Investment Q&A

Q: I understand Covered call ETFs limit the upside potentials when the market is in uptrend. So what type of ETFs increase the upside potential when the market is in uptrend?
I'm asking because at some point the current down trend market trend will reverse and if one wants to get the maximum benefit of the uptrend do you think leveraged ETFs are a good choice ?

Or do you suggest any other types of ETFs?

Q: I heard something very interesting a few days ago. A study found that the average holding period for stocks by individual investors is now about 6 months. Back in the 1960's or 1950's, it was 6 YEARS. Obviously, there is a lot more information out there now, easier access to it, and much cheaper trading. Wondering what you think of this development, and how it is impacting (a) individuals' investing performances, and (b) the overall market. I think it is making the market a lot more volatile. Studies I have read over the years tend to indicate people who trade less frequently do better than frequent traders, on average, so on the surface, one would think the shorter holding periods today might be hurting individuals' investing performances.

Q: Good Morning Everyone,

The BMO Investorline website is not working today, as far as I can tell the server went down at the opening bell.
In the past I have found BMO to be an unreliable service when the market is down, so this isn't the first time.

Question for 5i: In your experience is it quite common for online trading services to not always work during a market sell off?

Question for everyone: Has anyone found a trading platform that they have found to be reliable?

Thank you for your insights. Luckily I wasn’t planning to sell or buy anything today, but gosh darn it’s annoying.

Sandra

Q: Could I get your opinion on "Structured Notes". Could you provide a basic description on how they work, as well the pros and cons. Are they suitable for the "average" retail investor? How are they purchased. I read columns by Martin Pelletier and he always recomennds them.

Thank You

Q: Everyone, I am not sure when the information overload started but there is so much information out there that it makes you pick and choose the sites that you feel are the best for you. If you could list a few paid and free sites it would be appreciated. At this point this is my only paid site ( I use to have three) and all the free sites (CNBC and BNN). I really hate all the talking heads on most shows because they are usually promoting something. Clayton

Q: Hi team,

What is the significance of the Morning Star annotations (v.g. *** Silver) when you look at an ETF or stock ? Does it change frequently and for what reason ?

Gratefully,

Jacques IDS

Q: Can you please provide a link to watch a replay of Peter's Market Call session tomorrow (March 27th)? I am unable to watch it live and am sure many other members will be in the same situation. Thank you!

Q: I am sure you have a lot of members like myself who would like to invest outside of North Americano due to Trump and our tiny Canadian market.
On top of our annual membership fees I would be willing to pay more for example a monthly letter ion investment ideas in U.K. and Europe.
What do you think of the idea?

Q: When companies like Telus issue millions of Restricted share units (RSU) like it recently did does this affect the share count and are these free shares given out as compensation irregardless of performance of the company? Thx for helping me to understand.

Q: In a recent answer there was a recommendation that BRK.B would be a solid growth stock for years to come. Just curious given the U.S./CAD exchange rate, what are the pros and cons to buy BRK.CA instead of BRK.B?

Q: Everyone, I don’t trade very much, I am a buy and hold person. Keep the best of the best stocks. But I regularly look at charts to see were the stocks is at certain times. The 50, 100 and 200 MVA. Also RSI. I know you use financial metrics but do the charts have a benefit to individual investors? Or should they be used in combination with finial metrics? Which is more important? Clayton

Q: Knowing that this may not be your area of expertise but if YOU had to get a mortgage in the next three months or so, what terms would you go for? Expect to pay it back in 6-8 years... Thanks in advance.
In addition to my previous question, I would appreciate reasons to your answer. Thank you.

Q: As we are not investing gurus, we often have difficulty understanding company reports. Could the 5i team suggest 5 impotant metrics to look for in company reports, both quarterly and annually. Perhaps this could be one of Peter's columns in the media. If this has been addressed previously, please advise.

Thank you,
Pat & Cyril

Q: What is the best way to think about position size of a particular stock and sector size, should it be based on total portfolio value or value within individual accounts?
Mike

Q: I am donating some of my CSU shares (20% of holding) and am considering whether or not these should be replaced in my portfolio. Currently, CSU is 3% of my investment portfolio and 6% of my equity portfolio (before the donation). When you speak to 5% as a ceiling for exposure, is that in the total portfolio or the equity portion of the portfolio?

Q: Hello 5i
I wonder if you would enlighten me on another aspect of your option selling. I know the object is to create premiums. But, psychologically I feel that I have lost if I buy back a stock which has risen and been called away. For instance, last month I sold a call on shop US for $94. Now, it is $100. Would you let it go, buy it back at the new price and sell a new option; buy back the call and sell another option or let it go and buy another stock that may be better priced to sell an option on. The answer is probably obvious for you. But, I am a bit muddled on this
Thanks as always

Q: I noticed that some of the big American stocks that were trading as CDRs I believe on the NEO Exchange,stopped trading there on Feb 14 and now it looks like their trading in Toronto and only have a history back to Feb14
The companies are NVDA,MSFT,TSLA,GOOG META and COST,there’s probably more,do you know why this happened and is their any significance to it Thanks

Q: Good morning and thank you for your many years of valued service.

In this unsettled market, investor focus is shifting away from a narrow focus on price appreciation. Are there any available resources to review the total return of a single stock or make the same comparisons of any pairs?

Scott

Q: My question is about ETF's with dividends. How many days do I have to own an ETF BEFORE I'm eligible to receive their dividend?

For example, TDIV has an Ex-Dividend Date of 12/13/2024

What date did I need to have bought this by to qualify for that dividend?

Q: Hi 5i Team - Price per Earnings and forward P/E is often used as a measure of valuation for a stock. Also I am assuming that when someone talks of a company trading at 20 times earnings they are referring to this ratio. However I have never been completely sure about what this means. Does earnings mean EBITA. Could you elaborate on the exact meaning of earnings.

Secondly is this the best measure of a company's success, at least for investment purposes, or is there another metric (or more) that gives a better insight into the valuation of a company.

I've never seen a price per profit ratio so here's the third part of this question. Does something like this exist or is there a similar ratio that would help in evaluating a company's performance.

Thank you.