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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: Peter and Ryan, appreciate all that you do both with this service and with your blogs and bnn segments.

My question/comment is valuation based. I began investing a few years ago and was taught/told and preached how important valuation plays as a factor in stock picking. A few years later said value/cheap stocks I got in generally underperformed while all the higher valued companies continue to appreciate. Just this past summer I held off on such stocks with strong fundamentals such as BIP.UN, CSU, NVDA, RBA and MTY because of "expensive" valuations only to continue to watch them go higher as I've seen this story play out time and time again since I began investing. So now I concentrate on fundamentals and technicals for confirmation and not so much valuations. I know you guys don't mind paying up for quality and growth generally so just wanting your thoughts and comments on the matter. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by George on November 28, 2016
Q: Yesterday I put in a limited price buy for 100 shares of the ETF PEJ. It was filled with one individual stock. When I brought this to the attention of ScotiaItrade using their call centre I was browbeat by the initial answering person and then her supervisor. I did not know what the acronym AON meant and since I did not use the button on the order it was my fault I got a fill of one share. I have been using a discount broker for 19 years, am a fairly active trader and have never encountered this situation. I was told by the supervisor that board lots only apply to the TSX and not the US Markets. I would like to ask you if that is true and I will govern myself accordingly in future. In passing it took 26 minutes or so to resolve this issue. Now to wait till Friday to order 99 shares using AON.
Read Answer Asked by James on November 27, 2016
Q: I was listening to David Burrows on BN last night, he believes the next 2 years could be quite good in some investment areas and not in others. Because of what he was suggetsing, that utilities, REIT's and Telco may be in the not so good area, I was thinking of selling my Telus, Artis and Dream Industrial.
I would like to rotate those funds into, financials, materials, technology and industrials in Canada in midsize companies. I was wondering if you might be able to suggest some companies with good growth potential that pay dividends in those areas.
If I make the change my core would start with Scotiabank, Royal bank, IPL and PPL, and a little bit of ECN.
Read Answer Asked by Don on November 25, 2016
Q: For some of the larger cap more established companies listed on the venture, what are the requirements to be upgraded to the TSX? Do you see the example companies as being likely candidates in the coming 12 months?
Read Answer Asked by Renata on November 24, 2016
Q: I'm interested in Profit Margin. In layman terms "what does it mean"? Is it the same as Net Margin (TD Webbroker shows Profit Margin, other sites show Net Margin)? Would using a minimum profit margin of 10% or above safely allow for negative events to the balance sheet? Why would I want to invest in companies with low TTM profit margins such as PBH(3.64%), BEP.UN(1.36%), PKI(.97%) etc? Why do companies such as TCN(329.69%), BPF.UN(85.67%) and AW.UN(66.55%) have such high profit margins? Should I consider a 5yr average? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by LARRY on November 24, 2016
Q: Good afternoon, I had moved everything to cash, believing that we were overdue for a bit of a correction, and also because I did quite well on atd and ccl. . Do you think a correction will occur when the honeymoon is over with Trump? I know no-one has a crystal ball, but do you think it is likely? If no, would you be content with the above choices for a moderate risk? I plan to keep my US in cash for now.
Thanks as always.
Read Answer Asked by steve on November 24, 2016
Q: There seems to be renewed enthusiasm for mining stocks, with the likes of Teck, Quantum and Hudbay going up like rockets. What do you think of the mining sector (excluding gold)? My impression is you've been fairly lukewarm over this in the recent past. My portfolio has a very small bit of Teck (about 1%) and am wondering if I should be putting more money into this sector.
Read Answer Asked by John on November 23, 2016
Q: Just wanted to say it is a good thing that 5i was and is consistent with answering questions for many members.

It has become obvious to me that many members can only see 1 way of making $$$ and they depend on others to direct their investing thoughts for them. Considering we all do not have the time or interest to do otherwise 5i is of great value to them.

Myself, who has posted both here and in the Forum about the cannabis stocks, have always said they were traders only in my opinion.

This is the 2nd or 3rd (memory) time they have had momentary spikes over the past ~ decade.

Personally I invest for the very long term (+20 years), use DRIP's, shorter time frames & have the ability to Day Trade when I see obvious profits.

I have made enough trading the Cannabis stocks to cover my 5i membership for the remainder of my life +++.

Thanx for the steady hand you present to all the "Investors" of varying abilities.
Read Answer Asked by Stan (1) on November 23, 2016
Q: Re: Bank exchange fees when investing in U.S. securities, funds, ETF’s.

It is good to see 5I is involved in Financial Literacy Month. I think a valid contribution to your Members could be as follows:

I believe there is a (hopefully small) percentage of Canadian investors of U.S. traded securities that are purchasing and selling within their Cdn. dollar investment account. (As you know, even at par, buying a US security in a Cdn account will cost approx. 2% in bank exchange fees, and selling that security will cost another 2%).
I also believe that these self-directed investors are unaware that most banks will set up a USD investment account, registered or unregistered, for them at no charge allowing any trading and dividends to transact within that account avoiding the bank exchange fee on each transaction. Of course there will be that fee on the initial transfer of funds into that account, (but not if U.S. securities are transferred from the Cdn to the U.S. account).

I recall that Questrade was once advertising on BNN that they had an account to avoid these fees, but it really wasn’t an effective message.

Are you aware of any good method to purchase U.S. dollars at better rates than banks will offer?

Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Brian on November 22, 2016
Q: I have about 20% of my total portfolio in U.S. equities. Do you see that amount as reasonable or in lieu of stronger growth predicted in the US should I consider putting any new money into the US instead of Canada.
Would you have any favourite ways to play, for example much is being said about regional us banks, have things gone too far too fast to get in now. Your valuable opinion would be much appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by Maureen on November 21, 2016