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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’m confused why short seller analysts are allowed to manipulate stock prices for their own benefit. What’s the difference between an influential short seller shorting a stock and than manipulating the price with a bad report and a ceo buying or selling stock before an earnings report?
Read Answer Asked by John on December 04, 2018
Q: Hi 5i!
This more of a financial planning question than an investing question.
I recently read the book "Retirement Income For Life". It talks about delaying taking CPP until 70 to maximize the amount received. This is achieved by drawing down RSPs from retirement to 70 and taking 1/3 of your retirement funds and buying an annuity. The annuity pays income for life and the larger CPP payment will last for life also. The goal is to not outlive your money in retirement. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this strategy.
Thank you for your insight!
Dave
Read Answer Asked by Dave on December 03, 2018
Q: Clayton was asking about unwinding the Fed balance sheet you replied that they need to sell assets and referenced bonds. What are the assets. How and why does selling them effect the stock market.
Thank you for the excellent service you provide.
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on December 03, 2018
Q: Hi, I am looking to buy some beaten down tax loss selling candidates. Which weeks would you consider to have the greatest tax loss selling and when is the last date in 2018 to sell for tax loss purposes? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Gary on December 03, 2018
Q: Hi Peter/Ryan, if you have a lot of shares and gains in a stock and if you are expecting the stock to split. Is it better to sell before the split or after or does it make a difference. Whats the best way to handle this scenario. Thanks, Nick
Read Answer Asked by Nick on November 30, 2018
Q: The US Fed has a very big balance sheet problem that needs to unwind - someday. I do not understand what that means to the stock market.
Please help me.
Clayton
Read Answer Asked by Clayton on November 30, 2018
Q: TD online broker does not allow me to buy some securities electronically. I can place the order over the phone and get the online price. I can however sell my existing positions electronically. Example of securities concerned are Versa Bank, GMP Capital, and about a dozen others. I called broker and was told this restriction was placed on the shares by the company. Never heard of such a thing, have you? I can trade these securities through my other on line broker ie. RBC
Any idea what is going on?
Read Answer Asked by Kenneth on November 30, 2018
Q: This ETF has shown on May 31,2018 95 million Outstdg shares. On Nov 1 they had 99 million shares. which in my opinion diluted the value of my shares.??
I called them and they said, that they had to issue new shares as Institutional clients asked for it.I said why they did not come on the open market and bid up the price. He said it doesn't work that way. I said isn't it like a Central Bank who just prints more money.Can you clarify who is right? Am confused.Art
Read Answer Asked by Arthur on November 28, 2018
Q: I have been looking at Enbridge, and am confused about the increase in outstanding common shares. It seems that they more than doubled in the past 2-3 years. Is this from acquisition or from the company issuing more shares? Is there a way to tell for other companies (online), so I don't have to ask you for each one I find similar results?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Federico on November 28, 2018
Q: Hi 5i,
My current strategy is to have a hybrid approach so that I have some of the income portfolio holdings, some growth and some from balanced. In addition I have taken the same approach with US holdings and UK/Australian (to a lesser extent) so my version is diversified (both by sector and geographically, well hopefully) and I think of it like a balance equity portfolio.
Generally how does this (balanced) approach compare to the income or growth portfolio which seems more targeted in its purpose. Are there persuasive arguments to follow one style over another?
Thanks
Mike
Read Answer Asked by mike on November 27, 2018
Q: Hi 5i: Are there any general observations to make about how markets and different sectors usually react once a yield curve inversion occurs? I understand that subsequent recessions may not typically begin until 9-18 months after a yield curve inversion but I’m wondering if bear markets in equities most often tend to lead recessions and by how much. Along similar lines, at what point during the sequence of events would you expect to hear a lot of talk about 'engineering a soft landing’ and expect to see ‘easing’ steps such as interest rate decreases? I’m happy to do a little further reading on this myself if there is a good info source you’d like to point me toward. Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Lance on November 27, 2018
Q: Apart from P/E ratios, is there a key valuation metric for a sector that would help one to select one stock over another in that sector?
There are many valuation metrics - P/BV, FCF, FFO, EV/EBITA, for example. Some are more suited to one sector versus another. Could you advise which valuation metric(s) you rely upon for each sector.
Thx

Sam
Read Answer Asked by sam on November 27, 2018
Q: Using numbers from TD Waterhouse as an example:
GS EPS (TTM) is 1.27 and 2018 EPS expectation consensus (Mean) is 1.09.
SLF EPS (TTM) is 3.52 and 2018 EPS expectation consensus (Mean) is 4.84.
What is the explanation if the TTM is above or below 2018 EPS expectations towards end of reporting year? Will the TTM revert towards the mean consensus? Can I interpret anything from the positive or negative variances?
Read Answer Asked by LARRY on November 27, 2018
Q: Hi 5i
I always thought tax loss selling was mainly a thing in the Nov/Dec timeframe. With the increased volatility in Oct / Nov is it possible to judge whether the volatility could be attributed to earlier tax loss selling or just general fear & profit taking? I'm not qualified to make a judgement like this and my question is more a request of what you'd expect for the remainder of the year and whether January would bring some relief.
I know you can't know with certainty but at a gut feel / guess what do you think the remainder of the year has in store?

Gullible :)
Mike
Read Answer Asked by mike on November 26, 2018
Q: Dear 5i
I'm very much interested in the conservative portfolio for when i retire with in the next 6 months . I especially like bank , utilities and reit ETF`s as the yields seem reasonable and the fact that the ETF`s pay the dividends monthly which provides consistent income during retirement .
My dilemma is that i think i prefer to hand pick similar stocks myself within each of those categories most of which have been recommended by 5i .This way would all likely offer a higher average yield as there is no MER to consider . The problem is that most of the stocks in those 3 areas (utilities , banks and rents ) only pay the dividends quarterly so as a retired person there is not the consistency on monthly income as there would be with buying the corresponding ETF`s . Is this generally a personal preference thing or is there one way you would advise for a soon to be retired person .
Thanks
Bill C.
Read Answer Asked by Bill on November 26, 2018
Q: In most of your reports on the listed stock say the stability is low. If low why the high rating and how is the stability factor determined.
Read Answer Asked by Ross on November 26, 2018
Q: Thanks to your stellar advice my portfolio is stacked with market leaders. Consequently I felt like a hero during the summers peak. Not so much these days. I felt a little better after reading that market leaders tend to plunge 1.5 to 2.5 times the market average during a downturn. Thought I'd share that with you.
Question: will those that lead the downturn e.g. tech, lead the upturn?
Thanks
Peter.
Read Answer Asked by Peter on November 23, 2018
Q: Hi,

Donald's analysis regarding Fairfax returns was quite interesting. You mentioned that timing is everything. The long-term MACD (a monthly trend/momentum indicator) for the S&P 500 now making a bearish crossover.A bearish crossover (sell signal) occurred at the 2000 tech bubble peak, the 2007 market peak, and the intermediate market peak in 2015. I came across this article and would like to get your opinion on it and keeping in mind timing as a big factor should we reduce the risk by lowering our percentage of stock holdings and get back in at a better time.

https://www.financialsense.com/blog/18799/markets-long-term-momentum-just-went-negative

Great service
Thanks
Ninad
Read Answer Asked by Ninad on November 23, 2018