Investment Q&A

Q: Good afternoon 5i. I own the following stocks. Today there`s been talk about possible sector rotation of funds going from tech to financials. The Nasdaq is down 1.3% today. My portfolio stands as of right now at 22% tech and 15% financials. Would you recommend I leave my portfolio as is or should I lean more towards financials going forward?

Thx/Rob

Q: Given a ten year hold position and wanting a low risk option would you recommend a basket of quality ETF's or solid dividend producing stocks like Canadian banks. Thanks

Q: It appears to me that you favor diversification outside of Canada and the U.S., even though your primary recommendations cover the Canadian market. What would be your top recommendations for the emerging markets, India, China, Japan, Europe, etc ?

Q: I'm wondering if your service will keep members posted on the yield curve trends in the US?
I'm no economist. But many pundits are saying big trouble lies ahead: Short term rates increase, long term rates don't, curve flattens, recession hits, corporate bonds default massively, blood in the streets etc etc. I think I am a typical member, in that I have some confidence that I am building a portfolio that works for me ( with help from you). But I am lacking knowledge about the macro risks that could wipe me (us? ) out. Will 5i monitor and comment occasionally on this risk?

Q: Can you clarify one of your comment?
In inflationary times Canadian markets outperform
the USA market ! Why

Q: I've recently sold my holdings and am entirely in cash. I'm wondering whether I should wait for a correction and take advantage of some bargains or whether I'm better off getting my money invested and not worrying about marketing timing. I realize you cannot "crystal ball gaze" but I'm interested in your comments regarding staying in cash and waiting for an opportunity to present itself vs. getting back into a portfolio. Thank you.

Q: I am 10 years from retirement with no company pension.I have a good size RSP and TFSA along with an equal registered account.In your opinion what percentage of my portfolio should be in bonds and in what type of funds.I only see junk bond funds that are giving any kind of returns but risky while government bonds are only producing 1% returns.What does a guy like me do .I need 10 years of steady 5-6 percent returns to fund s decent retirement but can't bet the farm.I am currently invested in geographic diverse funds and some hedge funds.

Q: Can you reccomend an ETF or other instrument for short term cash (3 - 9 months).

Q: Reviewing my portfolio at this time of year,i have decided to take a more defensive approach for 2018.I have recently purchased a couple of gold stocks(aem & lk).I am unsure if gold still has the downside protection for a portfolio that it used to.
Also with the expected interest rate increases will dividend paying large caps have the desired benefit of portfolio protection?
Do you have any suggestions on some debt free dividend paying companies that will do well in a flat or slightly down market.I don't care if they are small,medium or large cap companies!

Q: I currently hold a very small position in Enbridge (1.5%) and a very large position in CDIC-guaranteed High Interest Savings Accounts (HISA's). I am retired and capital preservation has become important to me. HISA yields are about 1% while ENB yield is more than 5%. However, ENB dipped below $44 briefly this morning, which represents a 20% drop over the past year. Would you recommend switching some of my HISA's to ENB at this time to obtain a better yield?

Q: why do trailing stop loss orders sometimes not work and you find the stock has dropped below the price that you had set your trailing stop loss at. I appreciate your expertise. thanks

Q: I am hoping you can address this question ( I know it might be difficult to answer) in your comments you mention "you are comfortable good long term" is there anyway to define this .i.e. next 1, 2 or 3 year - I know no one has a crystal ball. Second point I have always used the philosophy if you get a bad quarter usually a concern "cockroach theory" time to move on and find something else especially if you are in the stock. So if you have companies that report a poor quarter - would you use this approach especially if you want to outperform the market (more of a earnings and price momentum style). Thanks.

Q: Could you provide, for the latest quarter, the ratio of beats and misses todate for both the US and Canada.
Earning and revenue if possible.
Thanks
Ed

Q: Hi everyone at 5i! I need a clarification about bonds. I have heard that bonds are facing head winds with the anticipated increase in interest rates. I have a portfolio of 60% stocks and 40% fixed. My fixed component consists of GICs, bonds, some preferreds and ETFs of XHY, CBO and CPD. These ETFs pay me a nice dividend monthly. My strategy is to invest my monthly dividend into the ETF that is lagging to get the greatest value for my dollar. Considering that the value of these ETFs may fall ( hopefully just in the short term) would you consider this an ok strategy or would you refrain from putting more money in bonds and preferreds. Cheers, Tamara

Q: Hello 5i,
Love the new website. you must have put a lot of work into it. Thank you very much for your efforts.
I have been concerned about what is often called the 'housing bubble" in Canada. I am certainly no expert but house prices to rent, to income, per capita gdp and just the general high degree of debt in our country.

Knowing that I am not an expert in this area I don't want to bet too heavily on this fear. So, I think I have found a solution and thought i would run it by you for your commentary.
I don't have a lot of real estate other than my own home. So I am not worried about that, I am going to live here anyway. But, it seems like the Canadian banks would be hit if there was a big drop. I don't know if you know of other industries which would be affected?
Now, I have about ten percent in fixed income and I think all of that is in US funds in a rrif. I thought I might shave off some of the banks and buy my fixed income in Canadian funds. Then I would invest all of my US funds in stocks.

The big problems with this plan, as I see it, are capital gains and especially hold ing my fixed income outside a registered account ( because this is where my banks are, from which I would be raising the money). Of course at todays rates the taxes on the fixed income outside the sheltered accounts wouldn't amount to that much anyway. I know that you speacilise in straight forward questions on stocks but I notice that you sometimes venture further afield and reply to questions of strategy. So, i hope I qualify for this latitude. There may be a few questions in here so take off the points necessary
thanks

Q: Hello Folks:
Thank you again for your terrific service!
I am a 71 yr. old investor who has never kept any amount of cash in our accounts.
I feel there may be a serious negative re-evaluation approaching for world
markets; therefore considering moving to a half cash position, as we rely on returns for a good portion of our income. It is a difficult choice as dividend and rising equity prices have been very good since the recession, however nothing remains stagnant.
Our portfolio is primarily large cap US stocks and some quality dividend paying Canadian equities.
As always, I appreciate your point of view and suggestions
Brian

Q: Great new website.

My question is about interest rates. I saw an interview recently discussing interest rate cycles, stating that we have have had 30 years of interest rate decreases, that interest rates have now bottomed and we have begun a long term trend of rate increase. The guest also said that the last long term rate increase cycle was during the 1950s and 1960s. During that 20 year period, the interest payments on bonds were mostly offset by capital losses, resulting in a net return of less than a half of 1 percent annually over 20 years while stocks returned 19% annually over that period. In your opinion, what would be the catalyst for a repeat of this scenario? Does this mean that retirees should shun bonds in favour of stocks even though the risk might be higher?

Thanks and great work

Q: Hi! Are we getting a sustainable energy rebound? If yes could you arrange the following stocks in order of preference: TOG, BIR, NVA, KEL, SPE, TOU and perhaps Xeg.
Thank you!

Q: I would appreciate your thoughts on how one should diversify his investments geographically, (Canada, United States, and Internationally). What do you think would be the percentages I should allocate to each area? I realize allocation is a personal decision but I'm looking for some kind of general guideline. I consider myself to be an average investor and therefore willing to accept some risk.
Being a member of 5i, and following your guidance, I think I have the my Canadian investments under control but I would appreciate some help for the U.S. and international allocations.
I would also appreciate it if you would suggest your favourite ETF to invest in the United States and internationally.

Q: http://www.businessinsider.com/stock-market-news-could-be-headed-for-one-of-worst-disasters-in-history-2017-10

Do you think the article is right or is this article initself flawed?