Staying on Course in September 2026

I read Morningstar's monthly newsletters on stocks and ETFs that outperform in a given month and look over monthly stock lists with adds and deletes from top investor professionals in the banks, etc. where I'm looking for total return, not just dividends.

It's easy to get swayed to change course and buy the top performers but after a 30% gain for example, how much more upside is there and will I be buying at overvalued prices. Most likely where investors want to see increasingly better quarterly or yearly reports going forward. Something like the top tech chip companies in the US which are in the news daily and that tech bubble talk. 

Reminds me of the book I read by Morgan Housel, The Psychology of Money.

I generally prefer low volatility and have the energy sector on my mind for September. Pipelines, oil and natural gas along with storage. 

Canadian Natural Resources, CNQ.TSX starts off my September dividend calendar being one of Canada's largest energy producers with a Market Cap of 144 billion, a dividend payout ratio of around 60% and a current yield of 3.50%,with YTD gains of 50%. being a Dividend Achiever with 24 years, Sept 11th is the ex-dividend date.

Suited for long term investors and focused on quality dividend paying Canadian stocks, I check regularly for the latest posts from Tom Connolly's DividendGrowth.ca for subscribers. 

This month, a spreadsheet for 23 popular stocks highlights dividend growth and price for the last 10 years, 2016 to 2026. I save and print these for reference. CNQ is at the top of the list with a price of $14 in 2016 and Sept's 2026 price of $68. Current price of $69.78. Dividend growth with a multiple of 19.7 averaged out at 9.60%.

One of those stocks I believe to be a core sector holding in a diversified portfolio. 

I hold most of these stocks in this sector spread from Dale in a recent Cut The Crap Investing article:

I should of bought CNR when the price was down earlier in the fall of 2025 at around $128 and has rallied since March of this year but I currently don't own a railroad, only in an ETF where the yield is low but there is yield growth potential I'll decide on.

Mid Month, being the 15th of September, I plan to further buy Pembina Pipeline, PPL.TSX before the ex-date. With the pipelines, I hold Enbridge, Pembina Pipeline, South Bow and Keyera with a network of pipelines. Usually 4 to 5 stocks for a sector like the Big Banks of Canada.

Mainly on the storage of natural gas, Rockpoint Gas Storage I bought back in June of this year with a current yield of 5% which is attractive and the minimum yield some dividend investors seek. However I'm being patient as the stock price has headed south recently although the recent quarterly report is decent. The company started paying dividends in USD in December of 2025. 

RGSI.TSX operating for 38 years, is also heavy into California, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta and with pipeline projects in the works to pump natural gas to California ports, etc., storage will be needed. 

In the last half of September with Halloween and Christmas decorations already out in the shops, I'll be eyeing more pipeline and power stocks plus the ETFs I continue to buy on a monthly basis.

Infrastructure, Brookfield and Bank Earnings

 

On the 31st of August, Brookfield Infra Partners LP Units is the day for the quarterly ex-dividend with a current yield of 4.72%. Looking at BIP.UN on the growth aspect, the stock price has moved up by about 29% .

Along with the popular Brookfield Renewable LP Units, BEP.UN, dividends are paid in USD while targeting 5 to 9% dividend growth with a distribution payout of around 70% via FFO or Funds from Operations,  

Overseeing operations is Brookfield Corporation, BN which conducts business around the world and frequently comes up in the news with acquisitions, bidding on companies or in on major contracts. Lots of moving parts and as an example, BIP,UN is merging with Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation, BIPC in the fourth quarter of this year to become Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Inc.,  BIP. 

I'll have to wait and see how this "Simplification" move affects the stock price and future dividends to shareholders.

Canada's Federal Government plans to spend billions on infrastructure on it's northern borders and elsewhere which I'm sure top companies with the resources to do the jobs will be involved. Canada's ATCO, ATCO-X , which I hold is already doing work up north with expansion and roads.

I look at these companies in comparison to Fortis, FTS.TSX which is in a league of it's own with over 50 years of dividend growth and continues to use capital to expand and improve it's service plus infrastructure while rewarding it's shareholders.  

Canada's big banks start reporting 3rd quarter earnings starting on the 25th of August with BNS, and BMO kicking off bank earnings week. The banks have had quite the run so far this year. Royal Bank, RY.TSX recently announced they are getting heavier into Europe investments increasing staff and office space. 

While the S&P 500 in the US has dominate sectors in IT (Mag7 and more), Communication and Financials ... Financials rule in Canada's TSX followed by energy and materials with the majority of my portfolio having holdings in these sectors. 

I mentioned in a previous article I trimmed Suncor, SU.TSX, which I planned to buy more of at a lower price but Middle East tensions have flared up again with the US and Iran locking horns drawing in other countries with cargo ships are being hit so the price of oil is staying higher at this time keeping SU at about $94 a share currently with September 4th being the day to have buy confirmations in to get paid the additional dividend.

Never a dull moment with interesting topics to follow in the world of stocks.

August 20th: Great timing to go with this post I thought. Dan from Stocktrades posted an informative video about Brookfield and it's subsidiaries with merging news in the 4th quarter of this year as I mentioned. Loaded with info I didn't know and interesting about Brookfield Asset Management, BAM. Great for reference when looking over the Brookfield stocks.

I Ranked Every Brookfield Stock