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Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Paper plants can emit as much CO2 as oil refineries. They're flying under the radar.
For more than a century, Covington, Virginia has had one dominating feature: its paper mill. Smokestacks tower over the community of 5,500, many of whom work there. But according to a new report, the mill spews more nitrogen oxide, methane, and greenhouse gases than is generally known. 'The snow is not white here. It's ash, it's nasty, and it's all over the place all of the time,' Robin Brown, a 65-year-old resident who lives near the mill, told the researchers. 'And there's that funky odor, like rotten eggs. It's all you can smell.' The Covington mill is among the industry's worst polluters, according to a report the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project, or EIP, released today. It detailed similar issues at 185 such facilities nationwide. And, because of Environmental Protection Agency reporting rules, the report found that climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions from those mills are being undercounted by some 350 percent. The EPA houses the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, where facilities report their emissions of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. But EPA facility totals don't include what are called biogenic CO2 emissions, or those that come from 'natural sources' such as wood, which is a primary fuel for the paper industry. According to the EIP investigation, the 10 pulp and paper mills that reported the most greenhouse gases in 2023 were able to lower their reported 'total' emissions by between 61 and 90 percent each because they burned wood products. Biogenic emission data is buried deeper within EPA data and, when those emissions are included, the largest paper mills can emit as much as a large oil refinery, the report noted. 'It masks the true impact of the industry,' said Courtney Bernhardt, director of research for EIP and an author of the report. 'It hides the fact that there is an urgent need to address.' The American Forest & Paper Association, which represents the industry, did not respond to a request for an interview. The EPA told Grist it would review the report. Smurfit West Rock, which owns the mill in Covington, did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. EIP also used data from the National Emissions Inventory, an annual estimate of the output of gases like sulfur dioxide, methane, carbon dioxide, and dozens of others. One of the major reasons that pollution levels are so high, Bernhardt explained, is that many paper plants continue using outdated equipment that is far less efficient than modern machinery. The boiler at the Covington mill, for example, is 85 years old. The average age across the 185 facilities that the report found data for was 41 years. The Clean Air Act effectively grandfathers in the equipment until it comes time to replace it, and the emissions reductions can be stark when that happens. Bernhardt cited the Ahlstrom's Thilmany Mill in Wisconsin as an example. The plant, built in 1883, replaced its boiler in 2020 and emissions of sulfur dioxide, a health-harming air pollutant, fell from 4,800 tons to 410 tons. A facility in Washington saw an 87 percent drop and one in Georgia plummeted 96 percent. 'There's going to be a large number of these plants that are going to need to install new boilers [in the next decade],' said Bernhardt. She would like them to move toward more efficient options, especially those that run on electricity derived from clean energy instead of natural gas. But it's unclear exactly how, or how quickly, any transition will unfold. 'Developing a technology that can both be financially attractive and reduce carbon dioxide emissions is not easy,' said Sunkyu Park, a professor at North Carolina State University who specializes in pulp and paper processing. His research focuses on trying to develop a more efficient 'recover boiler,' which accounts for the majority of CO2 emissions during production. He is studying electric options, as well as those that use less natural gas. His work remains at very early stages, but the goal is that 'eventually industry can implement that technology.' In the meantime, Bernhardt hopes the EIP's report can focus attention on cleaning up an industry that is often seen as an alternative to plastics, but carries its own baggage. 'We need paper. We need cardboard,' she said. '[But] there's a lot of greenwashing that makes paper seem cleaner than it really is.' This story was originally published by Grist with the headline Paper plants can emit as much CO2 as oil refineries. They're flying under the radar. on May 29, 2025.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maximize Your TFSA's Potential With These 3 Dividend Stars for Compounding Growth
Written by Robin Brown at The Motley Fool Canada The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is the ideal place for Canadian investors to compound their investments. When you don't pay any tax on your investment income (whether it be capital gains or dividends), you can accelerate the wealth accumulation process. You can save as much as 10–20% of your investment income by just investing inside a TFSA. If you are looking for an attractive mix of dividend income and capital upside, here are three Canadian stocks to hold today. Intact Financial (TSX:IFC) is a dividend all-star that should be considered for any TFSA portfolio. IFC stock has increased its dividend for 20 consecutive years. Over the past 10 years, its dividend per share has risen by a 10% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR). Intact stock has done nicely as well. It is up 225% in the past 10 years. Fundamental performance is aligned with the stock. Revenues have increased by a near 11% CAGR and earnings per share have risen by an 8% CAGR. Intact has used its dominant market position in Canada to provide attractive value for consumers. As it scales, it can offer more insurance products at different affordability ranges. The company is using the same strategy to become a significant insurance player in the U.K. It is also expanding its exposure to the speciality insurance market. Despite its strong performance to date, Intact stock should perform resiliently for TFSA shareholders going forward. IFC yields 1.9% today. AltaGas (TSX:ALA) looks like another attractive dividend stock for a TFSA. It has recently delivered very solid returns for shareholders. Its stock is up 167% in the past five years. AltaGas has been in turnaround mode for the past few years. Today, that turnaround is largely complete, and its financial results reflect it. Over the past three years, AltaGas has grown revenues by a 5.6% CAGR. Earnings per share are up by a 33% CAGR. AltaGas has sold off non-core operations and significantly reduced its debt levels. Today, AltaGas operates four high quality regulated utilities in the U.S. The leading North American infrastructure company has been working to steadily grow its rate base and invest in high return-on-equity infrastructure opportunities. It also has a Canadian midstream operation that should benefit from rising exports of natural gas products to Asia. AltaGas has increased its dividend per share by a 6% CAGR over the past three years. It expects to keep doing so for the immediate future. This TFSA dividend stock yields 3.3% today. Another TFSA stock for dividends and capital appreciation is Alimentation Couche-Tard (TSX:ATD). While recent returns have been somewhat lacklustre, its stock is still up 89% in the past five years and 167% in the past 10 years. Alimentation operates a global convenience and gas station empire. The retailer has strategically acquired smaller players around the world. It uses its strong brands, attractive offerings, and economies of scale to improve margins and grow sales organically. While results have weakened due to a more challenging macro environment, the company continues to push initiatives that will provide longer-term growth. Couche-Tard is also eyeing an acquisition of 7-11. While that is questionable, it could make it the largest convenience retailer in the world. Regardless, Couche-Tard is a very well-managed business with a good long-term record. It also has a great dividend growth rate. ATD stock currently yields 1.1%. The post Maximize Your TFSA's Potential With These 3 Dividend Stars for Compounding Growth appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. Before you buy stock in Altagas, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Canada analyst team just identified what they believe are the Top Stocks for 2025 and Beyond for investors to buy now… and Altagas wasn't one of them. The Top Stocks that made the cut could potentially produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider MercadoLibre, which we first recommended on January 8, 2014 ... if you invested $1,000 in the 'eBay of Latin America' at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $20,697.16!* Stock Advisor Canada provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month – one from Canada and one from the U.S. The Stock Advisor Canada service has outperformed the return of S&P/TSX Composite Index by 29 percentage points since 2013*. See the Top Stocks * Returns as of 3/20/25 More reading Best Canadian Stocks to Buy in 2025 Market Volatility Toolkit 4 Secrets of TFSA Millionaires Beginner Investors: 4 Top Canadian Stocks to Buy for 2025 5 Years From Now, You'll Probably Wish You Grabbed These Stocks Subscribe to Motley Fool Canada on YouTube Fool contributor Robin Brown has positions in Alimentation Couche-Tard. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alimentation Couche-Tard. The Motley Fool recommends Intact Financial. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2025
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beginner Investors: 2 Safe Dividend Stocks to Keep Money Coming In
Written by Robin Brown at The Motley Fool Canada If you are new to investing, a persistent stock market sell-off can be really intimidating. Psychologists have found that the emotions related to a capital loss are significantly more profound than those that come from a gain. Humans are wired to protect themselves from pain. Unfortunately, some pain is a part of the investing process. Every investor will have losses at some point. Markets do not go up endlessly. They do tend to go up more than they go down, but bear markets are still a fact of life. Fortunately, you can avoid some of this pain by diversifying your portfolio and keeping dry powder to invest when the stock market dips. And some stocks tend to be more resilient through market downturns than others. Many investors like dividend stocks during drawdowns because it helps ensure some sort of tangible return. Dividends can help offset the volatility of the market. Psychologically, it can be a comfort to see dividends hit your account when the market is struggling. Fortis (TSX:FTS) is about as close as you come to a bond in the form of a dividend stock. Investors run to its safe and steady utility business during times of distress. Its stock is up 8% in 2025. With a market cap of $32 billion, it is one of Canada's largest pure-play regulated utilities. It operates 10 transmission/distribution utilities across North America. In its core jurisdictions, it operates a basic monopoly on power and gas transmission. Fortis provides safe and reliable service. In return, the utility company collects a baseline fee for the energy resources that run through its network. Likewise, it earns a regulated return on the infrastructure capital it spends. This dividend stock is as safe as they come. Fortis has a 51-year history of consecutively increasing its annual dividend. Right now, FTS yields 3.9%. I would not call it cheap today. However, if you want a safe place to put your capital (with a decent yield), it is a good place to invest. If you are worried about a declining Canadian dollar, BSR Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: could be a dividend stock for you. Despite being listed on the TSX, BSR operates entirely in the United States (primarily Texas). This $650 million company operates garden-style communities that offer mid-level rental affordability. The REIT operates in some of the fastest growing regions in the country. Over the long term, this dynamic has supported consistently high occupancy and strong rental rate growth. BSR just announced plans to sell off a large piece of its portfolio. The company trades at a steep discount to its private market value. The deal demonstrated that its assets are worth considerably more than its stock is given credit for. BSR has plans to use the proceeds to further upgrade its portfolio in top growth markets. This dividend stock yields 4.5% right now. It increased its distribution last year. pays its distribution monthly if you like to see your passive income come in regularly. This stock still trades at a steep discount. In the past, management has opportunistically bought back stock aggressively. BSR is an intriguing value and income play for investors open to a little bit more risk than Fortis stock. The post Beginner Investors: 2 Safe Dividend Stocks to Keep Money Coming In appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. Before you buy stock in Fortis, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Canada analyst team just identified what they believe are the Top Stocks for 2025 and Beyond for investors to buy now… and Fortis wasn't one of them. The Top Stocks that made the cut could potentially produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider MercadoLibre, which we first recommended on January 8, 2014 ... if you invested $1,000 in the 'eBay of Latin America' at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $21,058.57!* Stock Advisor Canada provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month – one from Canada and one from the U.S. The Stock Advisor Canada service has outperformed the return of S&P/TSX Composite Index by 38 percentage points since 2013*. See the Top Stocks * Returns as of 2/20/25 More reading Best Canadian Stocks to Buy in 2025 Here's Exactly How $15,000 in a TFSA Could Grow Into $200,000 4 Secrets of TFSA Millionaires Beginner Investors: 4 Top Canadian Stocks to Buy for 2025 5 Years From Now, You'll Probably Wish You Grabbed These Stocks Subscribe to Motley Fool Canada on YouTube Fool contributor Robin Brown owns BSR Real Estate Investment Trust. The Motley Fool recommends BSR Real Estate Investment Trust and Fortis. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 TSX Stocks Perfect for First-Time Investors
Written by Robin Brown at The Motley Fool Canada With so much uncertainty facing TSX stocks, it can be a challenge for a new investor to know how to invest right now. One great way to help manage that risk is to own a diverse portfolio. A mix of stocks with exposure to different industries, sectors, and assets can help prevent the risk of permanent capital loss. As you gain experience, you can start to narrow in on which market segments match your interests and risk tolerance. If you are looking for some TSX stocks to get started with, here are three stocks to look at adding. Dividend stocks are a great place to start. New investors often enjoy the tangible returns that dividends bring. What's better than cash in your pocket just for owning a stock? If you want an ultra-safe stock, Fortis (TSX:FTS) is a good bet. You don't own this stock for a big capital gain. FTS stock has only risen by about 4% per annum for the past five years. However, it has steadily paid and grown its ~4% dividend yield. Fortis is a low beta stock. This means it is generally less volatile than the broader market. Its transmission utilities across North America deliver stable and predictable results. This has fuelled 50-plus years of consecutive dividend increases. It is not exciting, but it is very safe (and you collect passive income along the way). Small cap stocks are a great place to invest if you don't mind a bit more risk and higher reward. VitalHub (TSX:VHI) has the potential to deliver great long-term returns in the future. The software firm provides solutions to the healthcare industry. Its technology helps clinics and hospitals become more effective and efficient. The entire industry is ripe for disruption. That gives VitalHub a long runway ahead. The company has grown by making good acquisitions and smart market expansion. With a cash-rich balance sheet, it should be able to keep growing by adding smart software companies to its portfolio. It has operations across the world, so you are not at risk from exposure to any one market. VitalHub is not the cheapest stock in terms of valuation. However, if it can continue to execute like it has in the past few years, it could deliver strong double-digit annual returns ahead. You don't always need to increase risk to get better rewards. Constellation Software (TSX:CSU) is a great example. The software firm has steadily compounded returns by over 30% for more than 18 years. However, today its stock trades for over $4,850 per share. CSU stock has a market cap over $100 billion. The good news is that you can buy its little brother, (TSXV:TOI), for only $139 per share. Topicus is consolidating small, specialized software businesses around Europe and abroad. Given what is happening in the U.S., this is a way to broaden your geographic exposure. Topicus has made some great acquisitions early on in 2025. The spinoff generates a lot of excess cash and has a very strong balance sheet. It's a good bet if you want to mirror Constellation's growth profile for the years to come. The post 3 TSX Stocks Perfect for First-Time Investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. Before you buy stock in Constellation Software, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Canada analyst team just identified what they believe are the Top Stocks for 2025 and Beyond for investors to buy now… and Constellation Software wasn't one of them. The Top Stocks that made the cut could potentially produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider MercadoLibre, which we first recommended on January 8, 2014 ... if you invested $1,000 in the 'eBay of Latin America' at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $21,058.57!* Stock Advisor Canada provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month – one from Canada and one from the U.S. The Stock Advisor Canada service has outperformed the return of S&P/TSX Composite Index by 38 percentage points since 2013*. See the Top Stocks * Returns as of 2/20/25 More reading 10 Stocks Every Canadian Should Own in 2024 [PREMIUM PICKS] It's Time to Buy: 1 Canadian Stock That Hasn't Been This Cheap in Years Where to Invest Your $7,000 TFSA Contribution 3 No-Brainer TSX Stocks to Buy With $300 5 Years From Now, You'll Probably Wish You Grabbed These Stocks Subscribe to Motley Fool Canada on YouTube Fool contributor Robin Brown has positions in Constellation Software, and Vitalhub. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends and Vitalhub. The Motley Fool recommends Constellation Software and Fortis. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2025
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Best Stocks to Invest $25,000 in Right Now
Written by Robin Brown at The Motley Fool Canada Without a doubt, $25,000 is a substantial chunk of change to invest in stocks. It is a nice amount to get started if you are a new investor. You can build a substantial position in a stock. You can also diversify your portfolio across several holdings. If you are looking for some stocks to buy, here are four Canadian stocks I wouldn't hesitate adding now. With the potential for higher stock market volatility through 2025 (and potentially beyond), it doesn't hurt to hold some stocks that produce income. If the market declines, you can still collect a nice stream of income to offset some of the stock price fluctuations. One stellar Canadian stock for income is Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ). Canada's largest energy producer and one of its best-run companies has built out a resource network that should stand the test of time. The world's largest independent crude oil and natural gas producer has a sector-leading low cost of production. Likewise, it has decades of energy reserves. CNQ is down 6% in the past month. It trades at an attractive valuation. The stock yields 4.9% and has a 25-year history of annually increasing its dividend. Another stock for a mix of income, value, and growth is Calian Group (TSX:CGY). It provides a diverse mix of services that include healthcare, specialized technologies, cybersecurity, and crisis/military training. The business services and solutions firm is a major supplier to the Canadian military. Yet, it has been diversifying its revenue sources in the past few years. If Trump threats have any impact, Canada will need to beef up its military spending. That could benefit Calian over the long run. The company trades at a very low valuation, despite putting up steady growth in the past few years. CGY stock also has a nice 2.3% yield. If you want growth that can compound, (TSXV:TOI) is an attractive buy today. The company is a serial acquirer of software companies in Europe and abroad. Its mix of niche software companies earn high recurring revenues and tend to be essential to the customers they serve. The company generates substantial cash that it deploys into more acquisitions. It has already made some big deals in 2025. This could translate into very good results through the year. TOI stock is not cheap today, but if it can continue to execute, it could still be a good deal. Another excellent long-term compounder is Colliers International Group (TSX:CIGI). Many see this as just a commercial real estate brokerage business. However, it has transformed into a multi-faceted services company. Today, engineering/advisory and asset management make up over 50% of its earnings. Likewise, over 70% of its earnings are from recurring sources. The company is building out some substantial platform businesses. The market doesn't yet recognize its value so you can nab this stock at a reasonable valuation today. Each of these are great companies that have considerable capacity to deliver strong returns for shareholders. With these you get a mix of income, value, growth, and compounding. Invest in these stocks and diversify with stocks like these, and you can stand to do very well long term. The post The Best Stocks to Invest $25,000 in Right Now appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. Before you buy stock in Calian Group Ltd., consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Canada analyst team just identified what they believe are the Top Stocks for 2025 and Beyond for investors to buy now… and Calian Group Ltd. wasn't one of them. The Top Stocks that made the cut could potentially produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider MercadoLibre, which we first recommended on January 8, 2014 ... if you invested $1,000 in the 'eBay of Latin America' at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $18,750.10!* Stock Advisor Canada provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month – one from Canada and one from the U.S. The Stock Advisor Canada service has outperformed the return of S&P/TSX Composite Index by 35 percentage points since 2013*. See the Top Stocks * Returns as of 1/22/25 More reading 10 Stocks Every Canadian Should Own in 2024 [PREMIUM PICKS] It's Time to Buy: 1 Canadian Stock That Hasn't Been This Cheap in Years Where to Invest Your $7,000 TFSA Contribution 3 No-Brainer TSX Stocks to Buy With $300 5 Years From Now, You'll Probably Wish You Grabbed These Stocks Subscribe to Motley Fool Canada on YouTube Fool contributor Robin Brown has positions in Calian Group, Colliers International Group, and The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Colliers International Group and The Motley Fool recommends Calian Group and Canadian Natural Resources. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
