DRIP Investing

I've been researching options for DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan) Investing.

I'm currently using BNY Mellon (Choose investment plan enrollment) . This is where my holdings for General Electric, AmBev, and China Mobile are. I enjoy the website, easy to use. You get an investor number, where holdings are grouped. My only complaint is that my GE and CHL holdings are under on number, but my ABV was issued under another. Note, there is an option to group IDs together if you have multiples, but this involves a phone call and I haven't done that yet. There are plenty of holdings to choose from, I'm thinking of adding American States Water Company (AWR) , and Waste Management Inc (WMI).

The other option that I'm looking at is Computershare. This is the transfer agent for Walmart, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Exxon and so on. This looks like a good option and one I'm wanting to try soon. The only issue is that all foreign investors have to invest via a mail in form, no online access. I will report soon.

Note all of these require US funds drawn on a US bank. I've used RBC Access USA to establish a US bank account. See my previous post,RBC Access USA.

Canadian High Interest Savings Accounts

Recently I've been looking for a place to stash some of my free cash. I had been using ING but am disappointed by the dwindling interest rates. This type of review has appeared in a few places but thought I would share the most up to date information.

1. ICICI Bank 2.0%

2. PC Financial Interest Plus 1.45%

3. Achieva Financial 2.10%

4. Outlook Financial 2.00%

5. Altamira High Interest Cash Performer 1.05%

6. Citizen's Bank 1.85%

7. ING Direct 1.70%

ING is the bank that I'm currently with. See my sidebar for an orange key and current ING sign-up bonus.

8. HSBC 1.50%

9. Manulife 1.55%

10. RBC 1.50%

New Picks OPC and ABV

Some new additions to my portfolio, OPC and ABV.

OPC -OPTI Canada Inc. (OPTI) is a Canada-based company focused on developing major oil sands projects in Canada. Its first project, Phase 1 of the Long Lake Project (the Project), consists of 72,000 barrels per day of steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) bitumen production integrated with an upgrading facility. OPTI is focused on developing the next integrated oil sands project in Canada, Phase 1 of the Long Lake Project (the Project), in a joint venture with Nexen Inc. in which OPTI has a 35% working interest.

ABV- Companhia de Bebidas das Americas - AmBev (AmBev) is a Brazil-based company. AmBev and its subsidiaries produce, sell and distribute beer, draft beer, malt, soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages, such as isotonic sport drinks, iced tea and water. The Company operates in 14 countries in South, Central and North America. Its business is divided in three segments: Brazil, Hispanic Latin America, and North America. The Brazilian segment commercializes beer, carbonated soft drinks and non-alcoholic non-carbonated drinks, malt and by-products to third parties. The Hispanic Latin America segment operates in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela. In the North America segment, it is active in the sale and export of beer in the United States and Canada, through Labatt Brewing Company Limited. As of 2008, the Company holds a 99.56% stake of Quilmes Industrial Societe Anonyme.

OPC is a speculative move for me. I'm either holding until the company is bought out, or until production ramps up in the long lake project. ABV is a more long term holding, increasing my exposure to BRIC.