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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: Hi 5i team,

I follow the DOW stocks a lot as they are a barometer on the market. They form the core of my portfolio and I add and trim around them. You mentioned in an earlier question that big caps are likely the quickest to recover. Earlier I lightened up on some high beta tech names and have some dry powder. On the Dow, which ones do you see as are the top 3-4 names having the potential for the strongest recovery over the next year or so. I manage my portfolio closely, so I am not concerned about sectors or weightings here. There are a lot of candidates and some have really been beaten up and others not so much. The financials have been beaten up, but I stay in Canada for those anyway, and I have no interest in the oils.

Thanks again for the insight on the DOW stocks. Thanks for your great work, as some days you are turning out answers faster than I can read them.

Dave
Read Answer Asked by Dave on March 31, 2020
Q: I am considering selling my shares in ENB and using the funds to top up my holding in BAH. What are your thoughts on this move?
This would be in a registered fund. There is no tax loss advantage. I am interested in total return whether it be dividend or capital gain over the next 2-3 years.
Read Answer Asked by Elliott on March 31, 2020
Q: I hold a position in BIIB in a diversified US portfolio. BIIB is included in the buyback ETF SPYB that includes many airlines. Airlines have been hard hit related to COVID-19 and are now to get bailouts.....like they bought back shares rather than reduce debt or keep cash on hand. My question is does BIIB have sufficient cash to get through this difficult period? And part two, should I continue to hold or sell BIIB?..........Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Tom on March 31, 2020
Q: thanks as always for your level headed thinking. I have a number of CAN dividend stocks as the core of my holdings. I now have cash that I want to deploy over the next couple of months. what are your top 5-10 US stocks (no regard to sector) that you recommend based on a 5 year hold.
Michele
Read Answer Asked by Michele on March 31, 2020
Q: I've been reading questions lately with the idea of receiving advice on how to deploy the 25% cash position I had pre virus....But thinking about this the world has changed. What looked fine pre virus doesn't look so appetizing during and post virus.... Specifically the mortgage business like my NLY shares don't look that good now...... Though I would be taking a loss would you advise selling and buying something like MSFT ? I could deploy new cash for that but wonder if I should re balance to a certain degree anyway .......
Read Answer Asked by Garth on March 31, 2020
Q: hello 5i:
this is a currency question. My watchlist is made up of US stocks that we have partial positions in and which I want to add to. The Canadian dollar is, as we speak, in the .708 range. My expectation is lower, but not dramatically lower equity (lets us the S&P 500 as a proxy) prices. I need to convert Canadian dollars to US dollars if I want the currency diversification. What to do? Waiting will see (probably) a higher Canadian dollar at the price of higher US equities. Please help me make this decision: I'm stumped. Put another way, what would YOU do in this situation, realizing what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.
Paul L
Read Answer Asked by Paul on March 30, 2020
Q: Looks like Xerox is attempting a takeover of HP. Is this what is referred to as a hostile take-over? I get lots of air mail telling me the Xerox position and other from HP saying its a bad deal. How does a person evaluate such an offer? Are you familiar? I hold HPQ currently.

Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Marilou on March 30, 2020
Q: Hope everyone at 5i is doing well in these times!

I have been sitting on mostly cash in my RRSP/LIRA and would like your recommendations on the best ETFs to consider for my full US and International exposure. All of these would need to be listed on the TSX as I am purchasing in CAD $. While I know you prefer non-hedged, I’d greatly appreciate if you could explain benefits/workings of hedged vs. non-hedged considering the current environment. And provide ETF recommendations for each.

I am looking to achieve a balance of diversification, reasonable MER, minimizing any withholding tax while optimizing the potential in market recovery. For US, I would like to have a technology ETF, health care ETF and a broader spectrum ETF – but also open to ideas. Also, looking for recommendations on International – one broad ETF or perhaps that and a mix of ETFs. I recognize there can be overlap (e.g. between a tech and broad sector fund), so if you can give me a sense of the degree of duplication that may be present in your recommendations. Perhaps going heavier on tech right now could be a good thing.

While I started off thinking ETF selections would be relatively simple, in reading various Q&A there seem to be many important considerations - your assistance is appreciated. Again, all of these are being purchased in RRSP/LIRA accounts with the goal of optimizing my returns over a 10 year window.
Read Answer Asked by Loretta on March 30, 2020
Q: Hi,
I’m working on a high quality shopping list during this downturn. We have enough money to start a new positions in either:
1) TEAM or TTD.?
2) NKE or ULTA?
Which companies are a better choice and why?
Thanks and stay healthy,
Kerri
Read Answer Asked by KERRI on March 30, 2020
Q: Hi Team! As more more and more people are working from home, cloud based software companies, cyber security companies will benefit as I think this will become a new reality as companies realize they can save money. In Internet communication and hardware companies out there that will see an increase of their services and products are there any names you would recommend? I thank you in advance. Sam
Read Answer Asked by sam on March 27, 2020
Q: With the possible exception of MDT or ISRG, some of the US listed medical stocks remain down near their lows while other names have rallied hard. I am interested in the companies above and wonder if you can tell me if each would be a buy for you at current levels? Again each are down a lot, have favourable analyst ratings but haven't bounced much. Are there any on this list you DO NOT like?
Read Answer Asked by Tim on March 27, 2020
Q: hi Peter
what do you think about this company, SPOT, is it a sell, hold, why
if sell what company to replace it, thank you.
Read Answer Asked by selina on March 27, 2020
Q: Hello Peter and co,
Thank you for your voice of reason in these crazy times! My 18-year old granddaughter has been talking about investments, and recently announced that she has decided she wants to invest in a cruise line company, since they are probably way down. Her thinking makes some sense to me, as the cruise industry will survive, and the strongest players may benefit from assimilation of weaker players assets. Similar thinking regarding airlines. In both cases, bankruptcy may be a risk. Is it safe to assume that buying these sectors is a good long term strategy, and if so, which companies would you suggest? Presumably strong balance sheet is a must. I think I read that Warren Buffett bought some Delta Airlines shares recently. Considering all that, what would you suggest for a young 18-year old?
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Ed on March 26, 2020
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