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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: May I have your pick-up among the compagnies in this index based on growth, management and ROE? I know that buy back program can be used for different purposes namely to invest in the business or to bonify executives salaries. Can you point out those actively buying back for the right reasons and if there is an ETF listed that mimics this index in Canada and USA?

Thank you very much
Read Answer Asked by Jean on February 23, 2022
Q: This is a follow-up to our question from last week (see: https://www.5iresearch.ca/questions/140708).

Based on your response that nothing in the list gives you much cause for concern, we would understand this to imply none of the 30 stocks would be considered a "sell" today.

Please divide the 30 stocks into a pair of ranked (best to worst) lists, one of "buys" and the other of "holds". As well, for each of the "holds" indicate the principal rationale for caution.
Read Answer Asked by Peter on February 07, 2022
Q: About 1 year ago we created an equal-weighted 'balanced' portfolio of 30 Canadian companies in a non-registered account. Most were chosen from companies either covered by a 5i research report or included in a 5i model portfolio. The remainder were chosen, based on the 5i Q&A section, from what appear to be 5i sector favourites. All purchases are made with the intent to be long-term holds (10+ years). As well, we intend to increase our investments over the next 2-3 years, and then adjust over time as needed. Currently the amount invested represents ~40% of the eventual total.

Although a goal is to keep the portfolio roughly equal weighted, of the 30 companies, the following 14 were acquired in 3 purchases (full position) and currently have weights in the 2.31% (SHOP) to 5.00% (ATA) range for an average of 3.71%: CSU, MG, GSY, WSP, LNF, ATD, ATA, SLF, BAM.A, BIPC, FTS, DOO, SHOP and TFII. The remainder were acquired in 2 purchases (2/3 position) and currently have weights in the 1.98% (BEPC) to 3.17% (TCN) range for an average of 2.56%. So, overall, the weightings currently range from ~2% to ~5%.

Over the next 6 months we will invest another ~25% of the eventual total. As we make additional purchases, we need to strike a balance between keeping the weights roughly equal while taking advantage of market opportunities. Please provide some broad guidance/wisdom.

Of the 30 companies in the portfolio, which 10 would you have the highest conviction in today? Please rank them.

Are there any of the 30 that you might consider as candidates to be replaced because there are better options, and if so, what replacements would you suggest and why (disregard tax considerations)?

What additional 3 Canadian companies might you consider adding to the portfolio and why?

As always, thanks for the great service!
Read Answer Asked by Peter on February 01, 2022
Q: I'm going to make RSP contributions (for myself and husband) in kind this year from a margin/cash account. Looking for the best candidates. I'd have to report a CG on GSY (376%)or ATD.b (394%) or KXS (210%).
Alternatively, CG on PBH and MG are 18% and 65% respectively.

What stocks (in order of preference) would be good to transfer to RSP? in your wise opinion

Thanks!!!
Read Answer Asked by Brenda on February 01, 2022
Q: My question is moreless about Morningstar's numbers. I have access through my TD trading account. It indicates the Fair Value of SLF pretty much where it is, BCE at $66.64 and ATD at $46.12. I'm not sure if you share the same opinion (?)

SLF - the FV has gradually been increasing, but are projected rate hikes already priced in the present stock price? I would expect the FV to ramp up.

BCE - They show a trailing PE of 21. That, and the P/S seem historically a bit higher than normal. I think your Bloomberg info would show a future PE that may be lower...hopefully.

ATD - This one shows a trailing PE of 16, This, compared to its past, seems "quite cheap", yet the FV doesn't seem to reflect this. Agree?

So what are your thoughts? Would you say SLF, ATD and BCE are good value - in that order based on my above comments, or any opinion of your own?
Read Answer Asked by James on January 31, 2022
Q: I held PBH for years, and sold a few months ago when it was just over $130, buying ATD with the proceeds, as I felt ATD was a bargain at the time (around $47 or so). The trade ended up working out, even though I don't often attempt to buy and sell equities based exclusively upon momentum and other non-income-related metrics: I tell everyone I am a lousy trader, but somewhat decent investor.

In any event, PBH has retreated to just under $122 as I am composing this query, while ATD has performed decently (up about 10% from purchase price). I would like to know your thoughts on which company you think will perform better over the next two years or so, and if it would make sense to pivot back towards PBH, or stay with ATD, if that company can be expected to work out better between the two options. If these two companies can be reasonably expected to perform similarly, I would deem standing pat to probably be the more prudent option.

As always, I appreciate your insights and I look foreard to your reply.
Read Answer Asked by Domenic on January 18, 2022
Q: Question about Disruptors:

I am concerned about disruptors negatively affecting the future safety of my Canadian dividend portfolio that I have built for retirement - mainly blue chips. I have a long term view, and invest accordingly. Here are my concerns:

Banks (their high fees vs Fintech)
Utilities (eg. Tesla Energy Ventures)
Energy, Pipelines (EV's)
Insurance (Autonomous Vehicle reliability, companies increasing Human Longevity)
Telecoms (Cable-cutting)
Railroads (Autonomous Trucking)

Telecoms seem to be jacking up the cost to the customer for their internet service substantially to compensate for lost cable revenue, so maybe less to worry about there.
I know that it will take time for some of this to play out, but I read articles on disruptors daily, and some of this seems to be evolving quite quickly.

I am looking for portfolio diversifiers. Besides some disruptor ETF's I also own NTR and TECK.B which seem to be less apt to be impacted. I also own ATD, assuming that their change-over to charging stations will be successful. Other than Canadian Tech, what other solid Canadian companies would be good picks that perhaps may be "less impacted" ? FSV for instance ?

Also, if you have an alternative view on this, I certainly welcome your opinion.
Read Answer Asked by James on January 18, 2022
Q: Which of the above names would you be comfortable adding to today? Of those, what would be the priority order for additions? Finally, are there a couple of other names you would see as strong buy candidates to throw into this mix that are trading at attractive levels today?

Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on January 17, 2022
Q: ATD was listed as consumer defensive before on the TSX as well as Balanced portfolio. It has since changed to consumer cyclical. Not a major concern, but I try to balance things out in line with Portfolio Analytics.

Should I be considering ATD as a cyclical and add some consumer Defensive?
I have PBH already, so I am not sure what would be best to add in this sector.

Lastly, have you thought about allowing Sector Allocations and International Sectors to be adjustable with Analytics.

Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Colin on January 13, 2022
Q: I was planning on growing my position in these companies during 2022 in my TFSA account. Is there any of these companies you wouldn't invest in or replace for an other company (please indicate witch company you would replace it by).

Also can you say in what order you would rank these companies from highest to lowest, highest being you favourite and lowest least favourite?
Read Answer Asked by Rick on January 07, 2022
Q: I want to initiate positions in my unregistered investment account, but if I buy all 8 above stocks, each position would be extremely small. (But that is still an option.) Considering thoughts on inflation and interest rates, could you put these in order of priority for purchase now. These positions would primarily be for safety, with a bit of income, which is non-essential, and some growth, which is also not essential. Just looking for your confidence level of these as companies for the longish term.
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on January 03, 2022
Q: Hi 5i,
I’m in the process of rebalancing my RRSP and TFSA and looking to be greedy while others are fearful.
Specifically moving TD, FTS, T, and LNF to an RRSP so that my TFSA can be growth oriented.
My remaining TFSA positions would be as follows:
- Half Positions: NVEI, EGLX, LSPD, WELL, U, APPS, BAM.A, SIS, DND, BYD, MITK
- Full Positions: GSY, TOI, CRWD, ATZ

I am planning to deploy as follows:
- Complete existing positions: NVEI, LSPD, APPS, U
- New Partial Positions: AT, XYL
- New Full Positions: DOL, SHOP, VEEV, ANRG, ATD, TIXT
Would you swap out anything on this list that would better compliment my existing positions? I have a 10+ year horizon so I’m leaning towards aggressiveness.

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Kyle on December 16, 2021
Q: Good morning,
Tax loss selling season has arrived and looking at my non registered portfolio I see that PKI is significantly below my purchase price and while I still like PKI for the long term, it is a candidate for tax loss selling this year. I would appreciate your thoughts on:
Q1. Selling PKI and replacing this holding with ATD
Q2. Selling PKI and purchasing ATD as a proxy until I'm able to repurchase PKI in 30 days.
Q3. Recommending another stock or ETF to purchase following the sale of PKI
I thank you and look forward to your thoughts and sage advice.
Read Answer Asked by Francesco on December 09, 2021