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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: Retired, dividend-income investor, who normally employs a buy-and-hold strategy. I have long term core positions of mostly conservative equities (ETFs = CDZ, XIT, ZLB, ZWC, ZRE, LIFE; Stocks = AD, AQN, BCE, CSH, FTS, MFC, NTR, NWC, PBH, PLC, RY, TRP, WSP) and fixed income of annuities, Fisgard and Gov't-Private pensions. I believe my portfolio is set up fairly conservatively.

I have cash for another position in my Cash Account. I have been reading several 5iR questions lately about various themes for 2021 (Recovery Trade, Swap from Growth to Value, Emerging Market improvements, Take-Over Candidates, etc.). While I'm not even sure if this is possible, I'd like to ask you to screen for as many of them as possible (all thrown into one big ball) to create a half dozen candidates for me to do more research on. I'm looking for a starting point. I'm not even sure where to start, hence the request.

I'm looking for a Canadian (preferably) or USA company, potentially a take-out target, benefitting from the recovery of the economy. I lean towards the Value spectrum, as I inherently find it difficult to buy a stock that has already had a good run. If a dividend could be thrown in, that would be a bonus. Market cap and sector do not matter.

This is sort of a "kitchen sink" kind of question. If that results in zero candidates, then please use your discretion and drop various filters. As you can tell by my current holdings, they are for the most part, blue-chip companies. If we could identify something like an Enercare (that was taken out by Brookfield), that would be a homerun.....happy to hold it but ecstatic to have it taken out. But Enercare is just an example.

Please rank them from best candidate to least...maybe 3 Canadian and 3 USA companies or all 6 from Canada if possible.

If you can run this exercise, then I'll do some further research on your list. I know this is a crazy request...thanks in advance. Take as many credits as you need to throw some brain power at this....I'll never use all of the credits I currently have.

Much appreciated...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on December 19, 2020
Q: Hi!
Stocks have increased a lot recently and most of the above are well off their lows with stocks like BEP and BIP almost reaching their high of the year. Would you feel comfortable entering new money into the above names for income/growth or wait for a pullback? I know timing the market is next to impossible but do you see this rising market as sustainable and if one waits will the opportunity to enter still at reasonable prices be missed? Also, what are your thoughts on RDVY. It was not listed as a choice on the drop down list.
Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Neil on November 24, 2020
Q: Good day,
I hold BEP.UN;BEPC;BBU;CCL.B;ENB;EMA;H;FTS;CTC; and BAM in a non registered account and thanks to you I have done very well following your Q & A and portfolios. I am down 43% in SU; down 23% in CPD; down 16% in IPL and 6% in POW. Would you add to the winners? Add to the temporary losers or ADD new ones. After today, am tempted to add to SU for sure. Have RRIF and TFSA with pretty balanced sectors. Overall, Overweight in Utilities, Financials and okay with that. Many thanks, Paul
Read Answer Asked by Paul on November 16, 2020
Q: I started an RESP for my 2 grandsons about 3 years ago. Only 5 stocks in the account: 3 Cdn. banks, BAM and an energy company. It is doing much worse than my RESP or TFSA. I wanted safe, dividend paying stocks. Obviously the lack of diversification has hurt. I have some cash in account I would like to deploy. Please give me a few suggestions of companies I should add. Thx.
Read Answer Asked by Penny on September 29, 2020
Q: My powder keg is dry waiting for the covid 2nd wave and in my opinion anticipated second market adjustment. The recent jitters made me realize I haven't made my buy plan for my cash...I am pleased with my portfolio and don't have any huge gaps, I am slowly switching from growth to income so am looking more toward your income portfolio for inspiration. In Canada ENB and H looked like good buy options and I already own Suncor so would top up on that as well to a full position. In the USA I am leaning towards P&G and Coke. These complement my current holdings and I feel these additions will do OK in a possible extended covid induced economic slowdown as well as be good long term income holdings.

Any names you wished you had added on the last drop or names you are watching with interest?
Read Answer Asked by Tom on September 23, 2020
Q: Good morning, Portfolio Analytics suggests we (as elderly seniors) lower our Utility holdings by 6.32%. Currently, we have:
AQN 3.9 %, BEPC 3.5%, BIP.UN 4.6%, H 2.2%, SPB 1.8%. Firstly is there a holding I could eliminate? If not should I just lower the larger percentages? All are in RRIFs.
Second suggestion from Analytics is to lower telecom by 3.54%. Currently have BCE 4.2%, T 3.5% and GOOG 4.2%. T and BCE are in RRIFs. GOOG is in an unregistered account. I have always looked at GOOG as technology sector. Any comments. Thanks for your expertise.
Ted
Read Answer Asked by Ted on August 21, 2020
Q: Inflation expectations - which sectors are expected to do well as inflation picks up? Please name your top picks in those sectors.
Thanks for all your advice.
Read Answer Asked by sam on August 11, 2020
Q: I bought shares in this company many years ago in my registered account primarily for income. Would you recommend that I continue to hold them? If not what would you replace it with assuming I want to have a company that provides a dividend yield of at least 3% ?
Read Answer Asked by Robert on July 28, 2020
Q: I know Chartwell is and will be under scrutiny under the current context. I fell in love with the drip and the monthly high dividends not so much the stock.

What would be your 2-3 suggestion to replace it with? Considering I want a high monthly div that a can drip without investing 100k in!

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Claude on July 17, 2020
Q: I gave up on this stock WPK after several years in Tfsa. I am in early 60’s so don’t wish to go too far up risk scale, however our portfolio is fortunately quite significant so can take some risk.Hold BYD and Kinaxis. Do you have one or two other suggestions? Thanks, Bill
Read Answer Asked by Bill on July 14, 2020
Q: Asking for a retiree in their early 70s -- Need some Canadian Dividend stocks mainly for income. If you an provide 3 that is safe that'll be great!
Read Answer Asked by Eugene on July 14, 2020
Q: According to Reuters article, companies exercising ESG management are getting favourable attention from large investors. I expect some companies will attract a premium price for some time if they demonstrate ESG and advertise the fact. Could you list a half dozen of 5I favourites companies which are at least on the ESG narrow path to higher valuations.
Thank You for your service.
Read Answer Asked by Clarence on May 19, 2020
Q: What would be your favourite 5 Canadian and 5 us stocks for stagflation and best etf as well.Your favourite food commodity etf as well .thanks
Read Answer Asked by andre on April 14, 2020
Q: I plan to retire in 3 years and want to set up a portfolio of dividend paying stocks for my retirement in a non- registered account. Can you please give me your thoughts if I buy the following in 20% amounts at each S&P drop of 3-5% over the next 1-3 months. CM RY, NA, CWB, BCE, T, H, BIP, BEP, BAM.
Are there any others you would recommend today?
Read Answer Asked by Vineet on March 31, 2020