Popular Stocks I Dislike

Some stocks are loved by most investors—but not by Mike. We unpack a few “top holdings” from the Dividend Stocks Rock member list and explain why popularity doesn’t automatically equal portfolio quality.

You’ll also hear the real issue hiding behind each name: dividend momentum, business momentum, and whether the story still matches your rules.

Download the 50 Most Popular Stocks Guide

If you’ve ever stared at a watchlist and thought, “Where do I even start?”, this is a shortcut to better ideas—backed by how real investors are positioned.

What you get:

Top 25 Canadian Stocks
Top 25 US Stocks
Business model for each
Bull cases: why to invest in them
Bear cases: what to be aware of!

…great ideas, backed by experience, but due diligence is on you!

Get it here

You’ll Learn

How the “Most Popular Stocks” list is built—and how to use it the right way
This isn’t a list of “best stocks.” It’s a snapshot of what thousands of seasoned DIY investors actually hold—based on how often a stock appears in member portfolios (not how big the positions are). Mike explains why that nuance matters and how the list can be used to spark research ideas without blindly copying anyone.

Why “I dislike this stock” doesn’t mean “it’s a bad company.”
Mike draws a clear line between quality businesses and great fits for dividend growth investors. You’ll learn the difference between a stock that can still work for income-focused investors versus one that becomes “dead money” when the Dividend Triangle weakens.

TELUS: the dividend freeze that flipped the thesis
Mike walks through what made TELUS so popular (the rare growth + income blend in a defensive sector), then explains why the dividend freeze was his hard stop. The key isn’t just the freeze—it’s what it signals about cash flow pressure, debt management, and the long-term cost of funding dividends through DRIPs and share issuance.

Canadian Tire: an iconic brand, but the Dividend Triangle lost its spark
You’ll hear what Mike still likes (scale, private brands, distribution power) and what disappointed him: inconsistent growth, a bumpier stock price, and dividend increases that have shrunk to “barely exciting.” If you own it, this segment helps you decide whether you’re holding a dividend grower… or a mature income play.

Scotiabank: why Mike ranks it last (even if it can still pay you well)
Mike doesn’t attack the business—he compares it to peers. He breaks down why higher payout ratio, higher yield, and lower dividend growth have kept BNS behind the other Big Six banks in his framework, and why one strong year doesn’t rewrite a multi-decade race.

Starbucks: when a beloved brand stops being a great investment
Starbucks used to be a portfolio “darling” for Mike—until the growth narrative changed. You’ll hear what broke: slowing momentum, tougher competition, operational challenges, and dividend growth that went from exciting to minimal. This is a masterclass in separating “I love the product” from “I love the stock.”

Selling Starbucks & More Trades—November Dividend Income Report

The underrated skill: selling rules that protect you from yourself
Mike explains why selling a loser is brutally hard—and why “buy and hold forever” can become expensive advice. You’ll learn how simple, objective rules (especially around dividend growth and financial metrics) remove emotions from the process and make your yearly portfolio review far easier.

The “replacement strategy” that makes selling easier
It’s easier to sell when you already know where the money is going. Mike shares how he thinks about replacing a weaker holding with a stronger thesis—sometimes even outside the original sector—and how small, gradual rotations can happen naturally as opportunities shift.