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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 and income seeking investor. These three stocks seem to have been underperforming. Would you buy them for relatively low volatility and reasonably good yields? How safe are their dividends?
Read Answer Asked by M on May 11, 2020
Q: Good Morning
I currently have 37 positions spread over 3 accounts(RRSP,TFSA,INVEST). Most if not all are or at one time been in 5i’s model portfolios. Many of these are currently at 1.5% or less and although I believe they all have varying levels of potential their current weighting in my overall portfolio will have little impact unless they all go up. I believe I should consolidate the listed group, do you agree and if so which ones would you keep? Proceeds would be added to the remaining names.
Thank you for your continued advice and guidance.
As a side note you advice regarding non action in turbulent times is proof positive. Aside from harvesting some tax losses and buying proxies for a handful of names, my portfolio is now bordering on even for the year.
Publish if you wish
Read Answer Asked by Marty on May 04, 2020
Q: Hi Peter: When I sit back and take a look at the big picture and review how my portfolio performed during COVID-19 (so far), I try to see what lessons I can learn, then turn to how to apply those lessons to make my portfolio stronger.

I am a retired, dividend-income investor. I am a huge believer in asset allocation and have designed a portfolio, in my opinion, to be reasonably well diversified, although heavy to Canada. It WAS roughly 70% equities (including 32% foreign content) and 30% fixed income (roughly 15% insured annuities, 15% Fisgard Capital...both averaging in the 5-6% pre-tax range and minor cash). My equities are mostly blue chip, dividend payers, as you can see above. The 3 mutual funds are a very minor part of my portfolio, especially Eric's Energy Fund (<2%). I also receive a company pension and CPP-OAS which, when included, drops my equities to roughly 32%.

I use various metrics to monitor my portfolio, such as P/E, P/BV, P/CF, P/S, Beta, ROE, Div growth, Payout%, technical indicators like 200 mda. I am normally a buy-and-hold investor who trims/adds around a core position.

Periodically I measure how "at risk" my portfolio is relative to the overall market. I do this by prorating my portfolio using Beta. Based on equities only, I averaged 0.68 and for my entire portfolio I averaged 0.44. So, one would think that if the overall market (TSX) was to drop 30%, then I would have thought my portfolio would drop 44% to 68% of that, being in the range of 13% (overall) to 20% (equities only).

In actual fact, my entire portfolio dropped 27% from peak to trough vs the expected 13%...over double! I understand that EVERYTHING was sold off...almost no exceptions. So what do we learn from this and what changes should we consider? Do we accept that "sxxt happens" once in a while...you can't predict every event, accept it and move on? Should we consider increasing the cash component as a buffer? Or...is there something else to be learned here?

Thanks for you help...much appreciated...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on May 04, 2020
Q: Hello 5i team,
I greatly enjoyed your report on Covid 19 and investment themes. I have a pretty good idea as to 10 to 20 names of stocks that could fit into those themes.
Could you name just 10; I'd be curious to see how close I am.
Thanks,
Antoine
Read Answer Asked by Antoine on April 20, 2020
Q: Hi, do you have an updated opinion on KR? I'm trying to round out a top 5 list (US or CAN, doesn't matter) for Consumer Staples. The other 4 are above.
Anything obvious missing? that you would pick over the above 5?
Read Answer Asked by Kel on April 20, 2020
Q: Retired dividend-income investor. On the company page, Park Lawn in listed as Consumer-Cyclical. On the Monthly Income Portfolio report, it is listed as Consumer-Non-Cyclical. I would assume the latter is correct...one would think that burial services would be considered a staple. Question #1 = Please confirm your view as to the appropriate sector for PLC.

I am light on Consumers and have been wanting to top up this sector, but am thinking of staying away from the Discretionary sub-sector until things attempt to normalize over the next few months or quarters. I currently own PBH and NWC, both food companies. I used to own MG, LNF, AW and I will reconsider them again at some point, especially LNF. Question #2 = What are your thoughts about taking a new position in PLC ? I have read your March 25/20 report which concludes with a B+ rating. Some of the current metrics look ok (P/BV, P/CF, P/S, Beta, forward P/E). However, I calculate the payout ratio to be 175%...am I right? Is the dividend sustainable? I see a ROE of 1% from one source and 8% from a 2nd source. Comments please...thanks.

Q#3 = I actually need two consumer stocks that pay a dividend, ideally over 3.0%, but I'm willing to bring the threshold down to around 2.5%. Would you please rank PLC, LNF, AW, MG and any other consumer stock your filter system could identify for me to consider.

Thanks for your help...much appreciated...take 3 credits...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on April 14, 2020
Q: Hello 5i Team,
Thank you for all your guidance throughout this type of market. I'm sure all the Canadians are greatly appreciating your impeccable work for us DIY investors.

If you have ~$20k of cash today and your goal is to appreciate this into a much larger amount not too long after coming out of the other side of this market (i.e. after a recession), which 10-15 Canadian equities would you go after with a good sector diversification?

Since I am younger and my nest egg is still small, I'm not too concerned or rely on dividends. I'd much rather have stocks whose valuations may appreciate greatly rather than going for the slow and steady dividend aristocrats and blue-chips.

I have been eyeing the large discounts on Canadian equities such as the following: AC, CAE, SLF, GSY, LSPD, PLC, GIL.
Read Answer Asked by Michael on April 14, 2020
Q: Any concerns on the departing CEO Andrew Clark selling >$4 million worth of shares in the last few days when the share price has taken such a hit? Especially since he stated in the press release containing his departure news that he 'looks forward to participating in its continued success as a shareholder'. Was there a rule that he needed to maintain 'x' amount of $ in the company via common shares and now he is allowed to sell to reduce his position? Any comments you have would be great.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Ken on April 06, 2020
Q: HI, thank you for replying "yes" to all. Can you kindly address the second part of the question and rank your favorites to buy today on valuation for long term holds 1 - 4? Thanks.

Q: 1) would you take a half position in PLC today?
2) would you take a half position in SIA today?
3) would you take a half position in WELL today?
4) Would you take a half position in ENGH today?
Read Answer Asked by Jordan on April 01, 2020
Q: 1) would you take a half position in PLC today?
2) would you take a half position in SIA today?
3) would you take a half position in WELL today?
4) Would you take a half position in ENGH today?

If you could just rank your "yes'". No details needed. I am young, have a long term time horizon, don't mind risk, and can add on further market weekness. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Jordan on April 01, 2020
Q: Given the current environment, which do you foresee having a good recovery from today's lows. How would you rank these companies listed to purchase today to deploy some cash. Which would you rank this list for risk from high to low. (not considering sector allocation.
Do you have any other recommendations outside of this list that you think might have more potential?
Read Answer Asked by Gigi on March 30, 2020
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