When I got back into investing, one of the most common terms I heard was valuation. I knew what value was – one always wants to get good value for their money, or not overpay for an item. But the term “valuation” seemed a bit different, although I could never quite put my finger on why it felt separate from simply “getting good value for your money.” The difference, I eventually realized, is that in investing, price and value don’t always move together – and that gap between the two is where a lot of opportunity (and risk) tends to show up. This week, I’ll break down what valuation actually means and why it matters when you’re trying to get good value for your money in the stock market.
Tag: BNS
Monthly Portfolio Update February 2026
February was a choppy month for the markets – or, as I like to call it, the month disrupted… by AI 😊. After a solid start, swings in artificial intelligence (AI) sentiment and broader economic worries became the defining themes, showing up differently across the four major North American indexes.
Monthly Portfolio Update January 2026
January was a bit of a rollercoaster for markets. Indexes pushed to new highs, pulled back to catch their breath, and climbed again, before fading late in the month but still finishing in positive territory. Volatility (also known as buying opportunities 😊) was the name of the game.
Weekly Update for the week ending January 23, 2026
Sell America
Markets don’t always move because the economy changes – sometimes they move because confidence does. This week, that loss of confidence showed up in a phrase many investors hadn’t heard in a while: “Sell America.” And it returned with a vengeance.
But what is “Sell America”?
Weekly Update for the week ending December 5, 2025
Will Santa Show Up for the Markets This Year?
Typically, September and October are considered two of the softer months for the markets, while November and December are traditionally stronger. This year has been the opposite, with a surprisingly solid September and October. By the end of October, I was feeling optimistic – with two of the more volatile months in the rear-view mirror, a strong finish to the year seemed likely. Unfortunately, that optimism didn’t pan out, as November came in weaker than usual and barely avoided slipping into the red.
Now December is here, and I’m not sure what to expect. December is usually a strong month for stocks, thanks to what’s known as the Santa Claus Rally. But some analysts are suggesting we may not see Santa’s visit this time around, which got me wondering why a month that’s typically upbeat might fall short. So why do analysts think Santa may sit this year out? Let’s take a brief look – but first, what makes December a strong month?
Weekly Update for the week ending November 28, 2025
The TSX: From Trading Club to Major Market
A few weeks ago, while writing the weekly portfolio update, I came across a stock I assumed was on the Toronto Stock Exchange, only to discover it was actually on the TSX Venture Exchange. Then I saw another company I thought was a Venture listing but was actually on the main TSX. That mix-up sent me down a rabbit hole about how the Exchange works and its history. I found the story surprisingly interesting, and this week I thought I’d share some of that history behind Canada’s largest stock market – the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).