Investment Q&A

Q: I enjoyed your Small Cap essay. I had to get to pg4 to know which small cap indices you were using. Pg4 & beyond said MSCI, but which MSCI?

Why would you compare a Financial & resource heavy Tsx to ,say, IWO or any MSCI small cap.

You have been a long term IWO advocate. Is there a C$ ETF that would provide access to IWO stocks as VUS/VUN do For access VTI?
Also can you suggest ETFs in any currency that follow MSCI Indices?

I ask few questions, but follow with interest your daily stream. Thanks for what you do
Ernie

Q: Hi guys. I own XLV.us, IWO.us, CXR, SIS, SIA, and PLI all varied weights and losses or slight gains in different accounts for a total weight dropping to 7% and dropping more. My question is do you see any of these as a Sell for the time being (perhaps a year or so)..to be bought back when the sector starts to look better. and freeing up cash for better places to hide. Perhaps GUD??? Thanks for your tireless support! We cant do it without you.

Q: Could you tell me the difference between XEM and XEC emerging markets ETFs. Do you have a favorite ETF in this sector, perhaps ZEM or something else?

Q: My friend, age 59 and recently widowed, is interested in investing “a few dollars” to get some growth. Her modest portfolio would be just under $100K. Although she and her husband worked hard all their lives, her husband’s serious terminal illness took away much of the equity they had built.

On the plus side, she has no debts, owns her home outright, has a small pension of $750.00 per month, and works part-time, which covers all her needs. She plans on working as long as she can and plans to be able to contribute $300 per month on a continuing basis, to her TFSA, so she doesn’t foresee touching any of her capital for the next 10 years.

My very real concern is: should she be in the stock market at all? Granted, if needs arise, she could sell her home which would conservatively net her $500K. But, in the meantime, there is a very thin financial cushion between her and any serious financial needs. If she gets ill and is unable to work, that $100K could disappear very quickly. She has no disability insurance.

She says that at some point she will sell her home. As such, I thought it might be better for her to wait to get those funds in hand before jumping into the market. She prefers to start now. Her bank has advised her with a handful of mutual funds, but she would rather not.

Given the above scenario, what would Peter advise to someone who came into his office? Would it be wise, in any way, to get into the market, with some conservative companies and/or ETFs? If so, would you please suggest what percentage of her funds might be prudent for her to invest, and which companies/funds she could start with?

Thank you, sincerely, for addressing this “real life scenario”. My friend’s situation makes me think there are so many more people, just like her, who struggle with this same problem, as they near their retirement years.

If you feel this would be useful to the general membership, feel free to publish.

Q: What is your view on ZUH? Is it and the sector breaking down or just a setback? Would you add to the position.

Q: This is a follow up question from Kristine's question on SDIV.US on October 21, 2015. Global X SDIV vs. DIV seems to be a Global vs. US equities ETF comparison, but can you recommend any comparable, better options to consider? (taking into account comparable monthly yields). Also looking to hold this in a $USD account, not concerned about tax implications for this comparison - just looking for fund recommendations only. Thx!

Q: In your estimation will the Healthcare sector be effected by what is currently happening to Valeant, Concordia, PHM etc. It's the old cockroach theory. An ETF such as ZUH or comparable products might not be immune. Would it be wise to avoid this sector until the dust settles? Would it be wise to get out entirely for the time being?

Thanks

Q: Hello team,

Please inform me how these fixed income ETF'S are taxed?
If taxed as income i would consider holding them in a registered account.

Thanks for your help

Stephen

Q: What are your thoughts about purchasing this etf for yield and some unit price increase over the next twelve months.

Q: What is causing the general spike in the prices of rate-reset preferred shares and is this a good time to buy? I was expecting selling pressure as we approach year-end to pick up good value (lock in spread vs GoC 5-yr in a 5 year ladder) but now I am fearful of both the potential for losses from currently elevated prices and of letting the opportunity slip away if they keep rising.

Q: I would like to get dividend income from non-Canadian sources to diversify. Is this possible, I am not sure how that works from a tax point of view. Do you have an opinion on the above Global X SuperDividend ETF. Am I right to think that in a low growth period moving forward, that dividend income will become even more attractive. Thanks, Kristine

Q: Hi,
I'm looking for ETF with some yield, like BXMX, QQQX ans SPXX, all the 3 with 7-8% interest.(US)
Is there any canadian ETF managed like these (in $CAN)
Thanks in advance.
Francois

Q: Thanks for the earlier response regarding a u.s. Dollar denominated bond fund. I was surprised that you offered something trading on the tsx. Don't know why, but i thought it would have been bought on the american exchanges. I also meant to add but didn't that i would be looking for something similar to cbo.
Thanks

Q: I would like your opinion on which of these two, INF in the US or BGI.un in Canada, is the better investment for an infrastructure play. They both have global infrastructure exposure through various assets but there are some of the same companies in each although holdings differ in weighting. I know the associated costs are higher in closed end funds but they offer diversification that I cannot achieve through 1 or 2 individual companies unless you have a better choice. Thank you

Kenn

Q: Hello 5i,
Could you direct me to a bond fund in the u.s. Denominated in u.s. Dollars? Do they have anything similar to our GIC's?
Thanks

Q: What effect would there be on bond funds such as XHY, XBB and CBO if the US Federal Reserve went to negative interest rates? I hold all in a registered account.

Q: Hi there,
Do you think this is a good entry point for XLV.US for a 2 year hold? Any opinion on this ETF?
Thanks,
Kerri

Q: For international diversification for 30% of my portfolio I am thinking about vxc, I know you have recommended vxus in the past but due to currency conversion (U.S. Rates). I was wondering about Vxc. What do you think about this ? Or should I bite the bullet and convert currency to USD? Can you comment on tax implications as well in registered and non registered accounts as well. Thanks.

Q: In your response to me you state "Our preference to dividend appreciation stocks is based on fact, however. Stocks that consistently grow dividends have been shown to be far far superior on a risk adjusted basis to any other category of the market." Can you please provide the facts (data) using ETF's to validate your claims. My data shows:
VUN 2 years = 46.6% versus
VGG 2 years = 37.6%
Thanks and I do appreciate your service.
Steve

Q: Rob today asked for your recommendation on an ETF that tracks the broader US market, that he can buy with CDN funds. Your recommendation was VGG a dividend appreciation etf with 1 year return (as of yesterday) of ~ 18%. You have recommended this etf on various other occasions today and in the past. You should be aware the tempting 18% return is due to currency because the hedged VGH return over the same period is a mere 1.9%. I cannot understand why you continue to pick these "niche " etf's especially when someone asks for a broad index. The broadest US index with lowest mer in US $ is VTI and in Canadian $ VUN. And VUN has 1 year return of 22.6%. VTI/VUN over various cycles outperforms these "niche" etf's tracking some subset of a market and this is what etf's were originally designed to do anyways so just recommend the broadest index to maximize investors returns.
Steve