Investment Q&A

Q: I'm interested in your take on the likely effects on the markets of the two major significant events that have coincided: Pfizer's positive announcement regarding its vaccine, and the Biden victory.

Regarding the former, some commentators are suggesting that, after many false starts, there is at least a shortish term tradable opportunity in value over tech/momentum, partly inspired by a rotation out of the stay-at-home trade and a move into the Covid19-bitten cyclicals. Given that such a rotation would have to overcome the current vulnerability of under performing value stocks to tax loss selling, do you concur in this view, and if so, which sectors in value would you suggest have the most potential?

Regarding the Biden victory, how much of the clean tech trade do you think is already reflected in the market? Given the less confrontational world view of Joe Biden, would you now view the markets of China, Europe, and even Canada more optimistically? What else does the Biden victory (or the Trump loss) bring to the trader's table?

While I'm sure you wouldn't advise over-reacting to political events or corporate announcements, the transition from authoritarian to democratically-inclined leadership in the world's most influential country, in addition to a potential cure to a devastating pandemic, are not run-of-the-mill occasions. Assuming this new world is permanent and Biden's victory stands (most likely) while Pfizer's vaccine has no hiccups (less likely), an analysis of how one might adjust investing strategy, no matter how incremental, would be appreciated.

Q: Debating either of these, in a registered account approx 5 to 7 years before needing. Looking ahead with positive US election and vaccine news and how the CDN dollar will likely behave; which is better fund?
Thank you

Q: Generally, is this a good time to buy on the tech stock dip? Names like KXS, WELL in Canada, DOCU, VEEV in U.S.

Q: Hi group what's your top 4 sectors /stocks/etfs in the US assuming Biden is going to the white house the market seems to like the set up with Biden winning but Senate going to republicans Thanks for your insight

Q: Good Morning
I will appreciate any comments you may have with respect to the effect on the stock markets regarding the outcome of the US election so far.
Thanks

Q: What are your 3-5 best current ideas for growth companies in Canada? Given uncertainty in economy and markets and the recent pullback, could growth stock underperforming value stocks over the next 12 months?

Thanks,
Jason

Q: Like an older Robin Hood I have been buying the fang stocks and selling covered call options since the Covid arrived. Well, not quire like the Robin Hood kids, I suppose. I have done quite well with this strategy. But, I have been worrying that the fang's are flying pretty high and might be ready for a fall. Especially with a volatile US election on the near horizon. I also wonder there might be a shift to value as the economy might start to kick in before too long. So, l am thinking about selling a lot of my Fang stocks before the election and waiting till after it is over and buy RSP, the equal weight S and P etf. Even if it doesn't work out as I have envisioned, this is pretty much the direction I had planned when l started buying and selling the tech stocks. I have always found it informative and usually profitable to get 5i's reaction to my plans
Thanks

Q: Ishares US REAL ESTATE ETF (not in your data base)
can you comment on this ETF for a diversified real estate play. Do you view this as a decent entry point.
What's your view of starting a portfolio of these 5 ETFS with a 20% weighting in each, then rebalancing every year back to the original 20% weighting. Im hoping maintaining the 20% cash position will help smooth out the portfolio in these uncertain times, maybe it will outperform the more popular 60/40 portfolio.
thanks Gordie

Q: The Cdn dollar is trading at around 76 vents US. At this exchange rate would you buy a hedged or unhedged S&P 500 ETF in Cdn dollars

Q: As MARKET went down and perhaps will continue for few days what a panic investor like me do?SELL, HOLD, OR SELL HALF?

Q: What are your thoughts on this balance fund? Do you feel the returns will be any better than a normal 60/40 balance fund.

Q: Hello. The other day, a friend of mine told me he will be retiring soon but because he doesn't have sufficient income, he is planning to refinance a $300,000 mortgage on his fully paid principal residence and invest that amount in Canadian large cap dividend stocks.

The difference between the 5 years fixed mortgage rate (1.6%) and the dividend he earns from stocks (6%) will be around 4.5%. $300,000 x 4.5%= $13,500/ annum. Given that dividend stocks such as Enbridge, TD, BCE, some REITs are quite depressed at the moment, there is also the possibility of capital gains as well.

I wonder about the risks of such an action. The 2 worst scenarios I can think are that (1) The pandemic will linger for many years and stocks will not recover for a decade or longer (esp. stocks like O&G stocks like Enbridge). It may force even the largest institutions to stop paying their dividends. (2) As a result of the financial hardship and further stock market crash, there will be capital loss at the end of the 5 years mortgage term. Besides these two scenarios, are there any risks that you can think of?

Supplementary questions:
1) Do you think the risks are higher than the reward?
2) Is the current market condition at this moment a good time to do something like this?
3) Lastly, if I were to do something like this, please suggest several price depressed large cap stocks that you think their dividends could be reasonably secured through 2021.

The answer may take you longer than necessary. Please deduct as many points as you wish. Thanks!

Q: If Biden is elected and the Dems sweep,is it reasonable to expect folks to sell their winners to lock in the present significantly lower capital gains tax when compared to Biden's proposed tax?

Q: I have a taxable corp account, 94% equities,(28% US, 6% cash. Just read an article that bonds even at 0% expected return would help off set losses in this and upcoming volatile market, even though interest would be fully taxed.
Would you suggest;
1. sell some winners or tax loss some losers and buy a bond fund, ?CLF. ?CBO-or another one you might recommend. What weight percentage would you suggest?
2. use the cash to buy the same bond fund or a combo of the above two or your alternative
3. buy a preferred corporate share or shares? suggestions or preferred ETF ?HPR or another suggestion
4. Would you suggest a US Bond fund, ?suggestion
5. do nothing
Thanks and deduct what you see fit

Q: What do you advise about Risk Parity as a strategy to reduce risk while generating a reasonable return. Of the 4 named risk parity ETFs do you have a preference?

Q: I am down in XEI and ZRE about 20% and 25% respectively;
in DGRO 2%.
Do you think it is worth waiting for a turnaround or should I
look to exchange for something more hopeful?
Although DGRO is only down a bit it has never gone up.
Would something like VUG be more growthy?
I would appreciate your assessment.
Thanks.

Q: Looking to Mr. Buffett's behaviour in the past, he seems to be investing in whole industries, like airlines and most recently with the Japanese trading houses.

Do you think taking a similar strategy works in select Canadian industries as well?

For example:
Buy and hold all the Big 5 Canadian Banks (BMO, BNS, TD, RBC, CM)
Buy and hold all Major Grocers (Empire, Metro, Loblaw)
Buy and hold all Major Telecoms (Rogers, Telus, BCE)

Or do you think there's a better way to mimic this through an ETF?

Q: FOMO with my current stash of cash....I've cleaned up some small positions and been sitting on the cash for what seems like forever now....The market is always right but I still have red lights flashing and alarms bells blaring in my investor brain with the markets continued moving along like all is normal. I am buying some target names that haven't bounced back in small amounts but I am starting to question if I should get back into the market again with my hoard of cash....

What are the 5i collectives thoughts on good cash position right now. Currently I am at 15% cash while I am usually at 2% range. So it isn't like I am 100% cash but still some FOMO thoughts fighting against market correction coming cash hold.

Q: Hi, as many canadians I suppose, I am really overweight $CDA in my investments. I try to buy canadian cmies with lots of international exposure to mitigate this risk. Can you please provide your comments on the validity of this argument. For the average canadian investor who plans to stay in Canada, what % of your portfolio would you allocate to US / international stocks? (General rule of thumb). Thank you.

Q: When we are facing the specter of the federal government spending without regard to the future and the Governor of the Bank of Canada saying negative interest rates are back on the table, how could investors reposition their portfolios to mitigate the negative aspects of these events? Can you provide a few examples across the various sectors where one could start to reposition a portfolio?
Thank you...