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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Recommendation sought for investing new TFSA contributions. Expected drawdown on TFSA to start in 4 - 6 years.
My wife and my combined TFSA holdings are about 18% of our total portfolio, and the combined TFSA holdings are made up of:
PRMW & KEL <1%
PXT 3%
BCI 4%
BAM 7%
SIS 8% (20% loss)
XAW 8%
KXS 11%
VGRO 55% (the only investment also held in other accounts)
Cash 3% plus new contribution
I'm considering WELL (for growth) and FTS (for dividend & stability), possibly TFII?, or add a bit to PRMW (none of these are held in other accounts), for the new money.
Reasonable? Appropriate? Other recommendations?
Thanks for all you do, and I wish all of you a healthy & happy year.
Read Answer Asked by Lotar on January 06, 2021
Q: Hi 5i,
This may well be 4 questions, so please deduct points accordingly.
Portfolio Analytics indicates that I'm underweight in Communications Services, Consumer Defensive, Industrials and Consumer Cyclical, and I'd like to top up these sectors.
I try to be a balanced investor and like income, but I don't mind taking on more risk and little or no income on something with a solid premise. Especially right now I'm looking for companies that are poised to benefit from the return to (more or less) normal life that 2021 might bring.
My present Communications Services weight all comes from the following ETFs - TXF, ZDI, DISC and ZWU. Can you provide a few Canadian equities to look at in this sector at this time, other than the big four?
My present Consumer Defensive weight comes mostly from NWC, with a smidgeon from ETFs like ZFI and DISC. Are there two or three Canadian equities in this sector you'd currently recommend looking at?
My present Industrials weight is in FTG (which I'd be happy to sell unless you think it has the potential for recovery in the coming year), QST and XBC. Are there another two or three Canadian names you presently favor in this sector?
And finally, my only Consumer Cyclical other than whatever might be in the listed ETFs is NFI (although I'd have thought it would properly be classified as an Industrial). Again, could you recommend two or three Canadian equity names that might qualify as viable Consumer Cyclical holdings going forward?
Thanks a lot and Happy New Year!
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on January 06, 2021
Q: Would you recommend purchasing gold stock or physical gold at this time?
If so, please advise which gold stocks you would recommend?
Also, would you recommend buying energy resources at this time, and if so, which energy resource companies would you recommend?
Read Answer Asked by Reeven on January 04, 2021
Q: Purchased Denison Mines about 10 years ago @ $3.62 and have been hopefully awaiting the return of uranium prices since. The stock price was up about 12% today to $.91 after being into the low teens earlier this year.
Would you take the money and invest in something with more potential or
continue to wait for further positive moves in uranium?
My financial consultant suggested the purchase of BMO Auto-Callable
Notes for my RIFF and after a brief review I ok'd the purchase. Subsequently I read an article totally against such an investment. Definitely to late to cancel without substantial costs. However, what are your thoughts on this particular type of investment ( possibly your answer would be of interest to my fellow subscribers)! I should add that I am in my early 80's and have requested minimum risk investment for my riff.
Read Answer Asked by ed on December 30, 2020
Q: I have 2 questions to invest $100k for long term. (5 to 10).
1. What is the best approach on ETFs vs dividend stocks for the long term? which one is better?
2. What is the best income and growth EFFs and dividend stocks. I am looking for a diversified portfolio with 33% income ETF and 33% growth ETF and 33% dividend stocks? The investment will be in the RRSP, TFSA, non-registered accounts? also, suggest which EFT/dividend should be stored in what type of account?
Read Answer Asked by Kapil on December 24, 2020
Q: Hi 5I! Two questions here for the end of 2020.

1- LSPD is now a 100% above its pre-pandemic levels with a market cap of more than 9 bln. Share price has doubled in two months. All of this with negative net income, negative net margin, negative ROE, negative EPS, etc... Price to sales ratio is at a astounding 39+! And, a probably decent portion of its customers still on lock-down around the world. I understand growth expectation are high and analysts are pounding the table on this one. The quintessence of the "Recovery" play. But at what point, to put it mildly, can we honestly say the stock is getting a bit ahead of itself? Isn't the downside risk factor growing at a equal alarming pace here, if things don't pan out like everyone expect? Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy to have bought the stock back in april. But I've learned over the years to be very careful when things get too easy. My best success in the market have always been acheived on the long run, with lots of patience and when things are boring.

2- FSZ has been trading at a very high yield for a long time now. How worry should I be since the yield stubbornly refuses to return to more "normal" levels. Either the market deeply undervalues the company or it thinks their payout ratio is too high and a dividend cut highly probable. Or, I'm missing something, which is also highly probable. Your toughts on this would be very appreciated.

To everyone at 5i, have a great holiday, happy New Year 2021 and thank you for your great work in 2020.
Read Answer Asked by Stéphane on December 22, 2020
Q: In our investment accounts, reg and non-reg combined, we have: PSLV @ 3.5%, PHYS @ 3.5%, BCE @ 9.72%, BNS @ 6.6%, KEY @ 3.5% VSC @ 5.7% and ENB @ 6.6%. I have a significant cash balance which is available for the right opportunity. Thus far nothing jumps out as “buy me now”.
We have smaller allocations [2% to 3%] to FTS, MFC, ALA, KEY, SU each and a number at less than 2%.
Given we are retired I’m wondering about increasing some of these allocations on any market general pullback? I usually focus on liquidity and free cash flow as two of my selection criteria as well as comments you make to questions asked of 5i.
Thanks for an advice you can provide.
Read Answer Asked by Ronald on December 22, 2020
Q: Part 2 of my question about year end adjustments to my portfolio. I have fairly small positions in 10 of these stocks (0.6% to 1.1%), and no position in DOO. I would like to add to several of these using the cash generated from reducing larger positions in some holdings. Looking for best long term total return, 5+ years. Sector, and size of company not a major consideration, in a well diversified portfolio. I like growth, I like dividends. Looking at ATD.B, BAM.A, CAR.UN, DIR.UN, DOO, GRT.UN, ITP, LNF, TCN, TECK.B, SLF. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Dan on December 21, 2020
Q: Hi 5i. Assuming in Canada there is pent up demand for travel, and dollars sitting in deposit accounts, what Canadian equities in the travel or hospitality space would one consider investing in once Covid-19 abates and travel restrictions are rescinded?
Please list any Canadian equities that you think will benefit from Canadians traveling again. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by hank on December 21, 2020
Q: Doing a year end review of all of my holdings. I would like to reduce my position in several stocks (or eliminate entirely in the case of HR.UN and CPH) in order to raise some cash for increasing my position in several other holdings. Fairly large question, so I will divide it into 2, this for the potential reductions and a further question about the potential adds. Would you please rank these stocks in the order you would reduce or eliminate to raise some cash, starting with the one you would be most inclined to reduce/eliminate. Sector, or large cap/small cap not a concern, as I have a broadly diversified portfolio with a lot (too many, really) of names. Thank you for this, and also for the very good service. My 1st year as a client, and I will certainly be renewing. I have recommended the site to a few friends who also do investing.
Read Answer Asked by Dan on December 20, 2020
Q: I am overweight in the Utilities sector and underweight in Materials. I am considering selling some BEPC and using that cash to add to Materials. Is NTR recognized as belonging to Materials in the Portfolio Analytics ? What other suggestions would you have for Materials stocks at this time?
By the way I have found the Portfolio Analytics a great tool for following and planning my investments -Thank you for your great services .
Read Answer Asked by Elizabeth on December 20, 2020
Q: Hi!

As part of my industrials sector weighting, I have 4% allocated to transportation. Given the current environment, I believe airlines are the best value, but probably also the riskiest. Nevertheless, my portfolio is reasonably well balanced. Do you think it is prudent to invest my 4% allocation entirely in AC? It clearly provides better value than the railroads and trucking, but as I said, with increased risk.

Thank you,
Jason
Read Answer Asked by Jason on December 19, 2020
Q: Retired, dividend-income investor, who normally employs a buy-and-hold strategy. I have long term core positions of mostly conservative equities (ETFs = CDZ, XIT, ZLB, ZWC, ZRE, LIFE; Stocks = AD, AQN, BCE, CSH, FTS, MFC, NTR, NWC, PBH, PLC, RY, TRP, WSP) and fixed income of annuities, Fisgard and Gov't-Private pensions. I believe my portfolio is set up fairly conservatively.

I have cash for another position in my Cash Account. I have been reading several 5iR questions lately about various themes for 2021 (Recovery Trade, Swap from Growth to Value, Emerging Market improvements, Take-Over Candidates, etc.). While I'm not even sure if this is possible, I'd like to ask you to screen for as many of them as possible (all thrown into one big ball) to create a half dozen candidates for me to do more research on. I'm looking for a starting point. I'm not even sure where to start, hence the request.

I'm looking for a Canadian (preferably) or USA company, potentially a take-out target, benefitting from the recovery of the economy. I lean towards the Value spectrum, as I inherently find it difficult to buy a stock that has already had a good run. If a dividend could be thrown in, that would be a bonus. Market cap and sector do not matter.

This is sort of a "kitchen sink" kind of question. If that results in zero candidates, then please use your discretion and drop various filters. As you can tell by my current holdings, they are for the most part, blue-chip companies. If we could identify something like an Enercare (that was taken out by Brookfield), that would be a homerun.....happy to hold it but ecstatic to have it taken out. But Enercare is just an example.

Please rank them from best candidate to least...maybe 3 Canadian and 3 USA companies or all 6 from Canada if possible.

If you can run this exercise, then I'll do some further research on your list. I know this is a crazy request...thanks in advance. Take as many credits as you need to throw some brain power at this....I'll never use all of the credits I currently have.

Much appreciated...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on December 19, 2020
Q: I have a full position in MX in my TFSA. Even after the recent rally, I'm still down about 15%. It seems to be having good momentum, so I'm a bit hesitant to sell, especially when I can't claim the tax loss. But a part of me just wants to just get out and buy something like WELL, XBC, or STC.

Any thoughts, or advice? Thank you for all that you do.
Read Answer Asked by Ed on December 18, 2020
Q: Hi
Can I have your opinion as the reason these two trading symbols on the same company are so dramatically different
I hold both and have done ok on one a very ok on the other I just don’t savvy the difference and it can’t all be tax related
Kind regards
Stan
Read Answer Asked by Stan on December 18, 2020