Investment Q&A

Q: Hi Team, my entire portfolio is in stocks(no ETF's) but i am intrigued by HMAX. I am thinking of replacing my two bank holdings (RBC,TD) with HMAX.
Is this basic understanding correct: If Canadian bank share prices decline HMAX unit price will do slightly better than bank index. In a steady share price enviornment for the banks HMAX will be about the same as the bank index. If the banks rise significantly HMAX will go up but will lag the index. All the while HMAX will yield approx. 13% while the individual banks will pay 4-5%.
My current view on the banks is cautious (hold) and I do not want to abadon the sector as it is such a significant part of the TSX and long-term they do well.
A 13% return with minimal volatility (arguably less volatility than holding an individual bank) seems pretty good for the banking allocation of a portfolio. Am I missing something?

Q: hello 5i:
can you compare XHY and USHY? USHY looks to have a much higher yield, particularly as its in US dollars. Is there a large risk difference in these ETFs?
thanks
Paul L

Q: I deal with CIBC Investors Edge and was wondering if there is a good ETF for buying GICs for my registered account. GIC are paying 6%, I believe? maybe some other instrument?

Q: Hello 5i,
It was mentioned that XHY should be kept in a registered account as it is foreign income. The dividend is shown to be paid in Canadian funds and the exchange is TSX.Where are the foreign income consequences related to holding XHY?
Thank you for your service
Stanley

Q: Hi folks
Today Feb 6, XLE is $85.45 as I type. I believe i read in the Q and A that you mentioned that if XLE dropped below $85.00 that the sector is rolling over. Is this still the case? If so what would you suggest I do if anything? My weighting is 9.5%. I own ENB, SHEL, HES, TOU, TVE, PEY, SU, PXT with each at varying weights. (ENB being the highest at 3.35% and I realize also a Utility)
Thankyou as always..much appreciated.

Q: From a dividend growth and overall return perspective, could you please rank the above etfs ? I do not need the income so my preference would go to HXT. Am I getting exposed to a lot more volatility in your opinion ?

Q: Over the last couple months I have increased the fixed income portion of my RSP, and would like to finish with a smallish position in a a high-yield bond ETF. Been looking at PDI and ZHY/XHY (they seem about the same). Some questions:

1) is the current PDI premium normal for this fund on a historical basis
2) the PDI dividend seems consistent, but how do they manage to maintain that level
3) PDI is more international than the others - do you see this as a positive or negative for high-yield corporate holdings
4) do you think it is too early to get into high-yield if interest rates keep going up or if we get into a "significant" recession
5) who do you consider to be the best manager of these 3 ETFs, and if you would buy , which is your pick and why
Thank-you Grant

Q: Could you please share some of your favourite corporate class ETFs for a retiree that needs to 'park' some money for say 1-5 years ? This would be in a taxable account.

Q: Hello 5i
I have read recently that several US analysts think that the Canadian market will do better than the US this year. T Rowe Price was the most recent one in the National Post, i think. Wondering what you think of this thesis. And if you believe it, how would you organize to profit from it? I imagine the thesis has a lot to do with resources with the possible re opening of China. Is there, for instance, a good etf? Or, what stocks would you choose to create your own etf substitute?
Thanks as always for your excellent advice

Q: Hi,

Based on the questions pertaining to taxable dividends, and managing an income portfolio for my elderly parents, is there a substantial difference in tax treatment, if the above funds are held in a cash account? I was fortunate enough to get DIR.UN into a TFSA and am slowly moving AW into a TFSA as well. Do I take out the growthier names in the TFSA’s and move in the ETF’s or just let them go in a cash account?

Q: I need income. I'm bullish on oil. I'm trying to decide between encc & nrgi. Nrgi holds mostly US stocks which could be a tax problem. I don't mind giving up some upside for a covered call strategy.

Maybe a combination of both?

Thank you.

Q: You have mentioned both VIU and VXUS for International exposure in a portfolio. Can you please explain the difference between them? Would one be better than the other as the only International exposure in an ETF portfolio?
Thank you!

Q: My company has a one year horizon before we need the money that is currently invested in stocks and for the better part are under water. We are currently sitting on 50% cash and would like to invest the money to try to make some capital gain to offset the losses. I know as we all know that one year is very little but we trust that the market will be higher in April 2024. Do you agree with that thesis and if so where would you invest money in order to keep a safe and optimal return? Please answer by percentage of where through index funds and secondly would you put time horizon to invest in slices or all in now?
Thanks for your precious help.

Yves

Q: what do you think about this Energy Giants Covered Call ETF? I'm bullish Oil, I like the top 10 holdings, and a 9.87% dividend yield does not hurt.

Q: With the assumption being the market will face a downturn later this year.

What are your three best choices to park some cash today for someone using a bank trading platform like itrade.

The goal being to earn the best return but still have easy access to the cash to buy later in the year or into next year.

Q: JEPQ uses ELNs(up to 20%) in order to generate covered calls instead of writing covered calls on its assets that would limit upside potential.This means that JEPQ has a capital appreciation potential,and at the same time offers significant monthly income.I suppose though that QYLD will be less volatile than JEPQ.If I wish to take avantage of a future NASDAQ recovery and also obtain a revenue,JEPQ seems to me more interesting than QYLD .To summarize my question : is my impression OK ,and are there any avantages to hold QYLD instead of JEPQ ,(except of the higher yield ?

Q: Can you please provide your views on hmax?

Q: I need to increase my international exposure by 20% according to your analysis. Because we are retired and depend on our investments to supplement income what companies or ETF would you recommend? Thanks for your input.

Q: Sprott has just launched four 'energy transition' ETFs.

My question is about the Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF (Nasdaq: URNJ).

The Sprott website says the ETF will follow the Nasdaq Sprott Junior Uranium Miners™ Index (NSURNJ™).

For an ETF following an index, I find the .80% management fee a bit rich. Any idea why it is so high?

As an aside, the fact the fund is following the index is the only way I can explain the inclusion of a company like Mega (MGA), whose share price has been mostly moribund over the past decade and even now with the rising interest in uranium still barely shows a pulse.

Would welcome your thoughts, especially given your (Peter) earlier history with Sprott.

Many thanks as always,

Marc.

Q: Could I have your thoughts on the merits and/or drawbacks of single bonds ETFs - UTEN ; UTWO ; TBIL.
Thanks