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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Just a follow up on the XEF. Would the 37%(mostly japan) Asia component be adequate for an emerging market exposure or would you want a true ETF like the ZEM you mentioned to go along with XEF?
Read Answer Asked by JEFF on September 04, 2019
Q: This is a follow up to my question about EM ETFs.

The way I see it, XEC holds only IEMG, but in Canadian funds. With XEC, there are 2 layers of foreign withholding taxes, one from the EM countries, and one from the US, neither of which are recoverable. This amounts to up to 27.75% (15% + 15% of the remaining 85%) withholding taxes on dividends, none of which are not recoverable.

With IEMG, the US withholding taxes are recoverable, so the total withholding taxes are up to 15%. That is a significant difference.

The same holds for VEE (holds only VWO).

ZEM looks like it holds about 15% US based ETFs, and the rest are direct holdings. That means that the withholding taxes are mostly recoverable (4.16% are non recoverable (from 15% of the holding times 27.75% from the above calculation), but the rest may be, depending on the treaties Canada has with each EM country).

Is this correct reasoning?

If it is correct, are there any other EM ETFs that have mostly direct holdings in addition to ZEM? Also, why would you recommend XEC over IEMG and VEE over VWO, especially considering the lower MER for IEMG and VWO?

If my reasoning is not correct, why, and which ETFs would be best from a taxation perspective?

Thanks, and I hope my question is clear,

Fed
Read Answer Asked by Federico on August 09, 2019
Q: MCHI Vs FXI
What's your opinion regarding potential return in 3-5 years.
Read Answer Asked by Rajendra on August 09, 2019
Q: Good Morning,
I'm trying to find some info on Epic Games that owns Fortnite? I think Epic is a private company however I believe that Tencent Holdings out of China owns 40% of them? Is TME on the US exchange the ADR that I am looking for? Trades around $14/share? Also any thoughts on their video game business and is this a good way to play it?
Thank-you
Read Answer Asked by Chris on August 02, 2019
Q: Any thoughts on the IPO for Kura Sushi? (The IPO is scheduled for August 1st and the call sign is supposed to be KRUS:US which I think is already taken). I recently saw the concept in London England. There seemed to be some interest to eat there on the part of the younger generation however other restaurants were more busy. Not sure “food on the conveyor belt” concept is going to catch on with me and others.
Regards
Jim
Thanks,
Jim
Read Answer Asked by James on July 25, 2019
Q: Hi,
The portfolio Analytics suggests that I hold 8% in communication. Currently I only have 2%, all in Telus. Could you please suggest 2-3 names in the sector, both in U.S. and international? thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Martin on July 19, 2019