Investment Q&A

Q: Re: Infosys (INFY)

Hello, This question is out of your scope but I would appreciate your thoughts. This stock is down about~ 10% due to the resignation of CEO. This is a solid company and has revolutionised IT and has made a huge impact on India. I am wondering if this is a good time to start a small position. Can you look at the financias and give me your thoughts. Thanks. Regards, Shyam

Q: Can you recommend a free method of finding insider ownership as a percentage? I haven't seen this in Google Finance, TMX, or Morningstar. Some of them show insider activity and TMX it can be added to a stock screen but I don't see it in specific stocks info.

Q: Hello Peter and team, two questions:
1. I already own VIG. Can you suggest another unhedged US ETF for US holdings in an RRSP but with a focus on higher dividends. (I'm somewhat partial to Vanguard, but flexible.) A low fee is much preferred.
2. For an already diversified portfolio, and for a 5 - 10 year timeframe, would you kindly rank your choices for 'geographies' for new money - as between the Canadian market, the US, Europe, Emerging Markets or 'International' (i.e., excluding North America). If you have another category you would insert, please do. Also, if you like the long-term prospects for a particular country ETF, that would be appreciated as well.
Thank you@

Q: If I sell a US stock held in a US account but leave the cash in the account and buy another stock how would I report the capital gain to the CRA? Thanks.

Q: Not sure if I requested my last question to be private but it was meant to be public

Q: Can you explain why there is a difference in quoted Gold prices between Kitco and Comex. Thank You

Q: I'm confused by the following 5i answer excerpt in response to Dave's question on August 16th.

"5i Research Answer:
The key here is that when reading our remarks, our comments are meant to reference the 'company' and not the stock price. A declining stock does not make a company 'bad'. We cannot predict sector movements nor stock prices, but we try to focus on the quality of a company."

Do I take from this that 5i doesn't take into account the fundamental "value" of a stock when making its recommendations? If so, I feel this is missing the point in making profitable investment recommendations. The highest "quality" company may be the worst possible investment if its stock is outrageously over-priced.

There also seems to be some inconsistency here as well. In the same answer, it was stated that a company like CRH may have more investment potential than another company since its stock is oversold. Another answer on the 17th suggested that the asker not chase the stock of Chorus Aviation (CHR). These answers indicate to me that stock price is being taken into account in 5i Research recommendations.

So what is it, is stock price ("value") taken into account in 5i Research recommendations or is the "quality" of a company the only criteria used in making the recommendations?

Thanks,
Colin

Q: Hello 5i,
In response to a fellow member, I was also a very frustrated investor a couple of years ago, just after joining 5i. I have made and sometimes continue to make poorly researched decisions that are outside of my risk tolerance. I have purchased many disaster stocks (CXR, HCG, PHM etc.) since joining 5i, what is very apparent to me is that it was me that decided to make each and every trade, not 5i! The reason for the trade was an attempt to make some easy fast money (greed). The 5i information when used as a starting point for a shorter term trade or longer term investment idea, enables me to make much more informed decisions than I was able to do prior to joining 5i. I appreciate the unbiased information, experience and opinions, and the voice of calm reassurance in times of volatility....thank you very much!
You may publish at your discretion.

Q: Question: Hello Peter! Can you please comment on my portfolio.I currently hold in my portfolio (stocks - Weightings): CSU-10.9%,CCL.B- 12.2%,BYD.UN-8.5%,ATD.b-10.2%,KXS-7.0%,PBH-5.4%,NFI-6.8%,SIS-6.2%,SHOP(CAD)-9.1%,ECI-3.7%, FB-3.9,SHOP(US)-5.3%,CGNX-4.2%,AMZN-2.7%,NVDA-3.8% . I also have 30K CAD to invest. Would you please give me your 3(non energy,CAD or US)buys today to complement or increasing my holdings in existing portfolio. Thanks Andrew B.

Q: Hi 5i Team,

I'm still new to investing and in my spare time I enjoy reading the responses you guys give to other member, but I feel like there are always more to know. I'm wondering if you guys have any suggestions on books that can help fill these gaps. Hoping for suggestion on books for new and intermediate investors.

Q: Gents,

It's adequately clear (esp from some of the comments I've recently read) that the Healthcare/Pharma sector in Canada offers very few choices and even fewer good choices.

Whereas the same sector in the US offers fabulous alternatives, opportunities and growth.

I feel it is a shame to limit this weak Canadian sector in our portfolios when you can offer so much more with reccos south of the border.

Even a well represented ETF for US pharma/healthcare/bioscience might do the trick if you are time starved.

Just saying.

Sheldon

Q: I have room in my TFSA to add one or 2 growth stock in U.S healthcare sector. Are there any names that stand out to you?

Q: Every few months someone writes in with "disappointed" comments about the service provided by 5I. These people should realize that for a few dollars we have access to professional experienced market advice/comments with no strings attached. This is very valuable and rare. Use this information, or not, to increase your market knowledge, purchase/sell stocks but do stay diversified. No one can predict outcomes or know the vagaries of the market. Keep up the good work! Gord

Q: Silvermet (SYI) is controlled by Stephen Roman. They are in the process of amalgamating with Global Atomic (private) another Stephen Roman controlled company. In your opinion why are they doing this? Regards and thank you for the great service.

Q: Just wondering if you also call and meet with management of the various companies that you get asked about and are in your portfolios?
Or are your responses and recommendations based strictly on the public information available to the average investor?

Q: Hi, was wondering how one would set up a portfolio using the 5i web site.

Should a 33% be put in each portfolio or should another portion be in cash and bonds.

At the moment my portfolio is 10% cash, 10% bonds, 40% dividend payers and 40% small cap, in the summer months I usually raise some cash for the fall.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated

Anthony

Q: I have about 1k (and growing) saved in an account with RBC as the company I'm working for has started to match monthly contributions for investment purposes. What would you suggest i put it in as far as products offered by them? I currently have a reasonable size portfolio with Tangerine that also gets monthly contributions. Would like to be a little aggressive with the RBC account. Thanks.

Q: Hello, I will have to liquidate a substantial amount of my portfolio in the near future and figured I may as well take the opportunity to rebalance my holdings. My goal is to build a fully invested portfolio based on the 5i Balanced Equity portfolio core, with a minor growth tilt. I have read through the Q&A section thoroughly and have come up with the following solution and wanted your opinion:

NON-REG: AIF, BLX, PKI, WSP, XTC (5 holdings)
TFSA: CCL.B, CSU, KL, KXS, NFI, PBH, PHO, SHOP, SIS, SYZ, TOY (11 holdings)
RRSP: ATD.B, BYD.UN, CAE, CLS, ENGH, GSY, GUD, MX, SJ, PEO, ZZZ (11 holdings)

I have 2 questions (please feel free to deduct more credits if necessary):

1) Are there any names you would remove and/or swap out for other names? (I am nearing 30 holdings which from what I have read could be getting too large and inefficient) and

2) Is the division of holdings across the NON-REG/TFSA/RRSP best spread for growth efficiency?

As always, thanks for your amazing service!!

Q: I had asked if you had any thoughts on Solar Share bonds. Any response?

Q: Hi, your answers are always illuminating. Recently, you have commented on currency headwind on several companies' future earnings. Does this imply higher or lower canadian dollar relative to other currencies? How much will it affect ? Thanks.