Edison International (EIX) �for a total of $2.64 billion in an effort to expand its generation portfolio and to achieve economies of scale. It said it expects to close the deal in the first quarter of 2014.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Sticking with the energy sector, NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG  ) jumped 4.2% after filing its IPO plans for the spinoff of its NRG Yield subsidiary, which will hold stakes in natural gas, wind, and solar projects. NRG has high hopes for the spinoff which could raise the company up to $411 million when it prices 19.6 million shares between $19 and $21 per share. Spinoffs like these are becoming more common, as transparency in the complex energy sector is proving helpful to investors who are looking to better understand how these companies make their living.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  But the nuclear renaissance some predicted won't bring much more capacity to the industry. NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG  ) gave up on a $10 billion plant last year and took a $481 million�financial hit in the process. UniStar's request for a license to operate a third reactor at Calvert Cliffs, Md., was denied this year and that project appears to be all but dead. Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy also abandoned a nuclear power plant proposal this year, so momentum for the industry isn't strong.

Best Canadian Stocks To Buy Right Now: Cornerstone Progressive Return Fund(CFP)

Cornerstone Progressive Return Fund is a closed-ended equity fund of fund launched and managed by Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. The fund invests funds investing in the public equity markets of the United States. It invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Cornerstone Progressive Return Fund was formed on April 26, 2007 and is domiciled in the United States.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  But you can see in several places the consequences of the stampede toward high yield. Here are just a few:

  Closed-end funds Cornerstone Progressive (NYSEMKT: CFP  ) and Pimco High Income (NYSE: PHK  ) both make fixed payments back to fund shareholders on a monthly basis, and their distribution yields are truly extraordinary, at about 17% and 12%, respectively. Those dividends have enticed shareholders to pay $1.30 to $1.40 or more for each $1 of assets in the funds. Yet during most months, a substantial portion of those distribution payments has simply been a return of investor capital rather than true income from the funds' investments. A recent study discussed in The Wall Street Journal found that returns on a portfolio with a combined value and dividend-income strategy outperformed a strategy focused more exclusively on maximizing dividends by an average of 1.7 percentage points per year, a huge edge in long-run returns. In the dividend ETF arena, most funds tend to focus on maximizing yield. Although the popular Vanguard Dividend Appreciation (NYSEMKT: VIG  ) ETF bucks the trend by screening first for consistent dividend growth and only then looking at yield as a factor, many rival ETFs start with high-yielding stocks as their baseline and only then consider other desirable traits. Others focus solely on high-dividend niches of the market, such as iShares FTSE NAREIT Mortgage-Plus (NYSEMKT: REM  ) and its concentration on high-yield mortgage REITs.

  When dividend stocks get too popular, their prices get out of line with both their dividend income and the fundamentals of the businesses that underlie those stocks. In simpler terms, when dividend stocks become bad values, it's time to consider looking elsewhere for a margin of safety.

Best Canadian Stocks To Buy Right Now: Encana Corporation(ECA)

Encana Corporation and its subsidiaries engage in the exploration for, development, production, and marketing of natural gas, oil, and natural gas liquids. The company owns interests in resource plays that primarily include the Greater Sierra, Cutbank Ridge, Bighorn, and Coalbed Methane resource plays located in British Columbia and Alberta, as well as the Deep Panuke natural gas project offshore Nova Scotia in Canada. It also holds interests in resource plays comprising the Jonah in southwest Wyoming, Piceance in northwest Colorado, Haynesville in Louisiana, and Texas resource play, including east Texas and north Texas. The company serves primarily local distribution companies, industrials, energy marketing companies, and other producers. Encana Corporation was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeremy van Loon]

  Encana Corp. (ECA), the natural gas producer selling assets after losing half its value since 2010, is being urged by investors to cut its dividend and focus on profitable projects in the U.S. and Canada.

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  Encana (ECA)

  Manning & Napier�� fifth largest holding is in Ecana. The guru holds on to 27,376,066 shares of Unilever, representing 2.4% of their total holdings and 3.71% of the company�� shares outstanding. Over the past quarter, Manning & Napier increased their position 0.22% by purchasing 60,930 shares. They purchased these shares in the first quarter price range of $17.25 to $21.42, with an estimated average quarterly price of $18.90. Since then the price per share has increased approximately 21.8%.

• [By Arjun Sreekumar]

  But now, with gas prices above $4 per Mcf, some producers are either resuming or ramping up operations in gassier plays. For instance, Encana (NYSE: ECA  ) announced in February that it intends to increase its gas rig count in the Haynesville shale by three this year, citing the play's recently improved profitability.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Nucor’s (NUE) side-bet on natural gas looks to be a loser, as the steel company called a halt to its natural-gas project with Encana (ECA) today.

Best Canadian Stocks To Buy Right Now: Transdigm Group Incorporated(TDG)

TransDigm Group Incorporated designs, produces, and supplies engineered aircraft components for use on commercial and military aircraft principally in the United States. The company?s products include mechanical/electro-mechanical actuators and controls, ignition systems and engine technology, pumps and valves, power conditioning devices, AC/DC electric motors and generators, NiCad batteries and chargers, engineered latching and locking devices, rods and locking devices, engineered connectors and elastomers, cockpit security components and systems, cockpit displays, aircraft audio systems, lavatory components, engineered interior surfaces, and lighting and control technology. Its customers comprise distributors of aerospace components; commercial airlines, including national and regional airlines; commercial transport and regional and business aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs); various armed forces of the United States and foreign governments; defense OEMs; system suppliers; and various other industrial customers. TransDigm Group Incorporated was founded in 1993 and is based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  TransDigm (NYSE: TDG  ) is rewarding its shareholders mightily with an extraordinary payout. The company has declared a special dividend of $22.00 per share, which will be paid on July 25 to shareholders of record as of July 15.

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  TransDigm Group (TDG)

  Fournier maintains his largest position in TransDigm Group where he holds 2,152,710 shares. His position in TransDigm represents 4.30% of the company�� shares outstanding and 6.3% of his total portfolio.

• [By Brendan Mathews]

  We asked which current CEOs fit the�Outsiders�mold. Thorndike reeled off a short list of names, but he started with Michael Pearson of�Valeant Pharmaceuticals� (NYSE: VRX  ) . He went on to mention Nicholas Howley of�TransDigm Group� (NYSE: TDG  ) , and Rich Kinder of�Kinder Morgan� (NYSE: KMI  ) .�