Investment Q&A

Q: I went to a large cash position in my rrsp a few weeks ago, and now I’m interested in putting part of my retirement portfolio (I retired Jan 1) into high interest etfs that I can buy and forget while they generate income via yield. I’ve added a few I’ve been looking at to the ticker box. I’m looking at bond etf’s but I don’t fully understand when to get in and out of bonds - can an investor buy and forget? I’m also looking at covered call leveraged etf’s based on the S&P and Nasdaq indexes. I realize an investor has to have a strong stomach for the volatility associated with high interest leveraged etfs, but for purely an income vehicle, can you provide a few names based on the above criteria? Assuming about 10-15% positions, what percentage of a retirement portfolio would you invest in high interest etf’s, Hoping to generate 8-10% annually from the portfolio. The remainder of my portfolio is mid cap large cap US and Canadian equities. The usual suspects.

Q: Hello 5i team,
I currently have a balanced position in HBND in my TFSA for income (Using TFSA as an income source in general). Before HBND I used to have HYI as an asset class that used to track US high yield bonds, but was shut down last year. I have a few questions.

1)Is HBND an approximate substitute for HYI for this asset class?
2)Also HBND is not even a year old but do you have an idea of the NAV of the ETF?

HBND pays a decent amount monthly but I am not sure of the sustainability of the payout.


Thank You,
Andrew

Q: Thanks for your advice on greater than 10% covered call ETF's in a Trump tariff world .... Of the ones you { and the one I chose HPYT } I am leaning toward a combination of HBND and HPYT for bonds. UMAX for a non volatile stock ETF, and XYLD for US exposure .....

However I am not well versed on bonds . Could you explain the differences between the two ETF's ? I have noticed that they peaked in mid September and declined since. HPYT has declined by 10.65% and HBND by 12.66% ..... What market conditions account for the price action between September and now ? I have no idea what bond durations are or what the significance of a " long " bond is but I am curious why HBND has had the bigger decline of the two ? ..... If HPYT is the less volatile of the two I'm inclined to go for the juicier dividend ..... Please explain the differences between the two ETF's and what circumstances will effect one over the other ? ..... I'm inclined to make my bond ETF purchases now and my stock ETF purchases after the tariff announcements . Would you endorse this strategy ?

Also UMAX isn't really a utility ETF . It is Communication Services 23.2%, Pipelines 22.0%, Industrials 23.6%, and, Utilities 31.2% ..... Is this something I should consider ? Or do you still put it in a defensive category with a minimum of volatility potential ? ......{ I like the juicy 14% dividend but unsure how 5i evaluates it in a Trump tariff world } ..... Thanks for your terrific service ......

Q: I purchased these 4-6 months ago thinking I should diversify away from stocks and equity based ETF's. All 3 of them are down (from 3.5% to 8%). While they all pay a healthy dividend (~8% to ~ 18%), I am wondering if I should continue to hold. Can you tell me what it will take to get them improving in value (identify for each). And the likelihood of an improvement in value in the next 6-12 months. As well, if you recommend selling and moving on, in what order would you sell?

Q: I realize the higher the yield the higher the risk but I would like 5i's opinion of a few products. As a result of the American President's threats of tariffs which I feel are coming in thirty days I have been rebalancing . Canadian ETF's to American ETF's as well as the sale of tariff risk Canadian stocks . RRIF cash position currently { 30% } .... I would like to take some small positions in some greater than 10% covered call ETF's ..... These would be short term positions as I believe it will be 1 or 2 quarters before Mr Market realizes tariffs are a really bad idea ......

So which do you like better in a Trump world of tariffs ? A covered call bond ETF, a covered call treasury ETF, a covered call stock ETF ? I've been eyeballing HPYT for the simple reason that it appears to be at a low with a very high yield but I would like 5i's opinion. Could 5i list four or five ETF's which you feel would be good choices to play this theme ? It's okay if some of your choices are sub 10% ......{ I already own HYLD.U 6.9% position } And which sectors { bond, treasury, stock } would be the best choices in a Trump tariff world ? .... Thanks for your terrific service ......

Q: Does the Hamilton group of US etf.s like HYLD HBND. FMAX. HBIL have withholding tax if held in a TFSA or non regestered account? Thank you JIM

Q: I have xhy.ca in my unregistered account and am down about 20%. Does it make sense to sell this and buy HPYT or HBND or are these totally different products?

Q: I am looking to move some recent high risk stock gains into a dividend/yield product (>7%) that is not a direct function of market equities as I think markets are very overbought. Would something like HYPT be appropriate and can you suggest a few other ideas? Thank you

Q: Hi, I am wondering what percentage split one should have between long term bonds and short term t-bills on the cash side of their portfolio. I realize that it is somewhat an individual choice, but can you give me a ballpark kind of split. My investments are presently 70% equities, and 30% cash equivalents. Thanks

Q: Dear 5i team.

I tried going through recent Q+A to make sense of these two ETFs.

Can you simplify for me?

1) What are the key differences of these two? The yappear to have similar holdings, just diff %.

2) Closing in on one year since inception, any more visibility to performance/cost etc?

3) Can both be held, or do you prefer one over the other?

Many thanks for your help.

Q: Can you please recommend 3 bond ETFs that will provide in one year 10% yield including both dividends and capital appreciation?

Q: Hello 5i team,
I have HBND in my TFSA for US bond exposure (and the high monthly income). The ETF started in Sept of last year and was wondering what your thoughts are in general for this security?
Thank You,
Andrew

Q: Thank you for the Money Saver's email " Avoiding The Yield Trap " on covered call ETF's. Garth’s question and your answer from February 25, sparked more questions. Also read all the Q&A on HBND.

My understanding HBND is 50% covered call on Treasury ETFs (eg: TLT, VGLT, VGIT, etc.) with target yield of 10%. Dividend growth is reliant on interest rate rising. You answered on Oct 6, 2023: “…But if rates stagnate or decline….the yield on this ETF may come under pressure, but its unit price can see capital appreciation”. Expectation is interest rate may go down this year.

Is it better to invest in HBND or dividend grower in the long term? So, I created a spreadsheet to determine the breakeven period where a dividend grower will match the annual dividend paid by HBND if dividend yield stays around 10%. I choose four random dividend growers FTS, SLF, TD, T with average historical annual dividend growth of 5%, 9%, 6% and 7% respectively. Starting point: Annual dividend payment as of January 2, 2024, no DRIP and no additional stock purchases.

If HBND dividend yield target yield remains around 10%, the number of years, when the annual dividend grower payment would exceed HBND annual dividend payment for FTS in 18 years, SLF in 13 years, TD in 16 years and T in 8 years.

Based on these results, if a person requires dividend income is the next 10-12 years, than HBND is a possible income source. However, if the dividend income is not required for more than 10-12 years, a viable option is to purchase a dividend grower since the annual dividend amount should exceed HBND and continue to grow.

Note: This is a simplistic point of view since HBND target of yield may drop with interest rate expected to drop later this year, a dividend grower rate may drop, no drawdown in capital for more than 10 years or black swan events. This exercise is focus on dividend not capital appreciation. This exercise could be applied to other income stocks (eg: XHY, HPYT),

Is this logic flawed? What other points should I consider? Is there a role for HBND or other high yielders in wealth accumulation portfolio vs wealth decumulation phase? Inflation in the last couple of years has reinforced (for me) to consider dividend growth to be able to fund retirement income for hopefully a few decades.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Q: According to the T3 published on the CDS listing for 2023, the Return of Capital for 2023 for HBND was 70.7% and for HPYT it was 48%. I'm holding them in non taxable accounts so the source of the dividends doesn't matter, but isn't that level of ROC completely unsustainable and will just mean an erosion in the NAV?
thanks

Q: Hello 5i team,
You recommended in a previous question TUHY instead of HYI (being terminated in March of this year). I also have XHY in my TFSA. Is not TUHY and XHY almost the same except that XHY is CAD-hedged and is larger in market cap?

I am wondering which one has Canadian high yield bond exposure as well as US? Or is it that there is not much coverage in CAN in general?

Andrew

Q: Hello 5i team,
I received notice that Horizon will be canceling certain ETFs including HYI affective March 20 2024. Can you give me other ETFs that are equivalent?
Andrew

Q: Please recommend about four to five covered call bond ETFs & is now a good time to invest in covered call bond ETFs. Thanks ... Cal

Q: Good evening,

I have a couple of questions regarding the following 5 ETF's. If it cost more than one credit that is ok. Just curious if you only own those 5 ETF's how diversified would you be? I understand that you be giving up some upside but from a diversification perspective do you have all your sectors covered?

For full disclosure I have 15 percent of my entire portfolio allocated to this 5 ETfs too add a little boost in income.

My last question regarding these 5 ETF's iss they all pay a distribution except SMAX and QMAX. SMAX and QMAX pay dividends according to my platform BMO investorline. Does that mean both these two are eligible for the dividend tax credit?

Thanks and have a great day.
Jimmy

Q: Is it possible to choose a favourite for a 1-1/2 to 2 year hold with the expectation of a reasonable yield while rates remain near current levels, and a capital gain as (if) they begin to fall?

HBND vs XBB or something preferable?

I'm assuming they all provide yield that will be treated as interest and not eligible divs. If so, preferred account type?

Thanks,

Q: Could you comment on the relatively new option-based US treasury ETFs HBND and HPYT. The yields have caught my attention, together with the underlying security of US treasuries and the possibility (?) that rates have peaked. Do you see these as being suitable up to around a 1.5% position in an RSP, and is there US tax withholding on the distribution in an RSP? How do these compare to TLTW (I would prefer to buy a CDN$ ETF rather than take the hit on conversion) Do you have a preference, and would you buy today? Note that I already hold about a 2.5% position in ZLC, which is up marginally.
Thank-you