Every year, I like to step back and ask a simple question: what are seasoned dividend growth investors actually holding?
Not what’s trending on social media. Not what’s getting hyped on TV. I’m talking about real portfolios—built over time by people who are already well on their way to financial freedom.
That’s exactly what this free guide is about.
For the past five years, I’ve been surveying my DSR PRO database to identify the 50 most popular stocks held by 2,500+ members. It’s not based on “portfolio value” (I don’t see anyone’s account size). It’s based on how often a stock shows up across member portfolios—pure popularity by holdings.
This year, I went one step further: for each of the Top 25 Canadian and Top 25 U.S. stocks, the guide includes:
- A quick business model summary
- A clear bull case
- A realistic bear case
Most Popular Stocks Guide Cover
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.
Download the guide (instant access)
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!
What “most popular” really means (and why it matters)
Popularity doesn’t automatically mean “buy it today.”
But it does tell you something important: these are businesses that long-term investors are willing to hold through uncertainty, headlines, and market tantrums.
And when you combine that crowd-sourced conviction with a disciplined framework, you get something powerful: a high-quality starting point for your research.
To bring the guide to life, let’s highlight four names from the Top 50—two Canadian and two U.S.—and why they’ve earned a spot in so many portfolios.
The Canadian picks: built for consistency and cash flow
Fortis (FTS / FTS.TO): The regulated dividend machine
Business model: Fortis is a regulated utility operating across Canada, the U.S., and the Caribbean. Translation: most of its earnings come from rate-regulated assets where cash flow tends to be predictable.
Why seasoned investors own it:
- Utilities can be the “sleep-well-at-night” anchor of a portfolio.
- Fortis is built for consistency, not fireworks.
Bull case (why it works):
- Regulated assets create dependable cash flow—ideal for dividend growth.
- Multi-year capex plan expands the rate base, which supports EPS growth over time.
- Conservative balance sheet management reduces refinancing shocks when rates move.
Bear case (what can go wrong):
- Rising rates can hurt utilities’ valuations (bond-proxy effect).
- Regulators can delay cost recovery or disallow certain expenses.
- Growth is often modest—great for stability, less exciting for upside.
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ / CNQ.TO): The shareholder-friendly energy giant
Business model: CNQ is a large oil and gas producer with long-life, low-decline oil sands assets plus conventional production. It’s built to produce for decades, not just quarters.
Why seasoned investors own it:
- It’s one of the few energy names that can combine scale, longevity, and capital returns.
- When commodity markets cooperate, cash flow can get serious.
Bull case:
- High-quality asset base supports strong production and profitability in good pricing environments.
- A shareholder return framework leaning into dividends and buybacks.
- Integration and scale can create a cost advantage vs. smaller peers.
Bear case:
- Earnings are tied to commodity prices—CNQ can look amazing or frustrating depending on the cycle.
- ESG and carbon policy pressure can raise costs and limit investor appetite.
- Operational disruptions (outages/delays) can hit volumes quickly.
I have covered the top 6 Canadian stocks in this video:
H2: The U.S. picks: quality compounders with real staying power
Broadcom (AVGO): A cash-flow compounding machine with an acquisition edge
Business model: Broadcom blends high-performance semiconductors (including networking) with infrastructure software. It’s a “mission-critical” supplier in multiple categories.
Why seasoned investors own it:
- It’s a rare mix: tech growth potential + a dividend growth profile that’s increasingly meaningful.
Bull case:
- AI infrastructure demand increases the need for networking and specialized chips.
- Software provides recurring, high-margin cash flows that stabilize the story.
- Proven M&A playbook that (when executed well) adds scale and pricing power.
Bear case:
- Acquisitions come with integration risk and debt management challenges.
- Semiconductors are cyclical—inventory corrections happen.
- Valuation can get stretched fast if enthusiasm runs ahead of fundamentals.
Home Depot (HD): Built for the long-term reality of “stuff breaks.”
Business model: Home Depot is the leading home improvement retailer serving DIY customers and Pros. Its scale and distribution network are a massive competitive advantage.
Why seasoned investors own it:
- It’s tied to long-term home maintenance and renovation demand.
- The Pro segment strengthens repeat business and larger ticket sizes.
Bull case:
- Aging housing stock supports steady repair/remodel demand over time.
- Scale drives supply chain efficiency and strong brand positioning.
- Pro penetration adds resilience and pricing power.
Bear case:
- Big-ticket spending is cyclical—slow housing turnover can hit results.
- Competition never disappears (Lowe’s, online pressure, execution risk).
- Wage and freight inflation can squeeze margins.
I have covered the top 6 US stocks in this video:
H2: Final thought
This guide isn’t meant to replace your due diligence—it’s meant to accelerate it.
If you want ideas pulled from what 2,500+ seasoned investors actually hold, plus the business model and bull/bear framework to start your analysis the right way, grab the free download here:
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