Investment Q&A

Q: Back in July 2020, I purchased ABBV, in a non-registered account, to get exposure to the healthcare sector and to continue to diversify my portfolio outside Canada. Since that time, I am down 16% on ABBV. Knowing 5i recommends ABBV, would you suggest I purchase more ABBV (average down)? Perhaps it would make more sense to sell it, take the tax loss, and purchase another healthcare company based outside of Canada. If your recommendation is to sell, what other healthcare sector companies would you suggest?

Q: Hi! I would like to build a portfolio of 20 stocks that include both Canadian and US holdings that contain a mix of growth and defensive names with a stronger weighting to growth(say 70%/30% growth to safety). What names would yo allocate to create the portfolio. Thanks very much.

Q: Thank you for the update last night. I was not surprised to see the removal of GC due to the COVID shutdowns. I am curious to know what the discuss was surrounding GUD and CAE before providing that update. Are these potentially on the chopping block as well or just require more patience. If you were to consider swapping GUD and CAE for something else what might you recommend in Canada and the US right now (asking about US as portfolio analytics suggests I need more US exposure)?

Thanks as always for the fantastic work you all do!

Q: Hey guys,

My health care and industrial sectors are on the low side (under 10%), please provide the top 3 plays (Canadian or American) in each sector. These picks would be going into a "balance" type portfolio.
Thanks
Jim

Q: I would like to have a little fun with this question. Imagine a boxing match between Canadian companies and American companies...each round is represented by a sector so lets say it is a fight gone bad and there are extra rounds covering 11 sectors. Please pick a favourite Canadian Contender and a strong American contender for each round and who wins the round. Example Round 10 Technology Red corner Constellation Software vs Blue corner Microsoft. Won by Microsoft or Constellation Software. The rules...If you wish to give reasons why the round went one way or another, it's your choice. A good clean fight use the criteria of your investment strategies. The point...I am curious if the Canadian Companies stack up and in what areas I should be looking at South of the border. Thank you

Q: Hi 5iTeam,

Please comment on ABBV's pull back since reaching ytd high in July. Would now be a good time to average down?
Cheers,

Q: You mentioned a month back that you like Abbv better then Gild.
Why is gild in your partners interest portfolio and not Abbv.
I am thinking of buying Abbv,or do you think there are better options?...like guardian health?
Thankfully

Q: Could you recommend five US in five Canadian stocks to buy on the dip. Thanks

Q: Hi 5i
Do you think the pharma/biotechs sector has risen on (assuming) hopes of vaccine success only for most within the sectors to deflate again when a decisive outcome has played out (does this seem a simplistic view)?
I guess I'm trying to gauge risk factors within these sectors at this time.
Thanks
Mike

Q: Just curious. Looking forward, would you see any reason not to include these two health care companies in my portfolio? Are there other health care companies that you would prefer?

Q: This question is about diversification and percentage of stocks vs ETFs. In my overall portfolio (combined tfsa, rrsp, and non-registered), I have roughly 37% VFV/ZSP, and the rest fairly equally weighted across ENB, KXS, SHOP, VGH, AQN, BEP.UN/C, BIP.UN/C, BNS, CPX, GDI, NVDA, RY, TEAM, VGG, TRP, BAM.A. I'm in my mid 30s and have a long time frame, but would prefer to position for short term performance as much as possible. So, with some cash to allocate, can you please recommend a couple US and CAN stocks to add to this mix (or recommend just adding to what I hold)? Also, given your recent market update on covid vs sector performance, what would you do with the VFV/ZSP allocation? I am open to moving that allocation to stocks instead of an ETF, and am wondering if I should take that path, and how best to position there given the big tech names/top holdings in the ETFs, vs some holdings across sectors that are currently down. Thanks!

Q: Hello 5i,

Of ABBV, SGEN, AMGN, BMY which are considered under-valued?
Please rank the above for a 5+ year investment?
Thank you

Cheers,
Debbie and Jerry

Q: ABBV is being subpoena by congress about drug pricing and not cooperating as asked.
Down 4% this morning.Is this going to be a damper on the stock for a while? Thinking about selling when i am still even on stock.
tnx u..........

Q: I have a very overweight position in Bam.a .I would like to diversity into other Canadian or US names as I think think near term for Brookfield will be at least challenged given their real estate exposure and the sentiment around that.What are a few of my the highest conviction US names you would favour?

Q: Hi Folks, my question is on GILD. I purchased this back in June - I am down about 15% as of today. What has happened to this stock to justify this decrease ALSO would you still recommend holding on to GILD or is it time to sell ? Greatly appreciate your comments.
Thanks

Q: Good morning
We currently own the above US stocks and would like to add 1 or 2 more.
What would you suggest to add to the above list
Thks
Marse

Q: I want to build a stock portfolio of US Tech/Healthcare Stocks today with 20 Stocks for the next 10 years with growth being the main driver preferably with low debt, what companies would you recommend. Thanks for your useful advice.

Q: I have no medical training nor have I worked in the field of medical research.
I do, however, have some knowledge of that area and have followed advances for several decades.
What thoroughly stunned me was the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 in the field of genetic engineering as well as our current ability to design molecules for use as therapeutics.
I have no doubt as to the success that will come in these areas. What stopped me from investing in them was the fact that so many people were working in these fields that choosing the wrong company seemed very possible. For example, who wants to buy the 3rd best cure for a disease threatening one of their own family. The many possible cures and therapies being investigated for Covid are examples of this.
It's rather like living in the early 20th century and becoming convinced that automobiles and airplanes might have a bright future, then going out and buying stock in Packard, Studebaker, Nash, Rambler, Hudson, etc. The list of failures goes on and on.
I finally bit on ABBV and CRISP just as we descended into Covid hell but not at the bottom. I chose ABBV for their expertise in therapeutics and CRSP for gene editing.
Fortunately I'm not asking you to comment on the technologies involved but rather on your impression of the abilities of both companies to manage their businesses. What are their cash reserves like? What's their current burn rate? When might they be next raising capital; that sort of thing.

In my earlier days I bought several positions in some truly impressive inventions. One actually resulted in several world records. Unfortunately they could neither manufacture nor sell the product. In fact some companies couldn't sell life preservers to a drowning man. The end is obvious. They went bankrupt.

Finally, you don't seem to include CRSP in your top picks in this area. I'm curious why. Don't like it, too many others to choose from or its European base?

Q: Good morning team,

In a bit of a portfolio cleanup in my TFSA yesterday I sold some laggards and reduced my Shopify shares to bring it more in line with my targeted weighting. After completing Norbert's Gambit, I will be deploying the funds to buy US stocks. Please share your 2 or 3 favourite growth stocks for 5+ year hold in each of the following categories: Health Care, Communication Services, and other non-Tech (if you have more compelling options than those listed in Health and Comm Service).

Thanks in advance,
Rory

Q: Could you recommend a stock and an ETF in the healthcare system? Thank- you.