Investment Q&A

Q: What are a couple of your favorite Consumer Cyclical & Defensive stocks on the Canadian and US markets.
thanks
Joe

Q: Hi Peter / Ryan, do you know what reasons companies use to determine stock splits. I've heard the price of the share is to high so to allow more people access to it they split the shares. Now a lot of shares are over 500 dollars but they don't split, which shoots that reason out and some split more often than others, for example ATD.B gets to about 90 and they split, its happened twice since I've owned them. Banks used to split more often now they don't. Last time RY split it was around 90 now it's over 100 and still no split. Thanks, Nick

Q: Hello Gentlemen,
Are the above listed companies still buyable at this time?
Thank you

Q: On Feb. 3, a member wrote on the question board that "TD Waterhouse stopped coverage on GSY only because their analyst quit." Would a brokerage as large as TD completely drop coverage of a company if an analyst left their organization, or would they simply transfer coverage of the company to another analyst which they employed (or perhaps hire another analyst if the company in question could not be evaluated by analysts within their employ)? I would figure that any brokerage which offers analysis of publicly traded companies would not drop evaluation of a given company altogether due to one of their own analysts seeking employment elsewhere. I am curious to know your thoughts on this question. Thanks so much!

Q: Hello all,
My portfolio is largely based on your balanced portfolio with some stocks from your growth portfolio. I'm reviewing asset allocation in my portfolio and recognize that some stocks represent too much of my portfolio e.g., GSY which is currently almost 22% and is now a 4 bagger for me. I've always let winners run, but I recognize that this increases my risk. I've seen, in the past, that you typically do sell stocks to reduce allocation to a certain level. Is this a strict rule you follow or do you ever let a stock go until there's a concrete reason to sell it? Thank you as always for your great service.

Q: Would you provide a list of companies covered by 5i that fall under the Environmental, Social, Governance theme? Thank you.

Q: As concerns withholding tax on foreign-but-non-US dividends in registered accounts: the member's concerns are certainly valid, but it bears mention that a great number of ADRs also give holders the option of receiving dividends either as shares, or as shares converted immediately (by the issuer) to cash, neither of which option involves withholding taxes.

To be sure, this exposes you to risk as concerns the share price at the time shares are sold, but for corporations with liquid shares, this is unlikely to cause significant losses, and, certainly, should not cause losses anywhere near the tax hit.

The complication in this arrangement is that not all ADRs offer the most-tax-efficient option by default, i.e., for such ADRs you would need to give instructions to your broker prior to some cut-off date. This sort of information falls under the general heading of 'Corporate actions', i.e.: supposing you trade online, you would need to check your inbox for a corporate action notice re: the ADR in question.

Q: I will be spending a significant amount of time travelling for work. I was wondering if you had any podcasts you could recommend relating to financials and investing. Thank you

Q: What do you think of their latest guidence for the year.

Q: In the Macro economy numbers you publish, is the Canada GDP Growth Rate including inflation? In other words, is that a nominal growth rate or a real growth rate?

Thank you.

Q: EQB and ROKU are a couple of under-performers over the last while that I hold. With EQB, I read your questions and answers everyday and I have come across better stocks than this and I am wondering if I should just move on. I know any information I get from you on US stocks is a bonus but by doing the reading on the Questions & Answers, ROKU is one of the stocks that you used to like, hopefully you still do and there are just so many other US ones I read about that are doing better. What is your opinion on this? I really enjoy the service. Thanks Dennis

Q: Trying to decide what to do with the cash from selling TOY. Thoughts on moving this to a new position in GIL? I see they had a big drop in October. Any reasons to stay away? Or any other suggestions on what to do with this cash. This would be a new position in a TFSA.

Thanks

Q: I have some extra money to put to work and am looking at a 3 to 5 year time frame. From a total return prospective, please rank the above companies. Please add any helpful comments.
Much appreciated as usual. RAM

Q: Do you know when BIP.UN approx. date is for the split and also approx. date for the TSGI takeover?

thanks,
Paul

Q: I'm having trouble with the high valuations of some of today's star stocks. On top of that, and as illogical as it is, I have trouble investing in the these stocks after they have run so far. What 2 or 3 stocks are you guys watching at this time that are at beginning stages but have the potential to turn into stars like shopify
Thx

Q: Hello 5i. I use symbol ^TNX:US to track/monitor the 10 year US T note. Is there an equivalent symbol for the Canadian 10 year note that I can use for on-line access. Many thx. Steve

Q: Hi 5I
Can you provide 3 or 4 recommendations to replace Toy with?

Thx,
Chris

Q: A highly regarded economist/strategist recently recommended going overweight consumer staples, energy and utilities for 2020. Can you please provide your top picks for these sectors considering their current valuations??

Q: Ignoring taxes, cash requirements, sector allocation, on a straight-up basis, for a minimum one-year hold, which of the above-listed equities would it be prudent to currently sell,buy, or hold? Thank You

Q: I am interested in your view on the best strategy for selling stocks to raise cash in a non-registered account. I am looking to sell 1% of my total portfolio, and my thinking is to either A) take this out of one or both of two stocks that are the largest (each about 5%) weighting in my portfolio or B) sell my least favourite, lowest weighting, stocks (energy producers) with 3 stocks comprising 3% total weighting.

With option A) I could pare one of my largest holdings back to 4% or both of them back to 4.5%. One stock is ENB, in which I have a 30% gain and the other stock is AAPL, in which I have a 350% gain. ENB pays a 6% dividend, which I am reluctant to lose, and which benefits from the dividend tax credit. AAPL pays a 1% dividend, which is fully taxable and easier to give up, but I will have to pay a sizeable capital gains tax. I have no stocks with losses that I can sell to offset the gains. You have always advocated hanging onto winners, and both of these stocks are "winners" in a way, one for income and the other for growth.

With option B) I could sell half my energy producer holdings. I bought the energy stocks as a "lottery ticket," expecting at least a double if and when energy prices rebound. I hold CVE (up 25%), ERF (breakeven) and WCP (up 32%). They are roughly equal weight, so I could achieve my goal of selling 1% of my portfolio by selling just one of these three stocks.

Which stock(s) would you recommend I sell and why?