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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: Hello 5i,

Imagine that you already have a diversified portfolio you are happy with and plan to keep intact with no changes over a 10+ year investment horizon.

Now, you've watched the recent few months of meltdown sitting with $50,000 of cash that you're considering putting to work, representing maybe 6-7% of your total overall portfolio value/net worth.

Give absolutely no consideration to sector/position weightings, geography (CDN or US or gloabl), or risk tolerance. The only consideration is a 10+ year time frame. You're investing in things for the long term. No trading.

Imagine this was YOUR $50,000. You show up to the office on Monday, April 13. What do you buy today, if anything?

Thanks for all your advice. Read the questions daily. Your takes on this current meltdown I have found to be quite insightful and of far more value than most financial news out there. For this alone I consider my subscription to be money well spent.

Keep yourselves and your families safe!

Ryan
Read Answer Asked by Ryan on April 13, 2020
Q: Hi, first I wanted to thank you for this amazing service, I am so glad I discovered 5i!
I recently sold my business and have 10+ years before retirement. I now want to deploy this cash to build my retirement portfolio, I don't need any income from this portfolio for 10 years.
I carefully reviewed your Balanced and Income portfolios. With much improved valuations for many stocks in these portfolios, what are your suggestions for 10 best (in terms of possible appreciation) individual stocks or ETFs for a non-registered portfolio. Either from your sample portfolios or not, US or CDN.
Thanks again!
Read Answer Asked by Laura on April 09, 2020
Q: Hi group if you were to buy 3 stocks in Canada + 3 in the US today (or would you wait?) regardless of sectors . What stock would you buy /why. Of course it goes without saying that they would be minimally effected by the Covid -19 virus
Read Answer Asked by Terence on April 06, 2020
Q: Hello you Guys,
My question is as follows :
A number of years ago (3 or 4?) on a portfolio review it was suggested I buy VOX as I had no telecommunications exposure. It has been up and down and currently down. Would it make sense for me to sell the VOX and swing into either Telus, Bell or any other holding you would suggest at this time? And while I have you, is there 1 particular stock you would say is a diamond in the ruff? I'm pretty well diversified so sector stuff not so important, just a really great company that you guys really like. Bet you hate these questions but you never disappoint!
many thanks.
Read Answer Asked by ralph on April 06, 2020
Q: Hi I asked this question earlier. You answered with dividend paying stocks (thanks). but if your were not considering only dividend payers, what would be your choices?
thanks

thanks as always for your level headed thinking. I have a number of CAN dividend stocks as the core of my holdings. I now have cash that I want to deploy over the next couple of months. what are your top 5-10 US stocks (no regard to sector) that you recommend based on a 5 year hold.
Michele
Read Answer Asked by michele on April 01, 2020
Q: Hello,
I am currently waiting out this deep downturn in the market. At some point the market will start recovering. I have followed your recommendations in the Portfolio Tracking and Analysis tool.

If you had $500,000 sitting in cash which you want to deploy once the market turns around, which sectors would you look towards investing in for the eventual upward trend? Would you be able to provide your favourite stocks /ETFS which you would use to cover the sectors you think will be first to recover?

Thanks for all your help.
Read Answer Asked by Mauro on April 01, 2020
Q: hello 5i:
this is a currency question. My watchlist is made up of US stocks that we have partial positions in and which I want to add to. The Canadian dollar is, as we speak, in the .708 range. My expectation is lower, but not dramatically lower equity (lets us the S&P 500 as a proxy) prices. I need to convert Canadian dollars to US dollars if I want the currency diversification. What to do? Waiting will see (probably) a higher Canadian dollar at the price of higher US equities. Please help me make this decision: I'm stumped. Put another way, what would YOU do in this situation, realizing what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.
Paul L
Read Answer Asked by Paul on March 30, 2020
Q: I have a large cash position and am starting to re-deploy. Would like to take this opportunity to acquire a stronger US stock presence than I previously held. I am looking at about 40-50% in US to add to what will be a balanced diverse portfolio of Canadian stocks - many of 5i recommendations. I am happy with some overweight in tech .
I plan on putting in limit orders at lower prices than current and have my own price area for each identified, but as a "reality check" would appreciate some feedback from you as to what you think could be "suggested" buy prices on each stock.
Also, is there anything you would add to the list as Strong buy suggestions. Or anything you would delete from the list that you feel would not show a positive return in the next 1-2 years.
Thanks for getting out your crystal ball on this and congrats for coping so well with all the noise !
Read Answer Asked by Alexandra on March 23, 2020
Q: Hi Peter, Ryan and team,

With the craziness of the market now, what top 5 US stocks are going to be a good buy opportunity?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Marvin on March 17, 2020
Q: Hi, my respected 5i team
I'm looking for some US stocks to buy in order to take advantage of the current market dip. Could you please recommend 4 or 5 solid names that worth buying now in the order of the most attractive to the least if possible? My time zone is about 3 to 5 years. Could you also comment the reasons of recommending?

By the way, I bought GOOG and NVDA last year upon your suggestion, only half position. Do you think it is a good idea to add more now?

Thanks in advance!
Jane
Read Answer Asked by Jane on March 17, 2020
Q: In light of current market actions and the now widely anticipated economic recession, I am looking for your thoughts on stocks you would buy for long term (10 plus years) and/or forever holds -- Canadian and U.S. names please. I am investing for retirement (within 5 years) but also for our heirs. We have built a portfolio of sleep at night holdings over the past 25 years and just looking to tweak the portfolio. Although we do not like to see these kinds of volatile markets, we also do not get freaked out by them. We have ample cash or near cash always in hand to combat such actions -- something you learn through experience! Thanking you in advance for your answer.
Read Answer Asked by Mary Ann on March 16, 2020
Q: First off I just want to say thank you so much for your special report you issued last week. For a young investor like myself who has never been through events like we currently are experiencing your advice has been extremely valuable to help navigate these uncharted waters.

I have been sitting on some cash and would like to increase my technology (both Canada and the US) exposure as it is low right now. I am comfortable with moderate risk. I have a few questions on this subject so feel free to subtract as many credits as you see fit:
1) For Canadian tech companies, after reading your special report and the Q&A's, it seems you like CSU, KXS, DSG, and SHOP. Would you recommend buying these individual companies (or others?) or would XIT be a reasonable alternative with these 4 companies composing ~61%? Or is there another tech etf you would suggest?
2) For US tech companies (or any US company for that matter), with the Canadian dollar being low, would you recommend looking at specific US companies or a Canadian ETF that holds US tech companies? I am worried the exchange would eat into possible returns. Do you have any recommendations (e.g. I have seen you mention XQQ for an etf, SKYY highlighted in etfupdate, and companies like MSFT, GOOG, TEAM, etc)?

Thanks for all that you do.
Read Answer Asked by Justin on March 16, 2020
Q: I’m looking deploy some cash. I read your report on which Canadian stocks to look at but can you recommend 3-4 American stocks to start picking away at?
Read Answer Asked by sean on March 13, 2020
Q: hi Ryan,
today market is 900points down again. at this stage which five stocks in US you prefer to jump in without any sector taking in consideration?
which sector you like the most?
Thank you,
KT
Read Answer Asked by kaushikbhai on March 05, 2020
Q: Hello Peter,
Convention says do nothing in a sharp downturn, although this has the potential to be more like 2008, deep recession included.
What would you say if i were to sell some or all of AFN, MX,FLIR, BAC, GH (US),GIL,TD,CCL and SIS? And buy COST, MSFT, AMZN(GOOGL), DSG(add) and NVDA(orQCOM).? The thesis being, that these would do better from where they are now, over the next 2 quarters. Or just sit tight.
Thanks for your advice.
Regards.
P.S. Which would you prefer- AMZN or GOOGL? NVDA or QCOM
Read Answer Asked by Rajiv on February 28, 2020
Q: I was wondering what US stocks will do well in the short term.
-Jay
Read Answer Asked by jay on February 20, 2020
Q: Hi guys, I own the following with the respective total portfolio weightings. My TFSA is all CDN and RRSP is a mix of USD/CDN. When I rebalance, should I try and rebalance with respect to % of TFSA and % of RRSP or rebalance each holding as a percent of overall portfolio? If the latter, I would consolidate some of the holdings in my TFSA to bump up the individual weightings. Are there any obvious adjustments that I should make? I’m heavy on AAPL but have sold so much of it over the years I’m very tempted to let the remaining shares ride.
Please deduct as many credits as you see fit and many thanks for the excellent service you provide. The Q/A is invaluable as are the periodic market summaries. You’ve pulled me away from the panic button many, many times.
RESP:
VFV 1.30%
RRSP:
GOOG 4.78%
AYX 3.77%
AAPL 11.77%
BNS 5.26%
ENB 5.50%
GH 3.69%
XQQ 6.23%
JPM 4.80%
GUD 1.63%
NVDA 5.91%
DIS 3.25%
VXC 24.23%
TFSA:
ATD.B 1.96%
CAE 1.30%
WEED 0.48%
CSU 2.73%
GSY 1.94%
GC 1.59%
KXS 1.42%
LSPD 1.80%
MX 0.67%
PHO 1.14%
SHOP 2.69%
Read Answer Asked by Mark on February 19, 2020