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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: Hello 5i,
I have recently made some changes in my portfolio and have some U.S. dollars to invest and was wondering the best positioning, considering that I have a fairly balanced portfolio. I follow Barry Riholtz and have found him to be pretty good. He says basically that the US may be in for a slower growth for the next little while, while emerging markets would be best. Here is his post, if it is of interest:
https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-how-to-invest-10k/
He suggests VWO. I was wondering what your thoughts on this thesis would be?
Also, another question. If you were going to invest in US etfs, the great investor Warren Buffet, says the best thing is to just buy a vanguard etf for the S&P and forget about it.
I notice, however, that you often suggest other options like VIG, which I believe is a dividend appreciation etf for the American market. Do you think it is worth the extra trouble to diversify from Buffet’s original suggestion?
Thanks again
Read Answer Asked by joseph on November 10, 2017
Q: Hi team,
I know your focus is Canada, but I find you have great expertise in the U.S. as well. So here goes again.
I have been following ROKU on a casual basis since they went public a few months ago. Yesterday, they blew past earnings expectations although still a small loss. Stock was up over 50% today (wish I had bought a few days ago, LOL).
The big problem I have with them is that I do not understand their business model or its advantages, if any. They are a video streaming company, so they compete with Netflix I think, so the 1st negative. Disney now wants to get into video streaming so more competition for ROKU, another negative. ROKU’s sells/leases hardware as far as I know, using some sort of video set-top box. Who needs or wants another set-top box these days, so another negative. I think their longer-term plan is to become an integrated component in the smart TV. Isn’t Apple still active in the smart TV area? Another negative. I think that is 4 negatives.
Can you clarify for me the nature of their business model and what is your view of ROKU from here? There must be something positive to say that I am missing.
Thanks again,
dave
Read Answer Asked by Dave on November 10, 2017
Q: Hello 5i,
Nice job on the new web site!
I began adding stocks to an otherwise sleeepy TFSA after I joined 5i. I recently used Norbert’s gambit to add us $. Also, thank you 5i, I’m close to 100k in that account. My accounts, taken together are balanced across sectors but lean toward growth. I should add to health sector but not necessarily in the TFSA- so don’t let that restrict your answer.
Of the stocks listed above, which one shows the most potential? Why? What are the growth numbers for 2018.
If not any of the above, those listed are expensive, can you offer a couple of US stock ideas?
Many thanks,
Read Answer Asked by Kat on November 09, 2017
Q: From the list of us growth play, which 5 would you pick for your rrsp with 10-15 yrs time frame ? Or any other us stocks that stands out in your mind.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on November 09, 2017
Q: Apologies in advance for the length of this question. I am working my way through a report by Bank of America Merrill Lynch on the medium to long term prospects of VR, AR and MR, (Virtual reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality). The upshot is basically that they see very large growth in this sector with applications far and wide. Here is a link for anyone interested https://www.bofaml.com/content/dam/boamlimages/documents/articles/ID16_1099/virtual_reality_primer_short.pdf. There are established large tech companies (FB, AAPL and GOOGL) who are buying up companies in this area and there are smaller companies already working in this space. My question is twofold. Is it, in your estimation a good time to step into these large cap tech stocks if I currently have no position? And are there any companies that are directly in this space that you would recommend? Thank-you in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Alex on November 09, 2017