Investment Q&A

Q: When I see forward-looking metrics (e.g. P/E, PEG ratios, etc.), they can be last twelve months (LTM), next 12 months (NTM) and one or two fiscal years out (FY1, FY2). What are your thoughts/what would you think should be favoured? Thanks.

Q: Hello ,
I was thinking of buying TD technology leaders etf (TEC) instead of XQQ , the nasdaq 100 etf as it has performed the nasdaq and seems to be more diversified. Any comments please?

Also, I looked at the details of VUN and XUU etfs, They both seem to have similar holdings and over 5 year period both have similar performance. However , going over more than 5 years, why has VUN out performed XUU. I am not clear on this..

Regardless of the tariffs situation, the US market seems to do well over time, and hence i thought instead of total Europe exposure, go with VEQT etf. Any comments please..

Also, do you prefer unhedged products like VUN as opposed to VUS? Lastly, i use yahoo to to compare charts. Do you know a better site please? Thanks very much

Q: I still have trouble with market response to interest rates. Assuming Bank of Canada cuts lending rates further by the end of the year.

What is the expected effect on dividend paying stocks like Canadian banks, utilities and telecoms? What other factors could affect those sectors or is interest rate the key determinant?

thanks
Ernie

Q: Does it make sense in buying a small position in something like sqqq? Any other general short recommended? What is a suggested position size given for a short given that all my other positions are positive. Is my maximum loss limited to amount of money invested in sqqq..ie can it go in the negative? Thanks.

Q: historically the risk in holding US Gov't debt has been very low. Now it seems we are only 1 Truth Social Post away from the next crazy Policy experiment. I believeTrump questioned whether they really owe all the Debt and may have even questioned the need to pay it.

When holding US Gov't debt in the form of US T Bills or similar has my risk ticked up since Jan 26th and would you say US Gov't debt is still much safer than say a TD US GIC (Corporate Debt)? Are there short term cash proxies you would avoid in this market due to recent admin change?

Lastly does this never ending talk about the US Debt ceiling and possible Gov't shutdown create risks for holders of US financial instruments?

Q: Good day, 5i Team,

As always, thank you for your support, especially during times like this.

Are you able to share your team`s general consensus on where we are heading and what would be the major factors to keep an eye on to gauge the depth of the pullback?

More specifically:
1. If we are heading for recession, what industries/companies would be best positioned to recover first and "benefit" from the current situation?
2. On the scale from Covid to Great Depression, where would you place us speculatively as the result of Trumpconomics?

Respectfully,

Nick

Q: At what levels would you be an aggressive buyer of the SP500?

Q: What’s the best strategy to protect our portfolios during these uncertain times?
I’m trying to figure out if I should sell some stocks to building a larger cash position or do nothing and just hold current stocks?
Thanks

Q: With the tariff war and Trump creating so much uncertainty, how does an investor handle this? It seems the tough approach of Doug Ford will only anger Trump and create more problems for Canada. With new terrible headlines on a daily basis and market reacting with more selling, how does a long term investor, who needs income from investments rationalize staying in the market? What could turn this around and how deep of pullback do you think we could see and/or how long of a bear market? Thank you for your insight!

Q: Dear Peter et al:

Market is going through the long awaited correction, Not pancking...yet! I review my own portfolio once in a few weeks and see if I can tweek it. I contructed an asymmetrical barbell with mainly Vanguard's ETFs (SAFE) and small/mid sized allocation for growthy stocks. I also have a basket for non-corelated stock. I had posed questions here at 5i Rearch in September 2023 and slowly constructed these "baskets"!

My quesion is this: How come VPU Vanguard's utilities ETF and almost all of my Private equity stocks including your all time favourite BN plus BLK/BX and most notably KKR are all down?!! They are supposed to act as a buffer, no? Because I have been buying them slowly, I am still in the positive territory, except VPU. But the fact that the non-correlation isn't taking place, makes me wonder if I have to tweek my percentage of allocation. I know it is personal. But this is more a conceptual question.

Would you add to Utilites and Private equity here or keep this framework and stay the course?

BTW my Canadian Utilities like EMA/H/FTS have withstood this correction and indeed have shown the anticipated non-correlation!

Sorry for this longish question.

Look forward to your answer.

Q: I have a good selection of dividend stocks, paying 3-7%. Expecting the volatility in the Markets to continue for some time, is it better to opt out of the DRIPs, and let cash accumulate, or keep them on, to average out share purchase prices,
My thought is, if I cancel the DRIPs, I will accumulate cash that I can use to initiate a position 6 months or a year from now, in a stock that isn't even on my radar today, or buy a larger amount of one or two of the existing stocks that might be unfairly beaten down. I would set Buy Alerts on each stock, and reevaluate anytime an Alert is triggered. Thank you for your advice.

Grant

Q: Would you be putting new money into the markets today.

Q: where can I find questions on the vix

Q: Hi Team,
These Tariff moves have gone from "not a big concern" to a major concern with anyone holding a growth portfolio. Currently I am down 23% from peak in short order since January, due to a higher concentration in Tech names and other growth names. An amazing fall considering I thought I was holding all solid names (such as NVDA. PRL, SHOP, TTD as examples) Do you view this as 2022 all over again? Or do you think the market will bottom sooner than it did in that year? Hard to say I know based on Trump saying that he no longer cares much about the market this go around. A much different tune that last term. However I suppose that could change overnight. I don't imagine Musk in enjoying Tsla's fall; perhaps that will end up in a clash with Trump on trade policies or hopefully talk some sense into him at the very least. Looking for your take on the current situation. Lastly, I assume that since major damage is already done would I be best to just hold the line at this point? Or sell out some growth names even at current levels? If buying new purchases what would be your top 3 names to add to at current levels?

Thanks,
Shane.

Q: Hello Team,
Would this be a reasonable time to convert some C$ to US$, or do you see C$ strengthening anytime soon?
Thank You,
Barry

Q: For an investor with a higher than average risk tolerance, what percent of their portfolio would you suggest be in Canadian, US, European and Asian equities/etfs? thanks, J

Q: Hello, given the Trump-induced turmoil in the economy/markets south of the border, how do you see the IJR ETF perform in the next 12 months? How are small businesses impacted by what is going on? Are Trump tariffs positive for them? Thanks

Q: Is this what he planned ? Town Halls across America are reacting negatively towards President Trump. Concern about Inflation and Jobs and lower value on their investments . Their net worth.
Elon taking a hit on Tesla Shares,
People will not buy a Tesla,
Premier Ford 25 % tariff on Electricity NY Michigan and Minnesota will hurt.

No American Booze for sale in Canada,

30,000,000 Canadian trips a year to USA

Vacations are being cancelled to USA,

Does not look good for American Economy. Will President Trump drop his Tariffs on Canada all together and admit he was wrong.

I don't think so. What do you all think he will do ?

RAK

Q: Could you please help us understand the impact/benefit of the possible change as announced by S&P Dow Jones.

" This week, S&P Dow Jones said it will consider a significant change that would allow some companies to appear in multiple countries’ indexes, paving the way for companies such as Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. BAM-T , Shopify Inc. SHOP-T
, to be both Canadian and American.

S&P Dow Jones says it could allow companies “with significant ties to Canada” to stay in a Canadian index even if it normally would consider the company “domiciled” in another country. The company would need to be incorporated in Canada to be eligible.

Until now, S&P Dow Jones has said a company can have just one country of domicile – and that country’s stock indexes are where it needs to be. "

Q: I’ve been reading a lot about the decline of the American empire. If on the horizon how does one prepare for this?

Going forward what would you recommend for a Canada, US, International investment ratio in a portfolio?


Thanks