Investment Q&A

Q: can you tell me if holding VEE, ZEM, or XEC has any advantage over the other in terms of tax efficiency? Also, can you rank order in terms of which account emerging market etf should be held for tax efficiency (please rank best to worse).
thanks

Q: https://www.rbadvisors.com/insights/4-for-24-year-ahead-outlook/

RB advisers recommend the following 4 themes for 2024 and as a value investor I am looking for ETF recommendations:
(1) US small caps: I am using XSU (100% IWM)
(2) US cyclicals: I found IYC but P/E is 27! Recommendation?
(3) Non-US and emerging markets: I have been using XEF and ZEM. I like XEM (100% EEM) because it posts a P/E each day.
(4) Theme 4 is "Industrials: deglobalization spurs infrastructure". No idea what ETFs to use here.
Thanks for your recommendations/comments!!!

Q: I'm thinking about adding an emerging market ETF to my portfolio, what do you think about this ETF? I like the dividend and the holdings, i suspect you might have reservations about the market cap and volume?
Is there another EM ETF that you prefer?

Q: Can you please compare the following ETFs: ZEM vs VEE. In the past you had commented that ZEM may be more tax efficient because most stocks are held direct. Which ETF has the most exposure to China?
Thanks!

Q: I have held XEF and Vee for years and they never seem to do as well as North American market/companies.

According to portfolio analytics I need more exposure, but these seem to be drags on my portfolio more than anything. There a slight dividend, but there is overall loss on them.

Do you have any other recommendations to get world exposure but with some better growth?

Q: Hi Peter,
I Would like to expand my question posted earlier. Here is the original, and your reply:

Q: Hi Peter,
I am helping my kids who are in the mid-twenties to invest. The funds will be in RRSP & in TFSA for long term. Would you please recommend a list of ETFs and/or Stocks to invest in for growth. I would like to have the portfolio diversified globally and invested into various sectors.
Thank you,

Asked by Roger on November 08, 2023
5I RESEARCH ANSWER:
We can suggest: CSU, BN, WSP, TFII, ATD, SLF for a conservative mix of stocks from differing sectors. XIC could be a general Canadian ETF, and VFV a US market ETF. We prefer international exposure to be done through an ETF. VIU is an easy solution in our view (it is ex North America).

I have a tax efficiency question. If I am holding VIU in either RRSP or TFSA, would the dividends, even distributed through DRIPs, be subject to an international withholding tax of 15%? If that is the case, do you have another suggestion for investing in an international EFT where dividends are minimized, and the value of the EFT is in growth?

Do you have a suggestion for investing in the emerging market? Again, an EFT with the similar focus on tax efficiency.

Thank you again,

Q: From a global perspective would you favor European, US or international stocks/EFTs to invest at this time ? I would like to diversify my portfolio a little better and therefore sell some Canadian ETFs and purchase European, US and international ETFs .
Thank you . Miroslaw

Q: Hi there, do you have a view on any specific emerging markets (eg single countries) that are particularly investable right now? Ideally accessible via a targeted ETF. Thanks as always!

Q: What is your favourite emerging market at this time.The one that in your opinion has the best risk vs reward potential.
What ETF would you reccomend to best take advantage of this potential opportunity. I am looking for some international diversification in my TFSA.

Thanks very much!

Q: Hello,

Can you suggest several specific companies and/or ETF's to gain exposure to both the Indian economy as well as that of countries like Vietnam?

Q: What ETF's do you recommend for dividends and growth for:
1. Canadian coverage
2. US coverage but in $CAD.
3. Europe coverage but in $CAD
4. Asia coverage but in $CAD

Q: Currently down significantly on these names, especially SHOP

Please confirm whether all are “keep-able” in a long-term (10yrs+) balanced portfolio.

Would you add to any at current valuations, and which one(s)?
Thank you!

Q: Which of these two ETFs is a better buy in terms of growth and valuations?

Q: Hi...I am trying to decide between a growth ex-North America International ETF and a growth Emerging Market ETF. Would have have 2-3 suggestions for each and why I would choose one over the other?

Q: With China sending UFOs to annoy Biden and inconvenience Justin do you feel this could cause issues with holdings in China? My only exposure is in VEE so wonder if I should sell it and buy a ex china emerging market ETF. Do you have a recommendation for a VEE replacement with no or much less China exposure.

Q: Please recommend four industrial sector EFTs, one for each of Canada, USA, International, & emergent market, to invest with an about equal good balance of growth and dividends, for say 5 years and up.
Thank you,
Roger

Q: Portfolio analytics suggests that I need more international exposure. Can you suggest some ETFs that would provide me with broad exposure to international markets (non-US markets)? Perhaps lower-, medium- and higher-risk options? Thank you.

Q: Happy Holidays!! Two part question - What are your thoughts on index funds, I don’t think I see any in your portfolios.

I read some commentary sometimes how some “professional investors” say they are better than stocks, for as the stock market goes up the index funds will too, but stocks don’t always rise when the market does. I do see the counter argument there too.

And assuming you’re not opposed to them, you which ones would you recommend?

Please take 2-3 credits, as that was a long question.

Thanks,

Cam

Q: Further to your response to Tom on Dec. 5th, could you recommend several ETFs that would be quality choices to represent emerging markets, healthcare and tech that would result in less overall volatility than purchasing individual stocks? Thanks.

Q: Hi
can you recommend a proxy for zem for tax loss harvesting?
thanks