Investment Q&A

Q: How do you compare Utilities to Bonds for income and appreciation when interest rates stop rising or decline.

Thanks

Carl

Q: Is it time to switch from STIP to TLT?

Q: In tuesday's globe and mail, Tom Czitron recommeded buying mid term (5-10 year) federal, provincial government, and corporate bonds because they seem to be in the sweet spot between lower risk and higher opportunity, especially if inflation declines and economic growth wanes.
1. Do you agree?
2. Can you recommend names of bonds that fit this bill?
3. please indicate order of buying (best to worse), if any.
thanks

Q: These two "inflation-protected" bond ETFs turned out to be extremely disappointing investments. I don't know whether it's poor investment strategy or some other factors, but these two ETFs didn't provide any intended inflation protection, they behaved just like all other bond ETFs dropping like a cannonball when FED raises the rates. In response to my question on Sept 23, you mentioned that increased distributions may provide some comfort here, but both ETFs decided to cancel October dividend, so stated yields are completely meaningless now. I hold these two in taxable account, do you suggest to continue holding them hoping for a recovery or just to sell them both for tax loss and replace with some other bond ETFs that have better recovery potential? If it's the latter, what replacement would you suggest for STIP and for TIP. Thanks.

Q: I am looking for an etf that allows me to buy long-dated US Treasuries in canadian dollars. In other words, like TLT but in CAD.

Q: What environment would TLT perform the best? If the fed goes on hold will TLT effectively be flat, in other words does it take a decrease in the fed funds rate for TLT to have a significant move? What might it take for TLT to go from current price of $96 say to $125. Is a recession good for TLT?
Thanks
Rob

Q: hello 5i:
we hold some PFFD, but your system doesn't seem to recognize that ETF.
Question: would you expect TLT and PFFD to track very closely? Their charts look similar on a 5 year scale.
If so, and as the yield on PFFD is much higher than that of TLT, would not PFFD have a signicantly higher total return over almost any time horizon?
thanks
Paul L

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Q: HI 5I,

I have been reading, listening to my financial advisor and seeing some answers on your question blog that there may be an opportunity with bonds. I like ETF's the last while, so can you give me your advice on some ETF's that incorporate a high level of bonds that may see some upside if bonds were to have some capital appreciation. Thank-you

Q: I am waiting for an opportunity to buy back into bonds
My preference was tlt as the go to investment.
Recently a new etf has been introduced UTEN which is a 10 yr us t- bill.
It’s present yield is about double that of tlt.
Would you expect both to react the same if and when interest rate increases stop and actually reverse direction

Q: We can get more then 4% on a one year GIC right now.Why would you choose a bond fund that yields lower right now?
Is it only because of the possible capital appreciation?
Could you please shine a light on this

Q: Great October Market Report. I notice that in the 2008 and 2020 periods, job opening numbers began to decline only after higher rates had plateaued for a period of time. Today, job opening numbers have started to decline before higher rates have begun to plateau. Does this suggest the FED has gone too far to fast...and is poised, or could be forced, to quickly pivot? I'm just looking for a good reason to step into ZAG, or XBB for some decent yields and opportunities for capital growth. Thanks as always.

Q: what is your thinking about bonds right now.Can you explain how they work with their yields and resets.Are you recommending any bonds or bond funds right now?
Which ones if so.Do you think that the bonds have sold off too much right now?

Q: I am considering dipping my toe into the bond market via ETFs. I know the market is forward-looking as it pertains to equities but does the same hold true in the same way for bonds? Would pricing for XLB, for example, have likely already factored in expected rate increases for the next couple of months or do bonds tend to reprice only after the fact?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: UTWO:US and UTEN:US are ETFs of US Treasury bills: UTEN of US ten-year treasury bills, UTWO of the two-year. Both ScotiaiTRADE and RBC-DI make it difficult to buy US T-bills hence my interest in bond ETFs. Would you recommend — at THIS time— an ETF that holds’ 2 year and 10-year T-bills? ETF.com describes these as single-bond passively managed ETFs. RBC-DI shows UTEN:us has a yield of approximately 4.8 % pa and about 2.1 % on UTWO TODAY. For comparison, 2.5% is the approximate yield on US Money Market funds.

Is it worth buying either one or both of the above-noted bond ETFs? I am sure you have better ideas than the above ETFs, so would appreciate your suggestions of instruments that are better than the ones I have noted above.

Q: I have some cash on hand that i will invest in a GIC or deposit into a high interest savings account. With interest rates expected to risewould you suggest putting the cash into a GIC (1 year term) or a high interest savings account? Please provide your reasons for selecting a GIC or HISA. Are there other safe investments that will provide a reasonable rate of return? I am considering a 1 year term for a GIC. Would you suggest a different term for a GIC? I do not need the cash for the next few years.

Q: I'm looking for somewhere to put my cash for 8-12 months (looking to buy a house at that time) as the savings account rates are too low. What would you suggest? Would GICs be my best option?

Q: Hello Peter & team,

Please recommend the best option to park some cash for the next 6 months. Treasury bill ETF???? Minimum risk ETF with a good dividend???

Thanks for all you do

gm

Q: Hello,

Regarding your recent blog-very nice one!

Could you provide some stock/bond suggestions
For the examples provided,

-companies expected to grow at 50% over the next year
- solid growth companies
-small cap
-suggested corporate bonds long term.

Thanks very much.

Shyam

Q: Hi 5i Team,

In your recent article you highlighted that it would be a good time to start stepping into purchasing bonds. I am in my late-30’s so I have a longer term investment horizon and a medium to high risk tolerance. I have never purchased bonds in the past so what would be the best approach to purchasing bonds (ie. is it best to buy an ETF or individual bonds) to capitalize on the current depressed pricing?

Do you see this as being a long term trade or a purchase that should be exited when the conditions begin to reverse?

Thanks in advance,
Jon