Investment Q&A

Q: Merry Christmas 5i folks.

Thanks for everything this year. Overall very solid returns achieved.

I was holding ZWT and then added QMAX (to compare for a bit and then consolidate) for Sector exposure, but when I looked at my whole portfolio, AMZN, MSFT, NVDA, GOOG and SHOP, through 40-600% gains (many thanks), have become about a third of my portfolio, but also represent 40 and about 22% of ZWT and QMAX. With their fortunes tied so heavily to my individual holdings, is it worth holding a sector ETF?

Conversely, I kept teeter-tottering on which Canadian bank was going to be "The best" over the next few years +, and not pulling the trigger. Based on some of your other answers recently, I settled on going with a 6% position in ZEB, and am ultimately pretty happy with the lower management fee and equal weighting approach, and having a holding in the financials. Do you think the outlook for the financial space over the next few years would justify a higher weighting? Would adding a small position in PRL or something make it more complete?

On the small caps side of things, I have positions in PNG, TCS, CLBT, TMDX, ASPN, HPS and CALF. CALF has been sort of... uninteresting, and I'm considering selling it and initiating a couple more small caps for more torque. Front runners currently are VHI, ZDC, WELL, MDA. Thoughts? Any others you would put in there? Would you dump ASPN for UFPT?

Given how weak the Canadian dollar is right now, would you prioritize US or dual listed companies? Or will Canadian ones get a 'Double boost' if we can get some strength back in the loonie?

Thanks for everything, and Have a great new year!

James

Q: I currently hold CALF and SLYV-A as part of my small-cap part of my portfolio. SLYV is up 21.05%, while CALF is only 5.21% in one year. IWM is up 28.42% in the same period. I want to sell CALF and buy IWM. Alternatively, buy IWR as a mid-cap may have better potential.

Q: CALF (81 %) has led IWO (50 %) and IJT (59 %) in 5-yr returns, yet has fallen behind the other 2 in 1-yr returns (about 11 % vs 30+ %). Can you please provide a reason for that and also comment on which might do better in the next few years? Thank you.

Q: Good Day,

Edit: I got to the end of this and realize there is a lot to unpack here. My apologies and please forgive the transient nature of my ADD brain. Take however many credits you need.

I really enjoyed Jonathans question and your subsequent answer on Oct 10. Continuing on that thread, I too consider myself primarily a growth investor, and have a fairly high tolerance for risk. However, in contradiction (somewhat) to that, I also Love equities with a DRIP program.

I'm planning on making a significant contribution to my RRSP investment account to hopefully capitalize on some opportunities/ tax loss selling in the end of the year, and enjoying the tax break in April.

1. I think? I have a pretty solid basket of growth names, significantly from 5i recommendations. CALF CLBT CROX MSFT NVDA POWL SMCI TCS TMDX AMZN ASPN HPS LMN TVK VRT. In the growth space, Please provide 6 recommendations (CAD, US) ranked in decreasing order of preference that you would consider beneficial to these. If any of these current positions are in a very attractive place to add, you could suggest that with a why.

2. In the dividend/DRIP space, I have DE CHE.UN ZWT BAM SU PPL. About a month ago, I sold my BEP and BNS and rolled them in to my double up my BAM, which paid off, but am considering a re-buy. Reading the questions lately, you have been big on BNS and TD, but seem to contradict yourselves on it. Often recommending BNS over TD, only to recommend to someone that holds both to cut BNS over TD if only one is to be held. Are they that close in terms of future runway/room to grow/total returns? With my Love of DRIPs, would you give the edge to BNS due to the higher dividend? Could you recommend 3 - 5 options in this space, preferably holdings that would require less than 10K (20K for very high conviction) invested to DRIP a unit. ETFs are OK with low fees and higher Dividend.

3. In Jonathans question you commented on Materials being a great addition to a growth investors portfolio as a semi uncorrelated diversification. I've held LUN and LIF in the past, but with the power demands and resurgence of Nuclear, are there better options out there? Please provide 2-3 dividend paying and up to 5 growth options in this space.

4. Is GOOG a buy here? I fully agree that the impact was way overblown. Is it worth getting into one of the 2x leverage tickers for GOOG if ones conviction is very high? Is there any company you would consider a leveraged holding on? If so, which?

Thanks for everything!!!

James

Q: Good afternoon
In response to my question answered today Aug 13/24 regarding US small-cap ETF you suggested IJR as probably the best small cap US ETF
In the August ETF update, you “seem “to suggest that CALF might be a better option
Is my take away to purchase Calf over IJR , correct?
I realize you like both of these ETFs, but if you were to choose one only which would it be?
Thank you again

Q: Speaking as specialists in Canadian small cap equity, what are your favourite Canadian and U.S. small and micro-cap equity mutual funds and ETFs?
Best regards,
David

Q: I currently hold CALF and want to buy similar ETF in CDN dollars. Is there any ETF in CDN. If none which one would you recommend.

I am also interested in buying MID CAP ETF. Please give us your recommendations in US and CDN market ETF.

Thanks for the great advice

Q: What will it take for U.S. small caps to make a move? I own CALF in my TFSA and am patiently waiting.

Q: Hi, CALF is down, OMFL is up. What differentiates the two? Thanks and Greetings, Peter.

Q: Could I get a list of the best Small Cap ETF's to buy for Canada, USA & International?

Thank you.

Q: I had high hopes for small caps this year, and it looks like, in the past 30 days, they finally started moving up with IWM at 5% gain and IJR at 6%. Unfortunately, my choice for small caps ETF was CALF and it barely moved up in the past 30 days. What is wrong there? I know that it is actively managed and has less holding in its portfolio... is there some problem with one of the holding? Should I sell it and switch to IJR or IWM? I know that CALF overperformed these two over longer periods of time, but the lack of momentum in the past 30 days when the small caps are up worries me.

Q: Can I get your updated views of this fund. I've done well with it but now thinking of replacing it with a US small cap fund. Do you agree with this strategy?

Q: With the goal of adding good quality growth stocks and using your suggestions ( thank you ), some time back I added BN and GSY to my cash account which is full of telecom, pipes, banks and utilities. I am now looking at these four with my thoughts on them : EQB, Stephen Smith is the main reason I am liking this company . I am overweight banks already- should this factor into the equation ?
CALF, the small cap sector should be getting interesting if rates decline and I could use more US exposure. TFII, management can’t be beat but the industry is suffering ( good or bad for TFII? ),
best to wait and see how industry shakes out?
XIT, ( have 10% portfolio exposure with a US tech ETF ) has significant CSU exposure.

Is my thinking clear? Any single addition would be approximately 3% portfolio weighting. In what order would you buy ? Am looking at buying 2 immediately. Any you wouldn’t buy ?
Thanks. Derek.

Q: I bought CALF in early January and it's been unchanged since then, while the broader markets are up significantly YTD. Would you suggest betting on small cap recovery this year and keeping CALF or selling it and buying something like VTV, SPYV, or MOAT? If switching, which one out of these 3 you'd recommend for better long term growth? My portfolio is well diversified between the sectors, so I picked these 3 options as they will keep my portfolio in target ranges. Thanks.

Q: I am interested in buying some mid- to small-cap stocks. I am tracking some of the ones you mentioned and am considering them.

For non-experts though, it seems like it would be better to go the ETF route on such companies. Do you agree and can you recommend a couple of options in CAD and USD.

Q: Can you please suggest a few ETF's for a young investor who has recently opened a brokerage account.
My 30 y/o son will be transferring funds currently held at his bank. (TSFA , RESP, RRSP accounts) He is looking for long term investments options.

We as grand parents have started a RESP for each of the grandchildren. Looking after their first year RESP contributions. Currently invested in HXS and a small VFV position.
Can you please give some options for :
RRSP
RESP
TSFA
Thank you
Gord

Q: I'm interested in investing in some small cap ETFs in the US. I have now decided on the two above noted ETFs. Considering that these are investments in small cap companies how you compare them for both potential risk and growth. Thanks
Mike

Q: My only 2 TFSA holdings, held in equal amounts are WELL ( down) and EIF ( up ). I like EIF and hold it in greater amounts in my non registered account where I intend to keep it but expect it will be dead money for at least 6 months while Northern Mat recovers.
Am looking at selling EIF and along with my $7,000 contribution buying CALF , GLXY, and LMN in equal amounts, leaving WELL the largest holding at approximately 40% weighting ; the others at 20 % each. My TFSA is approximately 4 % of my total non registered and RRIF accounts and is not considered material so I wish to rebalance it towards stocks with more growth ( and risk ) potential.

I tend to go crazy with market timing : any advice on how to proceed on the sale and purchase of these? Any potential “ flashing red lights “ with this move ? Thanks. Derek

Q: Can you please rate CALF in terms of risk/reward on a scale of 1-10 and explain the reasons for your rating? I've always stayed away from small caps as I find the sector too volatile, but CALF is giving me second thoughts. I believe this sector is set to run, but am hesitant to invest given my perception of risk. Your thoughts on this ETF are most appreciated. Thank you.

Q: Good Day,

I picked up CALF and HPS.A based on your last answer to my questions. CALF was EXACTLY what I was looking for in that space. HPS.A looks really intriguing, and despite the constant highs on highs providing a bit of apprehension, I think I'll look back later and be happy. Thanks.

Through looking in to NXT as an option, came across FLEX, which it was spun out from, as well as TOI (and CSU by proxy) when looking at LMN.

Would FLEX or NXT have a better future outlook and why? What would you rank the risk and growth potential for each? Are there any other companies like FLEX that you would recommend? Also, the Share price estimate for FLEX is showing a high of 35, which is significantly higher than current. are those pre-NXT spinoff estimates?

For LMN and TOI, same questions.