Investment Q&A

Q: In a well diversified portfolio, thanks to Portfolio Analytics if one wanted to be overweight in one or more industries which would you pick? Which would go underweight? Long term holder but don't mind playing trends as the post pandemic era comes to fruition.

Q: What do you think of this twenty stock dividend portfolio for a taxable account? I am focusing on high quality and it yields about 3.8% . Any changes you would make?

Q: "President Biden's plan is expected to call for a 39.6% top tax rate on long-term capital gains, up from the current 20%. The tax would apply to returns on assets held more than a year and to taxpayers with more than $1 million in income." If this proposal becomes reality, do you expect an impact on stock markets?

Q: I'm helping a friend set up a "couch potato portfolio". I noticed a while back that you commented on such a portfolio. I am suggesting the following to my friend. What do you think? Is there any of the ETFs that you would swap out? And why?

XIU S&P/TSX60 total return for Canada 25%
ZSP BMO S&P 500 Index ETF for USA 25%
XEF ishares Core MSCI EAFE for Europe/Japan 25%
ZEM BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF for emerging markets 5%
XGD iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold for gold exposure 5%
ZAG BMO Aggregate Bond ETF 15%

It appears that both ZSP and XEF offer USD versions. What are the pros and cons?
Thanks

Q: Good Morning 5i, What would be your allocation % to the 11Sectors? Thanks

Q: Are you followers of David Rosenburg? He is playing the contrarian and is foreshadowing gloomy times ahead - not too distant. Recently, in the National Post he reinforced his current analysis with his prior track record of seeing what others didn't. What do you think?

Q: Peter,

I am confused about the value of Quantitative Easing. The Bank of Canada has bought billions of dollars of government bonds, bidding up the price and consequently lowering the yield. I understand this a procedure enacted when interest rates cannot go any lower and they still want to boost the economy. How is this going to boost the economy? It is not lowering the cost of lending and is not creating any jobs. Is the only advantage is to create more liquidity in the lending market?

Thank you

Paul

Q: Hi 5i,

You have mentioned that "Anything 'growthy' and on the smaller side has been unloved for the last one to two months." So the Hi Tech stock seem to be the worst sector now. Do you think the tech sector is over? How many months or years will the tech stocks come back by your experiences. I have no income, but can still survive for 2 years.

Q: I’d appreciate your thoughts on SUP (in the USA) and its outlook. On a related note, what other cyclicals come to mind that are still way down from their historical highs but are a good bet to reach them again? They could be small, mid or large caps, but the more upside the better. Thanks.

Q: Where is all the money going? My portfolio is down 9% from Feb high and a look this morning at the sector performance shows utilities as the only Cdn sector in the green, slightly. US market showing same. Is substantial money moving out of N American markets, moving into bonds or other investment types? What's going on?
Thanks guys.

Q: Hello,

A long time ago, Peter was on Market call and he mentioned a few criteria, which in his books, would make a stock a recommendation.
And then as one of the top picks, which met all those criteria, was STN.
Out of all those criteria, I remember:
1) a company had no dividend and just introduced one;
2) significant insider holding/buying.
3) no debt.

Could you please let me know if the criteria I listed above is correct + if there were other criteria as well?
Also, could you please recommend a few companies in both Canada and in US, which met all those criteria (relatively) recently?
It would be really appreciated companies from different industries/sectors please.

Thank you

Q: Hi,
Maybe not the forum, where I need to ask about this.

Salaries/income has stayed flat over the past couple of years....the real estate prices have increased SUBSTANTIALY.

How long can this party last? The disconnect between income and house prices is just growing and growing.....infinitum .

Here is my Question.
How long can the near zero rates continue ? If this monetary policy is making the real estate sector and the stock market boom, then should the Govt not continue this zero interest rate policy FOR EVER ? I am not good at finance/economics, could you please explain, why would any Govt. ever increase rates, if low rates generate growth ?

Q: Retired, dividend-income investor. A question earlier today has motivated me to finally ask this question....been thinking of it for quite a while. It had to do with potential rising interest rates and your response was that dividend investors should be prepared for a bumpy ride in the short term (my paraphrase of your answer).

I own the above securities and for the most part trim-add around core positions that I hold for the long term. Is it possible to divide the above securities into two camps....one that would be "ok" in a rising interest rate environment and the other that I should consider trimming a bit or maybe selling? I am ok riding things out for the long term and do not normally react to short term volatility.

Thanks for your help....Steve

Q: How much would interest rates have to increase before it would effect dividend stocks? And what percentage decrease would you expect to see in dividend stocks?
Thanks
Brian

Q: How would you expect the healthcare sector to perform in inflationary times?

Q: Hi
Ignoring tech industry companies, are there any companies that you think will benefit from market changes that have/will occur as a result of Covid-19? Covid-19 has changed so many ways people do everyday things and companies that will benefit from this change are my target.

Q: Considering how Trudeau and Freehand are cranking up our deficit what are thoughts longer term thoughts on the direction of the loonie?. I’m guessing that with the strength in oil lately our dollar does rise but when does debt override the price of oil? I am leaning more and more towards the world’s reserve currency because of the current “green leaning” government but the recent loonie strength gives me reservations.
Your thoughts please.
Thanks for your great work!
Bob

Q: Hey guys,

I have $18,000 in an RRSP and I am looking to split up my Money into Canadian Currency ETF's. I am thinking of an S&P 500, TSX 60, Emerging Markets and European ETF's.
What are your recommendations and allocation % for each. Timeline is 25-30 years.

Thanks a bunch

Q: Hi there, would you now give the green light to start purchasing oil stocks? The stars sure seem to be aligned here! For a trade or investment? Short or medium term? Economies are going to start opening up, planes are going to start flying, and old economy cars are going take to the roads again, in droves!!
Also, lets not forget about all those newly purchased RV's hitting the highways again for the summer driving season...

Or, would you be selling into this strength as a contrarian move to whats happening in the market with oil stocks these days?
Thanks!

Q: Hello 5i team,
Before a change in a weather system strong winds pick up with extremes of air pressure close together, then a calm before the storm hits. Over the years it was a big deal to see a holding jump 50 cents either way. NOW, we see the likes of not only growth stocks such as GWG and LSPD moving $5 and $6 at day but also ETF's such as IWO and VGT. Some "staid" stocks such as MSFT also move a chunck at a time. Are these moves indicative of a major change coming or is it smart money rotating or dumb money jumping on the bandwagon? Or is it anybody's guess? Should I be worried but stick to the plan?
Stanley