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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: I Would like to buy a canadian ETF that has all us banks, preferably the large banks. Either hedged or unhedged, depending on your decision as to which is better. Do you think this is a good idea?
Thank you for all your great help.
Read Answer Asked by Shirley on July 19, 2017
Q: what is your favourite ETF or growth stock that is outside Canada. Is it a good time to buy it now?
Read Answer Asked by Helen on July 19, 2017
Q: Hello again. I’m interested to know how to consider currency when deciding between hedged, unhedged, and US dollar ETFs. In your answer to my last question, you mentioned that you prefer VPL over VAH; how was currency a factor in your judgment? Also wondering if you would approach European ETFs similarly, with respect to fluctuations between the Euro, USD and CAD (e.g. VEH, VE, VGK). Are there separate currency considerations I should take into account for each region, including EM? (e.g. VEE vs VWO)

When I hear professionals recommend CAD-hedged ETFs when the USD is falling, it sounds tactical but what if an investor has a long time horizon in mind? I’ve heard that unhedged ETFs yield better returns over time, say for a period of 15 years, but I’m wondering if US dollar ETFs are even more preferable, considering that I’ve already got some US cash ready to deploy.

Thanks for clearing up my confusion!
Read Answer Asked by Brian on July 18, 2017
Q: Hi Peter, Ryan, and Team,

I'm a bit confused with your answer to Florence about TXF. Your answer said "This one overlays 75% of the portfolio with call options......".

However, according to the First Asset website: "Distributions are paid quarterly and no more than 25% of the portfolio's securities will have call options written upon them at any given time".

If no more than 25% of the portfolio have call options, doesn't this strategy mean that an investor wouldn't be giving up as much as your answer indicates? Am I missing something here?

Thanks in advance for any clarification.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on July 18, 2017
Q: Hello 5i,
I am looking to increase my U.S. and International exposure. I currently hold VIG-N, JNJ-N and a number of Canadian ETF's which also hold U.S. equities. I am open to either USD or hedged products and would like a yield in excess of 2.25% if practical. Since I look to yield for income I was considering ZWA. Would you have any other options you would prefer over ZWA?
On the Int'l. side I hold CYH and ZDI and am happy with both; I held VEE at one time, but the yield is on the lower side for my needs. Should I just increase my holdings in these two or, again, do you see a better option? I could move out of one or both of those if you think there is a more compelling option I'm missing.
As always .... thanks so much for all of your help - very much appreciated!!!
Have a great summer!!
Cheers,
Mike
Read Answer Asked by Mike on July 18, 2017
Q: Hi 5I
I am looking to sell off some ETFS as I am too heavy in financials, have done well with them just too heavy, cvan you advise what I shouls stay and what could be sold in my RRSP. I also hold band stocks.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Paulette on July 17, 2017
Q: Dear 5i,

I currently own XHU and am comparing it to PUD.B.

PUD.B is more expensive, with a MER of 0.67 vs 0.34 for XHU.

PUD.B is attractive because it appears to involve a strictly quantitative screen including 5-year non-negative dividend growth and Piotroski scores; whereas XHU involves quantitative but also qualitative assessments by Morningstar analysts (economic moat, uncertainty index, distance to default).

PUD.B is higher conviction, with 40 holdings vs. 75 for XHU.

Do you think that over the long-term, PUD.B will have higher dividend growth? Higher total return? If so, do you think PUD.B is worth the higher MER compared to XHU?

Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Walter on July 17, 2017
Q: I'm considering various ETFs (mostly from Vanguard) for global exposure and I just wanted to get your thoughts:

Asia/Pacific - VPL or VAH
Europe - VEH or ZWE
EM - VEE or VE
USA - VUN or VIG or VGG
Global - VT, VIGI, VYMI, VXC (would it make sense to buy all of these, or is there too much overlap?)

These would all be held for many years. I don't need the income from dividends, but a decent yield is always nice. Currently wondering about things like hedged vs unhedged, fund size, growth potential. Thanks for the advice.
Read Answer Asked by Brian on July 17, 2017
Q: I purchased ZPW in April 2017 primarily as an income source in a stagnant or rising market. Since that time, the ETF has fallen 5%, and the monthly income has also dropped from $0.105/share to $0.095/share. At the same time, the S&P and DJIA have both risen 5%, so this ETF does not appear to be behaving as I would have expected.

Can you please explain why both the NAV and dividends have dropped for this ETF while markets rise? Is it related to the rise of the CAD vs USD or are there other factors at play here? If something fundamental has changed with this ETF, would you suggest any comparable alternative that would provide reliable income that is not fully taxed as income (e.g. bond ETF's). Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Alan on July 17, 2017
Q: I am recently out of university and have gotten a full time job with a defined benefits pension plan. I have 25-30 years before I am going to retire and want to start developing my first portfolio. I have lots of room in my TFSA and RRSP. I have a moderate risk tolerance given the pension plan.

I currently have $50K to invest. I would like to build a portfolio with a mix of some of your balanced and growth model portfolio stocks.

A few questions for you:
1) How many stocks would you recommend be a good starting point for me? Or would you suggest that ETFs would be a better approach for me given the amount of money I have to invest initially? From reading the forums I get a sense that I need to ensure a certain amount of portfolio diversity.
2) If I were to invest today, what stocks would you recommend from your BE and growth portfolio for the long term (20+ years in my situation).

Feel free to dock as many credits as you feel appropriate.

Thanks so much for your service. I have learned a lot since becoming a member and look forward to being a member for a very long time.
Read Answer Asked by Justin on July 14, 2017
Q: Can you give your thoughts on CDZ in light of the following Globe commentary (similar to other blurbs I've seen in the Globe):

"And another thing: The way some dividend ETFs weight their individual constituents is a bit nuts. Take the iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats Index ETF (CDZ). Choosing stocks that have raised their dividends regularly, as this ETF does, is a great strategy, but assigning the largest weightings to stocks with the highest yields is a problem. Why? Because a high yield is often a sign of a struggling company whose dividend is unsustainable.

Case in point: At the end of April, CDZ’s largest holding was Aimia (AIM), which at the time yielded 8.8 per cent. But the loyalty plan operator’s shares collapsed in May after Air Canada said it would be parting ways with Aeroplan, and Aimia recently suspended all dividends. CDZ’s top holding now? Corus Entertainment (CJR.B), another struggling company that yields about 8.7 per cent and hasn’t raised its dividend since January, 2015."

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investor-education/im-still-waiting-for-the-perfect-dividend-etf/article35453106/

Would you recommend a switch to a different ETF for broad-based Cdn exposure in an RRSP? What alternatives do you like that are not over-exposed to financials/materials?
Read Answer Asked by Chris on July 14, 2017
Q: Hi 5i Team
We have approximately $80,000.00 US cash to invest. Thinking of buying XHY for income to cover some of our expenses for property we have in US. Would like your opinion. It would be approximately a 5% position of our portfolio. In the event you think it would be a good idea, do we deploy the funds gradually or take the full position at once, obviously it would be based on what is available for purchase. We would probably us our TFSA account. What would you suggest. Thank you. Heather
Read Answer Asked by Heather on July 14, 2017
Q: Good morning from the West Coast. My question is about diversification. I have purchased CDZ. I would like you to recommend an equivalent ETF for the USA please.
Thanks
Rick
Read Answer Asked by Richard on July 14, 2017
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