Investment Q&A

Q: This is how the Globe portfolio analyzer breaks down my LIF portfolio. Objective is capita preservation and income. Is this reasonable diversification or should I be making changes to the allocation?

Sector % of Stocks
Financials 33.95
Consumer Discretionary 18.10
Energy 13.69
Information Technology 9.20
Industrials 6.66
Materials 5.84
Telecom Services 5.09
No Data 7.47

Q: For someone looking at a retirement in 2 - 3 years that will be funded by personal investments, I am having trouble formulating an investment strategy that would currently include fixed income investments. Fixed income securities seemed destined to only go down in value in the foreseeable future as interest rates rise so why would I want to invest in them? Pipelines, utilities and telecoms may also drop but their yield is currently quite good and secure and capital appreciation is always a possibility, if not a probability, in the longer run.

It seems to me that much of the argument for holding fixed income assets is to ensure the preservation of one's capital. But if I am ultimately going to invest largely in quality dividend paying stocks eventually anyway to fund my retirement is capital preservation the main concern? Isn't dividend "preservation" more the issue?

I feel like I am missing something because it seems that all advisors, planners and analysts strongly suggest there be some fixed income in a portfolio, especially as retirement nears. What are your thoughts?

Appreciate the insight.

Paul F.

Q: I have a fairly large sum of money to invest from an estate and I am primarily interested in just taking the dividends and keeping the principal reasonably safe. I was thinking of the Brookfield companies and Canadian Banks however just wondering if you would have some suggestions for a couple of other companies in different sectors. I would like to try and get close to 5% on the dividend.

Q: I have always struggled to categorize into sectors the companies I own. What guideline would you suggest to use to make this exercise accurate and hence more meaningful.

Q: Most financial types keep predicting a much weaker Canadian dollar (relative to USD) in the near future. What's your "take".
Len

Q: I am looking to buy 3 growth and 3 value stock your advice is very important to me.

Q: One third of my non sheltered account consists of shares in ATD.B, CCL.B, CSU, and SJ. In the last month the TSX is up about 3+%. In the same period these stocks are all down (13%, 5%, 6% and 8%). The only common thread I can see is that I own them. Do you have any insights that explains the not inconsiderable under performance of the share prices of these stocks in the last month?

Q: IS THERE ANY JUSTIFICATION TO HAVE ANY BOND IN ANY PORTFOLIO IN VIEW OF SUCH A LOW RETURN AND PAY TAX ON(50/50)- KEEP THE MONEY IN MONEY MARKET FUND DOES THE JOB AND YOU ARE NOT LOOSING ANY EXCEPT INFLATION EFFECT ?.MOST BOND FUND HAVE LOST MONEY.THANKSEBRAHIM

Q: Hello 5i
I have been reading a great deal of your responses that include comments implying a short term top developing in many 2016 good stocks.
Rotation out of the winners.
Year end Selling
Manger Positioning
Easy to sell winners for cash

And on the other side, 5i continues to recommend many of these names as investable today.

How is an investor to reconcile buy recommendations(at what feels like short term high) with declining stock prices and the scepter of a January pull back after the 2016 tax year passes.....and when the typical selling period begins for previous year winners?

If one is not a trader, what investor action is to be taken to ensure long term success with volatile names that appear to be in decline today?

(as a note: I may not be in some of these names without 5i.....good(a few nice gain positions-thanks) and bad(dealing with volatility)

Thanks
Dave

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.

Q: When you stated that people are moving out of dividend paying and into growth stocks do you think this is short term investments?I am a long term dividend investor.Should I follow the crowd?

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.

Q: what is the best and most liquid way to play the vix in canada and in canadian funds.dave

Q: I current hold Canadian BOS,AQN,ALA ONEX, TD AND T
I also hold in us US funds KO, GE, MSFT and SYY

What is your opinion on these accounts and what changes if any
would you suggest I make.
Thanks for your help, John

Q: Tax loss season is upon us. Can you name 2 small caps and 2 large cap stocks that will be largely affected by tax loss selling, but have a chance for a strong rebound. Thanks

Q: Although I typically look at some ratios when purchasing stocks, I never have used the Relative Stock Index (RSI). Although I understand roughly how it is calculated and understand that an RSI above 70 is an indicator of an overbought situation, I was interested to know if you use this tool as part of any of your recommendations or when you are answering Member's question and why or why not.
Also, if I am asking a question that has already been asked in the past, how can I search the history of questions asked to find questions related to a specific issue. The only place I can find anything seems to be in "MISC" however there does not to be any means to search this specific area to determine if a specific question has already been asked.
A specific company I was looking at in regard to RSI was Manulife. In the last month the RSI of this company has risen from about 50 to the current level of about 85 as the share price has increased from about $20 to $23. Obviously, if I look at RSI, I should not buy until the RSI drops to below 70.
I appreciate very much your thoughts on RSI and what if any value you would assign to it.

Q: Hi 5i,

I am retired and have a 5-10 year investment horizon. I love your Q&A database and find it provides almost all the answers I need.

My question is a general one around interest rates, but I have provided A&W as an example.

I have heard for, it seems like more than a decade, that when interest rates rise, then the price of dividend producing equities will suffer as folks move to bonds and other more growth orientated companies or funds. I have always thought that, say A&W with a 4.4% dividend (and a visible healthier food strategy driving higher sales) would retain its value unless interest rates rise "a lot". The dividend is likely very stable and tax beneficial, so very attractive.

Now, with conditions forming out there that may lead to rising interest rates, and maybe "a lot", how concerned should I be with, say, holding my A&W.

General comment. I notice that some of us who ask questions like to define our status (retired) and time horizon (5-10 years) as we pose a question. I would be supportive in providing a general profile that is maintained at your end so you can "look me up" when answering questions. Optional for us, as some might not want to share. Just a thought.

Love your service.

Q: Team 5I
Your independent service is very much appreciated.

Previous Question: from other member on Oct 3 2016
How would your adjust position from Oct 3 2016 have in view of projected present US situation.
Re: dividend aristocrats vs dividend growth

Q: Could you please explain why Spin Master's Q3 earnings have been higher than the aggregate of the other quarters combined? Would you anticipate this to change in Q12017 with several new products coming online for the holidays? I'm not very comfortable investing in companies like TOY, PBH and PKI due to valuation so do you think that starting with small positions in each and adding to the winners makes sense?

Q: Hi Peter and Team!! I do not have any exposure to emerging markets in my portfolio. Could you suggest an ETF for me, and is it a good entry point at this time? Thank you, Tamara