Best Canadian Stocks

Leaning on a Retail Giant for Steady Dividends

When a company builds its fortunes around one powerful partner, it can either look like a risk or a source of stability. For dividend investors, the key question is whether that dependence translates into predictable, but also growing, dividends. In the case of CT REIT, its close relationship with Canadian Tire provides both an anchor and a growth engine. While it may not offer explosive expansion, it delivers the kind of steady, reliable income stream many dividend investors value.

Anchored in Retail Real Estate

CT Real Estate Investment Trust (CRT.UN.TO) is a Canadian REIT that owns, manages, and develops commercial properties across the country. Its portfolio includes more than 375 properties totaling over 31 million square feet of gross leasable area (GLA), primarily single-tenant net lease retail properties.

The trust’s defining feature is its close relationship with Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC), which accounts for about 92% of GLA. These properties are mission-critical for CTC’s retail network, ensuring a highly stable occupancy base. CT REIT generates income through long-term triple-net leases, where tenants pay property taxes, insurance, and maintenance, providing the REIT with predictable and durable cash flows.

Management supplements this core business with property intensification projects, acquisitions, and occasional multi-tenant developments to diversify revenue.

CT REIT Investment Highlights from its Q2 2025. — CT REIT Investment Highlights from its Q2 2025 presentation.

When Dependence Feels (Mostly) Like Strength

Bull Case – Why Investors Like It

Predictable Income Stream: With Canadian Tire as its anchor tenant, CT REIT enjoys exceptionally stable occupancy and renewal rates. Weighted average lease terms are 7.9 years, providing strong visibility on future cash flow.
Sustainable Dividends: The REIT pays a 6.3% yield, backed by a conservative ~72% AFFO payout ratio, leaving room for future increases.
Growth Levers:
- Acquisitions of Canadian Tire properties (2 stores added in Q4 2024).
- Intensification projects in Quebec, Saskatchewan, and a development pipeline in Kelowna, BC.
- Lease renewals with strong pricing power (+10.3% third-party rent increase in Q4 2024).
Solid Balance Sheet: Management has kept debt levels manageable, supporting both dividend stability and growth initiatives.

Bear Case – Risks You Can’t Ignore

Tenant Concentration: With over 90% of space leased to Canadian Tire, CT REIT’s fortunes are tightly linked to a single retailer. If Canadian Tire faces operational or strategic challenges, the REIT’s revenue would feel it immediately.
Limited Diversification: Unlike larger diversified REITs (e.g., retail + industrial + residential), CT REIT remains focused on one category, leaving little cushion if retail traffic declines.
Slow Growth Profile: NOI growth is modest (1.5%–2.0% annually). Investors looking for high growth will find this REIT more of a “bond proxy” than a growth story.

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When a stock dives or spikes, most investors focus on the price. That’s the wrong move. In this live session, I’ll show you how to ignore the noise and interrogate the business—so you can decide with confidence whether to sell, hold, or buy more.

Thursday, September 18th at 1:00 p.m. ET
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A simple framework to know when to ignore headlines and when to act
A quick business-model check that surfaces real risks (fast)
How to use the Dividend Triangle to separate bargains from traps

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What’s New: Expansion Keeps the Wheels Turning

CT REIT’s latest quarter showed steady progress:

Revenue: +4% YoY.
FFO per unit: +2%.
NOI: $118.9M (+3.4% YoY).
Payout Ratio: 72% (comfortably sustainable).
Key drivers:
- Completed property acquisitions and intensifications in 2024–2025 (+$3.1M).
- Rent escalations from Canadian Tire leases (+$1.7M).

The Dividend Triangle in Action: Slow & Steady Growth

CT REIT (CRT.UN.TO) 5-year Dividend Triangle chart.

When we look at CT REIT through the lens of the Dividend Triangle, the picture is clear: this is a story of income stability rather than rapid growth.

Revenue: Gradually rising, supported by acquisitions and annual lease escalations.
EPS/FFO: Consistent, with minor fluctuations tied to timing of developments.
Dividend: Modest but reliable, growing in step with AFFO and maintaining a sustainable payout ratio.

CT REIT isn’t here to deliver explosive growth. Instead, it delivers the kind of slow, predictable compounding that income-focused investors prize.

Final Thoughts: Built to Last, Not for Excitement

CT REIT is less about chasing growth and more about locking in dependable monthly income. With Canadian Tire as its anchor and a disciplined payout strategy, the trust is positioned as a steady, income-first REIT. The trade-off? Limited diversification and modest long-term growth.

For dividend investors who prioritize stability and cash flow visibility, CT REIT remains a compelling option.

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A Steady Pace Toward Dividend Growth

Dividend investing is not about sprinting ahead—it’s more about maintaining a steady pace that delivers reliable results over time. Think of it like a marathon runner: disciplined, consistent, and built to withstand the test of endurance. Some businesses mirror that approach perfectly, combining stable cash flows with long-term strategies that enable dividends to continue growing. For investors seeking both income and peace of mind, this kind of stability can be just as rewarding as high-growth stories.

A Business Anchored in Protection and Wealth

Sun Life (SLF.TO) operates across five key segments: Asset Management, Canada, U.S., Asia, and Corporate. Its business mix reflects three pillars:

Asset management & wealth – through MFS and SLC Management, which collectively oversee more than CAD 1 trillion in assets under management.
Group health & protection – providing benefits like dental, life, and disability insurance to employers and government programs.
Individual protection – traditional life and health insurance offerings sold directly to consumers.

In Canada, Sun Life dominates group insurance and retirement solutions. In the U.S., its acquisition of DentaQuest made it the #2 dental benefits provider. In Asia, it has tapped into high-growth markets where protection and wealth products are in demand. Together, these businesses create a diversified but competitive platform.

Sun Life Financial (SLF.TO) Financial Highlights and Business Model from its 2024 Annual Report.

Building Growth Beyond Insurance

The Bull Case

Sun Life is not just an insurance company anymore—it’s an asset manager, a group benefits leader, and an international operator. Roughly 42% of its earnings now come from asset and wealth management, offering stable, fee-based cash flows that buffer against insurance volatility.

Asset Management Powerhouse – MFS and SLC Management continue to scale. SLC has been expanding into alternatives, which command higher fees and offer growth potential even in volatile markets.
Group Benefits Leadership – In Canada, Sun Life’s group insurance footprint is unmatched, supporting recurring revenues tied to employer coverage. In the U.S., its DentaQuest acquisition broadened its reach, adding long-term growth potential.
Asian Expansion – Sun Life has reported record net income from Asia, where demand for protection products and wealth solutions remains high. This region is an essential long-term growth vector.
Tailwinds from Rates – Rising interest rates improve yields on Sun Life’s large fixed-income portfolio, directly benefiting investment income.

Demographics are also working in Sun Life’s favor. An aging population in North America is fueling demand for retirement planning and protection products, while middle-class growth in Asia supports wealth and insurance demand.

The Bear Case

Despite its diversification, Sun Life faces familiar industry headwinds. Insurance remains a commoditized business, where pricing—not brand—is the main competitive factor. Asset management, while profitable, is vulnerable to market downturns and investor outflows.

Interest Rate Sensitivity – Rising rates provide a short-term boost, but prolonged low-rate environments in the past have shown how thin insurance margins can get.
Market Exposure – With over CAD 1 trillion AUM, market corrections would directly hit Sun Life’s fee income. MFS already reported challenges from lower average assets.
Competitive Pressures – In insurance, Manulife and Great-West Life are fierce rivals in Canada, while global giants dominate in the U.S. and Asia. In asset management, Sun Life is a fraction of the size of BlackRock or Vanguard, making pricing pressure a constant risk.
Political and Regulatory Risks – Like all insurers, Sun Life must navigate evolving regulations, particularly in health and retirement products. Any policy shifts could alter profitability in key regions.

While the company has shifted away from struggling U.S. life insurance operations, it still depends on execution in newer markets to keep growth alive.

Free Webinar Invite: Avoid Price Confusion and Act with Conviction

Thursday, September 18th at 1:00 p.m. ET
~50 minutes + 1-hour Q&A
Replay available for all registrants
Seats are limited to the first 500

You’ll discover:

A simple framework to know when to ignore headlines and when to act
A quick business-model check that surfaces real risks (fast)
How to use the Dividend Triangle to separate bargains from traps

Save your spot (or get the replay)

What’s New: Record Earnings from Asia and Mixed Trends Elsewhere

Sun Life’s latest quarter (August 20, 2025) showcased both strengths and challenges:

Core EPS up 13.5% year-over-year.
Asset Management & Wealth delivered $455M in net income (flat).
Group Health & Protection rose 7% to $326M.
Individual Protection surged 110% to $299M, rebounding from softer prior-year results.
Asia posted record earnings on strong protection growth and higher wealth contributions.
U.S. Dental saw gains from Medicaid repricing.
Canada benefited from favorable group life mortality but softer individual protection.

Overall, the quarter confirmed Sun Life’s ability to grow earnings across multiple levers, but also highlighted its exposure to market-linked asset management results.

The Dividend Triangle in Action: Measured but Steady

Sun Life Financial (SLF.TO) 5-year Dividend Triangle chart.

The dividend story at Sun Life is one of consistency rather than excitement. Revenue and EPS have climbed steadily, though not spectacularly, while the dividend has marched upward in tandem.

Revenue: Stable, with gradual growth supported by asset management and group benefits.
Earnings per Share (EPS): Lumpy due to market-linked businesses, but the long-term trend remains positive.
Dividend: A modest yield, but with dependable growth—management increased the dividend by 6% in 2025.

This is not a high-yield stock, but rather a dividend grower that can serve as part of a balanced portfolio.

Final Thoughts: Dividend Growth that Endures

Some businesses are built for endurance rather than speed. This one has proven it can steadily grow earnings, manage through cycles, and reward shareholders along the way. With its mix of insurance, wealth, and asset management, it may not consistently deliver fireworks. Still, it offers something even more valuable for dividend investors: the confidence that your income can continue to grow year after year.

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Engineering Growth in a Changing World

Infrastructure, sustainability, and urban development are long-term investment themes that require specialized expertise. One Canadian company has positioned itself at the center of these trends, delivering engineering, architecture, and consulting services that help governments and corporations adapt to climate change, modernize infrastructure, and manage resources responsibly. With a diversified portfolio and strong project backlog, this business is well-placed to capture steady growth in the coming years.

Building the Foundations of Tomorrow

Stantec (STN.TO) is a global engineering and design firm that provides sustainable solutions across multiple industries. Its business model spans five major operating units: Infrastructure, Water, Buildings, Environmental Services, and Energy & Resources. This diversified structure enables Stantec to balance revenue between government contracts, private sector projects, and recurring environmental consulting.

The company operates in three geographic segments—Canada, the U.S., and Global markets. Its top 25 clients are highly engaged, with more than half using services from at least four of its business units. This multi-service approach creates strong client retention and cross-selling opportunities. Stantec covers the full project life cycle: from concept and planning to design, construction management, and even remediation and decommissioning.

Stantec (STN.TO) Diversified Geographic Footprint form their 2024 Annual Report. — Stantec (STN.TO) Diversified Geographic Footprint from its 2024 Annual Report.

The Bull Case: Riding the Infrastructure Wave

Stantec is in an enviable position as one of the world’s leading engineering and consulting firms, with exposure to some of the strongest long-term demand drivers in the industry.

Playbook
The company focuses on government infrastructure contracts and private sector capital projects. Its business mix reduces volatility compared to firms that rely heavily on cyclical sectors like mining or oil and gas. With a $7.9B backlog—equivalent to roughly 13 months of work—Stantec enjoys strong revenue visibility.

Growth Vectors

Government Infrastructure Spending: In both the U.S. and Canada, government programs are allocating billions toward modernizing transportation, energy grids, and water systems.
Water Segment Strength: Backlog in Water grew 24% YoY, reflecting rising demand for clean water and wastewater management solutions.
Strategic Acquisitions: Stantec continues to use M&A to broaden expertise and geographic reach. With an under-leveraged balance sheet, it has flexibility for future deals.
Energy Transition Projects: Increasing demand for renewable energy and carbon reduction strategies has created new growth avenues.
Geographic Diversification: With about half its revenue from the U.S., one-quarter from Canada, and the rest international, Stantec is not overly reliant on any single region.

Economic Moat
Stantec’s moat lies in its diversified expertise, strong client retention, and international presence. Its ability to provide integrated solutions across sectors makes it a trusted long-term partner. While margins are pressured by competition, its backlog and breadth of services offer resilience compared to smaller peers.

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The Bear Case: Cycles, Talent, and Competition

Despite its strengths, Stantec faces risks tied to its cyclical industry, dependence on skilled labor, and a competitive marketplace.

Business Vulnerabilities
Stantec relies on government budgets and private sector investments. In an economic downturn, project approvals could be delayed, reducing growth. Its historical performance between 2017 and 2022 was uneven, reflecting how cycles affect consulting firms.

Industry & Market Threats

Talent Shortages: Engineering and environmental consulting are labor-intensive. Wage inflation and retention challenges could erode margins.
Acquisition Risks: While acquisitions are a growth driver, overpaying or poor integration could dilute shareholder value.
Cyclical Nature: Stantec’s revenue growth is closely tied to macroeconomic trends in infrastructure and construction.

Competitive Landscape
Stantec competes with global heavyweights such as WSP Global and Tetra Tech, along with numerous regional firms. WSP, with roughly double the market cap and revenue, benefits from greater scale and financial flexibility. This puts pressure on Stantec to remain competitive on both pricing and acquisitions.

What’s New: Strong Quarter Highlights Water

On August 19, 2025, Stantec delivered a solid quarter:

Revenue up 7% YoY, including 4.8% organic growth.
EPS up 21%, supported by higher project margins and lower administrative expenses.
Regional Growth: U.S. +5.7%, Canada +6.2%, Global +10.5%.
Water Segment Strength: Continued double-digit organic growth, confirming robust demand.

The results reinforce management’s optimism, as Stantec raised its 2025 and 2026 earnings estimates.

The Dividend Triangle in Action: Steady Climb

Stantec (STN.TO) 5-year Dividend Triangle chart.

Looking at the Dividend Triangle:

Revenue has grown steadily, reaching $7.8B.
EPS has accelerated, now at $3.83.
Dividend growth, while modest, has been consistent, with the payout now at $0.225 per share.

Stantec’s dividend yield remains on the low side, but its strength lies in sustained growth potential and strong earnings momentum to support future increases.

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Final Thoughts: A Reliable Builder in Any Market

Stantec’s diversified service portfolio, strong backlog, and alignment with secular trends like climate adaptation, clean water, and infrastructure modernization make it a compelling pick in the engineering and consulting space. While competition and talent risks are worth monitoring, its growth trajectory appears well supported. For long-term investors, Stantec represents a steady growth-and-income story in a critical industry.

A Stable Powerhouse in Ontario’s Energy Landscape

For income investors, regulated utilities offer something rare in the market: steady cash flow, predictable growth, and limited competitive threats. This company fits squarely in this category, with an entrenched position in Ontario’s electricity transmission and distribution network. While it’s not immune to political interference, its unique role in the province’s infrastructure makes it a compelling option for long-term dividend growth.

Keeping Ontario Connected: Hydro One’s Business Model

Hydro One (H.TO) operates almost entirely in Ontario, delivering electricity to roughly 1.5 million customers. Its business is split into:

Transmission (≈60% of revenue) – High-voltage power delivery across the province, including connections to local utilities and large industrial users.
Distribution (≈40% of revenue) – Supplying electricity to end users and municipal distributors.
Other Activities – Includes the Ivy Charging Network for EV fast charging and a small telecom segment.

This regulated structure means Hydro One earns a fixed, regulator-approved return on its assets, creating highly predictable revenue.

Hydro One (H.TO) Business Highlights from their 2024 Investor Overview Presentation.

The Bull Case: Building for the Future

A Monopoly with Predictable Cash Flow

Hydro One is the sole large-scale electricity transmission and distribution provider in Ontario. This monopoly structure means that, regardless of economic fluctuations, the company benefits from an entrenched customer base that cannot easily switch providers. Its revenue streams are supported by regulator-approved rates, which reduce earnings volatility and provide visibility into future cash flows—an attractive trait for dividend investors.

Multi-Year Capital Investment Program

One of Hydro One’s biggest growth levers is its robust capital investment plan, committing $1.3–$1.6 billion annually through 2027. These investments focus on modernizing Ontario’s grid, expanding transmission capacity, and integrating renewable energy sources. The recently completed Chatham-to-Lakeshore transmission project is a prime example of how these projects feed into earnings growth and strengthen the company’s infrastructure advantage. Beyond 2027, Hydro One is already mapping out additional projects that could extend this growth runway well into the next decade.

Benefiting from Electrification and Renewable Integration

As Ontario moves toward greater electrification—driven by electric vehicle adoption, heat pump installations, and renewable power integration—Hydro One’s infrastructure will be at the center of this transition. This shift is expected to increase electricity demand significantly, requiring both expansion of capacity and upgrades to handle more complex grid operations. The company’s expertise and entrenched position make it a natural partner for government initiatives aimed at decarbonization.

A Strong Provincial Economy as a Backdrop

Ontario’s economy is both the largest and one of the most diversified in Canada. From advanced manufacturing to technology and services, the province’s economic resilience supports steady electricity demand. This, in turn, gives Hydro One a solid foundation for planning long-term capital deployment without fearing sudden drops in usage patterns.

Clear Earnings Growth Path

Management projects EPS growth of 6–8% annually from 2023 to 2027, with a normalized 2022 EPS of CAD 1.61 as the baseline. This growth is expected to be supported by approved capital projects, organic demand growth, and potential acquisitions of municipal utilities. Combined with disciplined cost management, this sets the stage for steady dividend increases in the mid-single digits.

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The Bear Case: Political and Regulatory Headwinds

Political Influence and Governance Risk

The Ontario government owns 47% of Hydro One, which gives it significant influence over corporate governance. This has already manifested in the past when political leaders intervened to force leadership changes, disrupting corporate continuity. For long-term investors, this adds an unpredictable layer of risk—decisions may be made for political rather than financial reasons.

Regulatory Constraints on Profitability

H.TO operates in one of the more restrictive regulatory environments in North America. The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) sets allowable returns on equity, which are generally lower than what many U.S. utilities can achieve. This limits Hydro One’s ability to boost profitability even when operational performance is strong. It also reduces flexibility in responding to inflationary pressures or unexpected cost increases.

Interest Rate Sensitivity and Debt Load

Like most utilities, Hydro One carries significant debt to fund its capital projects. While this is standard for the industry, the company is vulnerable to rising interest rates, which increase borrowing costs and can erode profitability. Higher financing costs could also reduce the capital available for new projects, slowing the pace of growth. With long-term debt a constant feature of its balance sheet, even a modest rate shift can impact future earnings projections.

Geographic Concentration and Lack of Diversification

All of Hydro One’s core operations are within Ontario. While the provincial economy is stable, this geographic concentration means that any significant economic downturn, policy shift, or regulatory change in Ontario could have an outsized impact on the business. Unlike diversified peers such as Fortis or Emera, Hydro One does not have operations in other provinces or countries to offset regional risks.

Comparing with Peers

When placed alongside Canadian peers like Fortis (FTS.TO) and Emera (EMA.TO), Hydro One’s lower allowed return on equity and higher degree of political oversight become clear disadvantages. While Fortis and Emera operate in multiple jurisdictions—often with more favorable regulatory frameworks—Hydro One remains locked into a single, more restrictive environment. This reality caps its long-term return potential relative to more geographically diverse utilities.

What’s New: Solid Growth and a Dividend Boost

Hydro One’s most recent quarter (Q1 2025) underscored its steady trajectory:

Revenue: +11% YoY, driven by higher demand and regulator-approved rate increases.
EPS: +22% YoY.
Dividend: +6% increase announced.
Transmission revenue rose 15%, fueled by demand growth and rate changes.
Distribution revenue climbed 6.3% thanks to stronger consumption and 2025 rate adjustments.
Chatham-to-Lakeshore project energized in Dec 2024, contributing to results.
Guidance reaffirmed: 6–8% annual EPS growth through 2027.

The Dividend Triangle in Action: Hydro One’s Steady Climb

Hydro One (H.TO) 5-year Dividend Triangle chart.

Hydro One’s dividend triangle reflects its reliability:

Revenue Growth – Gradual, supported by capital projects and rate increases.
EPS Growth – Stronger growth from efficiency gains, regulated returns, and infrastructure expansion.
Dividend Growth – Modest but consistent, typically in the mid-single digits, in line with earnings growth.

While not a high-yield play, Hydro One offers predictable dividend growth—ideal for compounding income over the long term.

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Final Take: A Reliable, Regulated Income Play

Hydro One isn’t the most exciting stock on the market, but for investors seeking stability, modest growth, and reliable dividends, it’s a solid fit. Political risk and regulatory limits mean returns will never be explosive, but the predictability of cash flows and the essential nature of its services make it a dependable long-term holding.

Global Flavors, Local Impact: A Recipe for Dividend Growth

Fast food is no longer just about convenience—it’s about brand power, menu innovation, and the ability to adapt to changing consumer tastes across diverse geographies. The company we’re looking at today commands some of the most recognized quick-service brands in the world, each with its own loyal following. With a franchise-heavy model, it thrives on scale, efficiency, and international growth opportunities, while still contending with industry-wide pressures like labor costs and price-sensitive consumers.

Behind the Counter: How the Business Works

Restaurant Brands International (QSR.TO) operates a portfolio of well-known quick-service restaurant chains: Tim Hortons (coffee and baked goods), Burger King (flame-grilled hamburgers), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (fried chicken and seafood), and Firehouse Subs (hot subs). It runs through a predominantly franchise-based model, generating revenue from royalties, lease income, and sales at company-owned locations.

Tim Hortons remains the market leader in Canada, offering beverages, baked goods, and all-day food menus.
Burger King drives scale globally, with operations in over 100 countries, though it faces challenges in North America.
Popeyes delivers strong unit-level economics with its Louisiana-style menu and growing global presence.
Firehouse Subs is expanding in the U.S. and selectively internationally, targeting the premium sandwich market.

The franchise-heavy approach limits capital expenditures while providing steady cash flow, but it also means that brand execution relies heavily on franchisee performance.

Restaurant Brands Iconic Brands Stats from their International Segment Presentation.

Opportunity on the Menu: The Bull Case

Restaurant Brands International ranks as the third-largest quick-service restaurant operator in the world, a scale that gives it bargaining power, brand leverage, and global expansion capacity.

Strengths driving the bull case:

Global Scale & Brand Recognition – The company operates across more than 120 countries, with iconic brands recognized for decades.
Franchise Model Efficiency – With over 100% of net new openings driven by franchisees, capital intensity stays low, allowing the company to reinvest in marketing and menu development.
Growth Through Expansion & M&A – Management is targeting 40,000 restaurants by 2029, with both organic openings and acquisitions (e.g., Carrols Restaurant Group, Popeyes China) feeding the pipeline.
Turnaround Potential at Burger King – The “Reclaim the Flame” strategy is refreshing stores, improving operations, and boosting franchisee profitability.
Menu Innovation & Digital Expansion – Tim Hortons’ new product launches and loyalty programs, plus Popeyes’ global chicken sandwich success, demonstrate the ability to capture new demand.

While Tim Hortons has reasserted its leadership in Canada, the most dynamic growth story is in international markets, where Burger King and Popeyes are achieving high-single-digit unit growth annually. This geographic diversification helps smooth performance when one brand or region faces headwinds.

Risks to Chew On: The Bear Case

Even with its scale and iconic brands, Restaurant Brands International faces meaningful risks that could hinder its expansion and earnings trajectory.

Key vulnerabilities and threats:

Franchisee Profitability Pressures – Rising wages, food inflation, and operational costs can squeeze franchisee margins, leading to slower store expansion or reduced reinvestment.
Debt Load Limits Flexibility – With a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 4.6x at the end of 2024, high leverage could restrict strategic acquisitions or marketing investments if interest rates rise further.
Mixed Brand Performance – While Tim Hortons and Popeyes post healthy sales growth, Burger King North America continues to lag peers like McDonald’s and Wendy’s in traffic.
Global Economic Sensitivity – As a discretionary spending category, quick-service dining is vulnerable to economic slowdowns, which can trigger more discounting and hurt margins.
Competitive Heat – McDonald’s and Yum Brands have global dominance, scale advantages, and deep digital ecosystems, forcing QSR to maintain constant innovation to keep market share.

The heavy reliance on franchisees means brand quality is only as strong as local execution—something that’s difficult to maintain perfectly across thousands of locations and dozens of countries.

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To help you build a solid portfolio with dividend growth stocks, I have created the Canadian Rock Stars List, showing about 300 companies with growing trends.

What’s New: Recent Performance Highlights

In its 2025 Q2 results (May 29, 2025), Restaurant Brands International reported:

Revenue up 21%, driven largely by acquisitions (Carrols Restaurant Group and Popeyes China).
EPS up only 3%, as higher costs and integration expenses weighed on profitability.
System-wide sales grew 2.8%, with international markets delivering 8.6% growth.
Comparable sales flat at 0.1% globally, or just over 1% adjusted for Leap Day.
Burger King North America saw a 1.3% decline in comparable sales, reflecting softer consumer demand.
Tim Hortons and Popeyes posted positive comps, benefiting from menu innovation and marketing.

The Dividend Triangle in Action: QSR’s Growth Profile

Restaurant Brands (QSR.TO) 5-year Dividend Triangle chart.

Looking at the Dividend Triangle—revenue, EPS, and dividend growth—Restaurant Brands International shows a consistent uptrend in the top line and dividends, but EPS volatility is a watch point.

Revenue has risen steadily to $12.19B over the past three years, fueled by expansion and acquisitions.
EPS has grown over time but faced a dip in 2025 due to cost pressures and integration expenses.
Dividend has increased consistently, now at $0.852 per quarter, showing management’s commitment to rewarding shareholders.

The dividend growth case here leans on long-term expansion and scale efficiencies rather than near-term earnings acceleration.

The Dividend Rock Stars List: The ONLY List Using the Dividend Triangle

The dividend triangle is an exclusive concept developed at Dividend Stocks Rock (DSR).

While many seasoned investors use these metrics in their analysis, no one has created a list based on them before.

Don’t waste any more time with complex strategies and dozens of metrics duplicating each other: focus on quality and download the list with filters now.

Final Bite: A Brand Empire Built for the Long Term

Restaurant Brands International combines brand power, a scalable franchise model, and aggressive global expansion ambitions. While short-term headwinds—particularly in Burger King North America and from higher operating costs—are real, its multi-brand, multi-market portfolio offers resilience and multiple growth levers. For dividend growth investors, the appeal lies in a management team committed to steady dividend hikes, backed by a cash-generating model that doesn’t require heavy capital investment.

Printing Results, Not Just Labels

This Canadian company is a global heavyweight when it comes to labels, packaging, and tracking tech. From shampoo bottles to RFID tags, it has its fingerprints on thousands of everyday products — and it keeps showing up with results.

It just posted a strong quarter (revenue and EPS up 9%) and remains off most investors’ radars. But behind the scenes, this business has been compounding steadily with a blend of smart acquisitions, global diversification, and consistent dividend growth.

Let’s peel back the label and take a proper look at what’s underneath.

Business Model: Labeling the World

CCL Industries is a global leader in specialty label and packaging solutions with operations in 42 countries. It operates across four key segments:

CCL (labels and containers for consumer and healthcare goods)
Avery (printable media and office products)
Checkpoint (RF/RFID tech for retail security and tracking)
Innovia (specialty multilayer films and polymer banknotes)

The company earns revenue from long-term contracts, recurring customer orders, and broad exposure to industries like consumer staples, pharma, logistics, and retail.

Their combination of essential products and global reach makes the business resilient, even when headlines scream recession.

CCL Industries (CCL.B.TO) Highlights from Its 2024 Annual Report.

Investment Thesis: Diversified and Disciplined

CCL Industries doesn’t depend on a single market, product, or trend. That’s part of the appeal. It combines consistent organic growth with smart, bolt-on acquisitions. The company’s 2013 acquisition of Avery, followed by Innovia and Checkpoint, helped reshape its business into a multi-pronged revenue machine.

Even in a cost-sensitive world, labeling and packaging remain critical — and CCL keeps adding value through higher-margin segments like RFID, polymer banknotes, and specialty films.

It’s also one of those rare businesses in the material sector that behaves more like a compounder: efficient operations, strong ROE, and a steady dividend growth history.

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Bull Case: Labeling Growth Across the Globe

CCL is a well-managed, acquisition-savvy company with a habit of integrating well and producing solid results. The latest quarter showed strong momentum in core segments, especially:

Organic growth of 3.8%
Strong demand in home & personal care
Growth in Europe, Mexico, and the Americas
Positive currency impact and margin stability

The company also announced a share buyback of 8.82% of issued capital, which is a strong vote of confidence from management.

Its global scale, product diversification, and recurring cash flow make it a stable performer in volatile markets.

Bear Case: Margin Pressures & Acquisition Risks

Of course, nothing is perfect.

CCL is still part of the materials sector, which means it’s exposed to raw material price swings. As inflation and logistics costs rise, so do the risks to margins — and there’s only so much pricing power before customers push back.

It also relies heavily on acquisitions for growth. While past deals have been smart, no streak lasts forever. And restructuring costs in Checkpoint ($0.8M) serve as a reminder that not every unit is a smooth operator.

The Dividend Triangle in Action

CCL Industries (CCL.B.TO) 5-Year Dividend Triangle.

Let’s see how CCL performs on our three-part Dividend Triangle:

Revenue: Consistent upward trend, now at $7.4B
EPS: Solid long-term growth, with a strong Q1 rebound
Dividend: Slowly and steadily increasing — with a low payout ratio

While the yield remains modest (~0.4%), it’s growing, and CCL has plenty of room to accelerate it down the line.

Latest Results Recap

On May 26, 2025, CCL Industries reported:

Revenue up 9%
EPS up 9%
Strong organic growth in Home & Personal Care
Innovia performed well; Checkpoint faced $0.8M in severance-related costs
Announced share buyback for up to 8.82% of capital

It was a very solid quarter overall — no surprises, just execution.

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Final Word: Built to Scale and Last

This stock does grab results. Over the years, it’s turned packaging and labeling into a high-margin, global business, driven by innovation, disciplined acquisitions, and rock-solid execution.

It may not offer a sky-high yield, but it delivers where it counts: steady growth, strong cash flow, and the kind of business that keeps performing across market cycles.

If you’re looking to anchor your dividend portfolio with quality names that can weather economic cycles, CCL.B.TO is one to watch.