Investment Q&A

Q: Hi, If one is anticipating another market downturn , could you please suggest some investment ideas in CAD ? Thank you

Q: I really value your knowledge and experience. I would be very interested in your thoughts on the difference between the value of tech stocks today and those of the "dot com" bubble of the late 1990s. Thanks again.

Q: I recently asked a question regarding switching strategy from etf to individual stocks and i appreciate your answer very much. My question was generated by the response that you gave to James regarding investing in a diversified portfolio. At that time you gave him the follwoing names: TEAM, MSFT, GOOG, ROP, PG, BIIB, VZ, SBUX, COST, JPM.

Just a followup clarification on that suggestion. I wonder, because of the tax advantage for Canadian dividends and the predominance in the TSX of Banks and Telecoms, whether one might be better to replace VZ and JPM by Canadian names? I know that the question asked, I think, specifically for US names. But, just wondering if one held both Canadian and US, whether this might be better? Also, do you think that say, ten like this, is enough diversification on the US side?
thanks

Q: Hi Group appreciate your comments on Gold dropping like a anchor and the strength of Cad dollar I own several gold stocks+ ETfs FSV + GLD appears to be hit the worst. I hold 8% of my portfolio in gold any reason to reduce my exposure. On the currency side what's the outlook for the US dollar seems like its getting hit hard against other major currencies including the Cad $ Thanks

Q: I'm a little concerned about the trade tension, possible 2nd wave of the virus, protesting, economic risk, etc.
Do you think we need to do something in case the market crash?
Currently I hold the above 4 stocks plus 20% cash. Are they safe? Any other stocks that you recommend?
Thanks!

Q: Hi Peter & team
We went from about 95% cash just before the crash to 45% today. We've been expecting a drop to occur from Q2 results and thus are not fully back to where we were before Covid began. But we are also seeing the markets continue to float higher (tech, financials). We'd appreciate any guidance you can offer on the pros and cons of going back in more fully now or waiting 2-4 more months. Do you sense there is still a lot of cash waiting for another quarter to pass?

I read a statement that said, "Wealth is good provided everyone is wealthy". You are decisively helping that advance ...
Many thanks

Q: Hi guys,

Regarding Ronald's question today, what percentage of a balance portfolio should be in technology?
Thanks,
Jim

Q: What sector of the TSX would you invest new money and why?

Q: Hi
Would it be a wise to replace the 4 mentioned above with ITOT in my RRSP.

Thank you Mike.

Q: The Certified Financial Planners’ Guide (https://fpcanada.ca/docs/default-source/standards/2020-pag---english.pdf) provides long-term projected guidelines for Canadian, foreign-developed, and emerging markets (as well as for other assets). Unfortunately, it does not break out the long-term projected guidelines by country, and it lumps the US market with "other foreign-developed markets".

For example, I expect that the long-term growth rates will differ between the US, Japan, EU and UK. Similarly, the growth rates in emerging markets will vary tremendously by country (e.g. China versus Ukraine).

I am looking for more detailed projections to assist in my financial planning. Are you aware of a credible source which provides long-term projected financial guidelines by country, or as a minimum by region?

Also, the Certified Financial Planners' Guide forecasts Canada to have the lowest projected equity returns of the geographic regions. I would like to better understand whether this is a broad-based concensus.

Thank you for this wonderful service.

Q: I own a fair number of the stocks in your portfolios. Given that there may be an upcoming rotation from the hot Tech sector into more value oriented stocks, what are some beaten up value names in your portfolios that you would be comfortable holding a 3% position in? I am still 30% cash and I am trying to wait until second quarter carnage is in and then buy value names. What are your thoughts on this?
Thank You for your support in these times.
Clarence

Q: Hello,
Read your article about the economy is not the market and vice versa, you said “just remember that 46% of companies in the Russell 2000 and 35% on the TSX are down over 30% this year”. I was wondering if you had any insight into the real bargains of those stocks that are down in those two indices. Thanks, Rick

Q: It looks like there's some mean reversion going on today with some of the tech names that saw big spikes of the last few months. Any names you'd pick up today, or would you wait to see how this shakes out over the next little while?

Q: With the strong positive response to the financial stocks , do you see a possible shift away from tech stocks ie SHOP, KXS, CSU etc. to this sector.

Q: My outlook on the market is that there is a lot more downside risk than upside potential. I am thinking to use bull and bear ETF's to reduce market risk in a pair trade of sorts. For example, go long NASDAQ (QQQ) and short S&P (SH). The other one I'm thinking about is long investment grade (LQD) and short high yield (SJB). What do you think of the strategy generally? Secondly, what is your opinion on my choices?

Q: Hi Peter
I hold ZSP in my TFSA account. Is it a good idea to add XMC to compliment ZSP? The US equivalent of XMC is rated gold rated by Morningstar. Can you comment on XMC and if it is a good core buy for a long term hold?

Q: Would you deploy a large amount of cash in the market today if safety of principal was your primary concern...and if so, in what? Are US dollar based investments safer than Canadian or international. Thanks.

Q: Wondering what you think of this BMO ETF, hedged to Cdn dollars. Volume seems to be anemic. It is a world ETF, 66% US, 31% EAFE, 3.5% Canada. Would you prefer one with solely US S&P 500 companies?
Thanks
Steve

Q: I am young investor building my first portfolio during these tough times. Having not been through a financial crisis before I am struggling to know how to proceed. Are you still in the camp that the markets are overvalued right now and need to chill? I keep waiting for pull backs but things keep going up (S&P approaching 3000). Do you think a pull back will come?

Related to the above, in your May 5th update you said "in our view, slow buying at good prices continues to be a solid strategy and we think 2020 prices will look attractive in two to three years from now". Looking at some of your favorite US names in recent Q&A (AYX, TEAM, DOCU, etc) they are at highs. How does one determine "good prices" in these situations (e.g., one day pull backs? overall % reduction? buy into momentum and remain optimistic?)?

Thanks for the fantastic service and for educating young investors like myself.

Q: Befuddled - that's me. Got a list of stocks I would like to add too or establish new positions in, both in Canada and US.
But do I do it now or just continue to hold off?
After the major market bottom, I thought there would be a technical correct......never happened
Then there was the FOMO...and I took a pass on making stock position buys.
Now, the markets are still moving up, and up.
Now what do I do?....like stay put and wait until after the second quarter results as the there is no end to the covid-19, just changes in phases, at least so far.
What is 5iR's suggested tactic, aka approach???
.........Keen to e-read your take.......Tom