Investment Q&A

Q: I have been looking to add some exposure to preferred shares. In the USA there is a fund with the ticker PFFA which is trading well below par which makes the yield just shy of 10 per cent. If, or better said when yields start falling (And I hope that doesn't happen too soon.) this yield would be even enticing and the fund should move up in price closer to par which would give some capital appreciation. Also the CAD is nearing 75 cents which I see as on the upper end of its trading range. Am I missing something? It has a safe (ish) yield, potential for capital appreciation and is in USD all of which I like. Merry Christmas and a Joyful start to 2024.

Q: Which growth US$ ETF's would you recommend that have low dividends, low volatility, and good past performance.

John

Q: this is a gold rated etf with morningstar, but if relied on for retirement income , what are chances the distributions could drop well below the current stated 6.4 %

Q: can you recommend a US mid-cap ETF that sells in US and one in CAD?

Q: What is your outlook for US Homebuilders? Considering the recent runup, is it too late to get in now? I am considering either Pulte Group (PHM) or just buying the ETF (XHB).

Q: I am looking for a US small cap ETF that is hedged to the CAD. I have been looking at XSU. Fundata in the globe and mail indicates that it follows the Dow Jones US small cap RT index but has been doing worse the this index. My questions are:
1) Do all small caps follow the Dow Jones US small cap RT index?
2) what is your impression of XSU?
3) is there another US small cap ETF that you would recommend?
thanks

Q: I know you don't believe in timing the market but after the last few years i've ended up with a fair bit of cash on sidelines, yielding around 5%.
Post pivot i'm now thinking about when/how to deploy. Assuming interest rates have peaked and we start seeing cuts in 2024 i expect cash yields to start decreasing as well.
So if you wanted to "broadly" deploy your cash reserves throughout 2024 how would you proceed? Thinking some mix of SPY, RSP, EMV (much smaller allocation) as I have retained most of my high convinction Canadian stocks.
Dollar Cost Average monthly or quarterly
Wait for next broad pullback, we know it's coming just not sure when. Can still get a nice cash yield while waiting.

Q: Rick Reider is managing BRTR a new income etf. Does it pay a dividend or does it operate as a total return instrument? Are there any income etf's trading in the US that instead of paying a dividend provide capital gains instead similar in result to the corporate class structure from Horizons? Lastly does Horizons have any US dollar income etf with a corporate class structure and if so would you recommend it? Thank you.

Q: Since long duration bonds have more sensitivity to interest rate movements and interest rates are expected to decline next year does it make more sense to invest in a long term bond ETF? And since I expect interest rates to fall further in Canada does it make more sense to go with a Canadian ETF? Which ones would you recommend?

Q: What is your best recommendation for a US dollar and traded bond etf that holds short term bonds of around 2 year duration that can be held for 12 to 24 months that would benefit from a thesis that interest rates will fall during the next 12 to 18 months. I have never held bonds, have US cash and would like to on a lower risk basis park current money market funds into a bond etf that preferably does not pay dividends but can appreciate capital based on a combination of shorter term bonds gradually coming due and interest rates falling. Thank you for providing some direction and suggestions since I feel rather lost in this area of investing.

Q: Which of these fixed income holdings is best suited as the 25% fixed income in a retirement portfolio? Alternatively, is a 30/30/40 mix (for a portfolio total of 25%) better? Thanks!

Q: Hi,
I am looking for your opinion on this stock and ETF. The stock is listed as the 11th holding in the ETF for regional banks, KRE. It caught my attention as it seems to be breaking out of a long term base. Also is JNK a good ETF, and if not what alternatives would you suggest that pay a decent dividend. Would I be right is thinking JNK will be negatively affected if interest rates begin to drop? Deduct credits as you feel appropriate. Thanks - your advice and insight is always appreciated!
Dawn

Q: Hi Peter,

With interest rates projected to go downwards, what are your top three picks in the U.S. and Canada for bond ETFs for the next five years?

Thanks

George

Q: Right now a large % of my portfolio is in TD 8150 money market paying 4.55%
If rates start to drop it will be hit right away---Some corporate bonds are paying over 5%---I like the liquidity of the 8150s and will continue being in fixed to perhaps a lesser extent---do you think I should lock in one of these corporate bonds for maybe50% of what I have in 8150s now?
Thanks
Peter

Q: Is this a good time in our current economic cycle to buy US high yield bonds, with the US economy still on unstable ground? Or am I better buying a Canadian high yield dividend ETF? Income investor and will be held in a registered account.
Thanks!

Q: Hello,

I am looking for a regular dividend paying fixed income bond ETF in Canada. I have a 5 year horizon. What would you suggest ? I currently own CBO.

Thanks.

Q: I am looking to set up an RESP for grandchildren aged 8 and 6 with about $40k that will be added to annually. I am thinking of purchasing 8 stocks in roughly equal amounts - ISRG, CROX, GOOG, NVDA, BN, LMN, SMCI, HPS.A

Is 8 stocks too limiting and should I look at ETFs for some sectors or should this give the plan a good start and greater diversification can occur as the plan grows?

Anything you see here that raises a red flag or are there other stocks I should consider?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: Good day team,

What do think of this ETF to purchase?
Also CCLN.

Thank you, John G.

Q: I wanted some gold exposure in my TFSA-Any thoughts on GLCC.CA
Also what does the group think of buying CDR'S
Thankyou

Q: I have these in a robo managed portfolio and am down 25% on ZFL and 5.4% on ZAG and 8.2% on XSH.
Since it appears interest rates appear to be stabilizing should one hold on for a recovery or try a different strategy or different holdings. Perhaps maybe moving to GIC or HISA EFT or other holdings you may suggest. Or do you think the same recovery may be seen by continuing to hold?
This loss seems to be an issue with those that have to go managed funds and mutuals with a balanced EFT portfolio.
I am going to transfer from so called managed to my own managed EFT's to avoid the fees. Think I can do just as well (or poorly depending on how you look at it) but wondering if I should switch holdings when moving funds to self directed EFT's.
I do have a separate portfolio with individual stocks, so this is basically a portfolio to minimize management and time requirements.