Investment Q&A

Q: SaaS and Software Companies at Risk

The software sector has taken it on the chin in the last few weeks based on the "AI will eat software" theme.

In my opinion, you buy software companies that own things AI cannot generate or scrape.

Therefore, the survivor software companies should have two broad “moats” in the new AI age:

1. Data that is unique and private. If an AI can't get the data elsewhere, the value of this data increases.

2. Regulation. Hospitals won't switch to a chatbot that isn't FDA-approved. Same for governments.

Therefore, I wondering which companies will likely face challenges while others will thrive in this new world. I offered a few below, but please feel free to jump in or revise:

Thrive - For example: CSU, TRI, CRWD, PLTR, SNPS/CDNS, SHOP (not sure) etc.

Challenged - For example: CRM, Adobe, SAP, SNOW, NOW (not sure), etc.

Thanks 5i and Cheers.

PK

Q: Looking to possibly add RDDT or DUOL as a contrarian tech idea

Which looks more oversold and higher chance of reversal, Any other good ideas along the same theme?

Q: With all of the fear around software being made obsolete due to AI, are there any particular businesses that you might see as being inappropriately oversold in this mass sell-off? I’m specifically wondering about TOST, as it seems that because it is so integrated into restaurant ecosystems, this would be hard to replace with AI… any thoughts on this? Many thanks.

Q: Hello team,

What do you think of CRM these days? It continues to fall most likely due to the AI fears?

Given their decent quarterly report in December, strong balance sheet, 2026 margin expansion and further adoption of Agentforce, insider buying activity (recently David Kirk $500k and Mason Morfit $25 million through his firm), CRM’s accelerated program to retire shares ($3.8 billion spent in the 3Q), and increased target prices from $340.00 (Goldman Sachs) to $430 (Citizens JMP), would you buy or hold?

Would you be concerned about competition from likes of Adobe (Firefly/GenStudio), Microsoft (Copilot) and Service Now (AI Agents)? Or are these products rather complimentary? What is CRM’s moat and how strong is it against encroachment by other giants?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

(I asked this question twice already in the first few days of January and then yesterday, but I didn’t get any reply. Perhaps the 3rd time is the charm. No worries though! I suspect it was my computer. I just wanted to wish everyone at 5i, the greatest investment advising team, the best for 2026 again!)

Q: Happy New Year to the entire 5i community.

It is time to make my 2026 TFSA contribution. My TFSA is a high conviction portfolio focused on a few US securities with a risk profile somewhere in between that of the 5i Growth and Balanced portfolios. Currently, I hold AAPL, ADBE, CRM, GOOG, NVDA, QCOM, and TOL in this account. Which should I add to? I am very overweight NVDA and slightly overweight in GOOG.

If you think initiating a new position would be preferable (US securities only, and not MSFT, LLY, IBM, or MDT since I own these in another account), please let me know. No consideration to sector or market cap necessary as I am diversified in my other accounts.

If you believe any of my current holdings 'do not need to be owned', please let me know as well.

There are several questions here, please deduct as many credits as deemed appropriate for a complete response to each one.

Thank you as always.

Q: I'm looking to start experimenting in 2026 with selling covered calls and cash secured puts (using a smaller % of my overall portfolio). Does 5i have any favourite tickers for this type of activity?

Thanks!

Q: Hello 5i,

We have listed a few Ugly Ducklings of the year below. Please rank the following stocks for purchase today with a longer-term view on growth.

CRM, MRVL, TRI, CSU, LMN, CROX, UNH, HD, GSY, FOUR, AVAV

Thank you for your sage advice.

D&J

Q: Hello 5i - please take the number of credits you need. I began investing last year and have the following portfolio/down rounded up: GOOG: 6%, BN 7%, CSU 4%, DOL 4%, ENB 7%, HXS 9.5%, IFC 5.5%, META 4%, SHOP 7%, WSP 5%, AXON 4%, BRKB 6.5%, ISRG 6.5%, NVDA 2.5%, CRM 2%, AEM 1.2%, BAM 6%, H 1%, LMN 2%, AMZN 5%. I have about 40% cash to add in. Can you please advise of the following: 1. any key stocks you would recommend I add? Please prioritize with 1 being highest recommendation and 5 being lowest recommendation. 2. Any stocks you would recommend I sell? I am interested in a 5 year view. Thank you so much!

Q: What would be your US stocks for tax loss selling?
Thank you so much. Lorraine

Q: CRM has a new 52 week low in the last few days. In your opinion why has it not been involved with the growth the market has seen this calendar year. CRM is a double for me, but why has it not been loved this year.
Thanks
Matthew

Q: I’ve sold PRL and GSY for tax loss reasons with a plan to rebuy after 30 days. I’m down roughly 30% on both TRI and CRM. Any catalysts you can see in the next 30 days?

Q: What are 5 names in Canada and in the US that look interesting with tax loss selling this year?

Q: The above stocks make up 80.4% of my holdings. Goog and BN @7% each. The next 5 @ 4% each and the rest at or close to 3% each. For a 10 year horizon, with risk/reward in mind, where would you invest if you had 10% of the portfolio in dry powder- new cash. Any you would sell? Note, I have been trimming CLS, VRT and NBIS to control AI exposure.

Thanks again for all the insights - love the service you provide.

Q: What are your thoughts on how overvalued AI stocks are and what factors we should be concerned about that could cause the bubble to burst?

What are some good ideas for relatively safe stocks and etfs to hedge against a AI and tech weighted portfolio?

Q: Hi I currently hold these US companies. Can you please suggest your top 10 US companies that would compliment these the best for a long term hold? In order ideally. A growth rating 1-10 (10 being the best) and a risk rating 1-10(10 being the riskiest)

Thanks so much

Q: Hi, similar question for both of these stocks. I have a smaller position in both, I'm under about 20% and losing patience with both of them, although on paper they seem to be doing well! What might your views be on selling them at a loss and putting them into something with more growth, like NBIS (or do you have other suggestions if I were to reinvest)? I'm a non-resident, so cannot use the losses for tax purposes. Thank you.

Q: Folks...great service....can you suggest 3-4 beaten down Canadian and US stocks that you think are great opportunities for rebounds in the next 6 months?
Thank you.

Q: I think the CRM and NOW will benefit from AI agents.

However these stocks are not performing well lately.

I am currently 10% down on both. Is it a good time to start DCA into them?

Q: Hi 5i Team - First a general question on the topic of AI. Is agentic AI the sequel to generative AI and from an investment point of view are companies that are developing or involved with agentic AI ones we should be looking at now. Specifically is UiPath one to invest in along this theme and do you have any suggestions for other ones that may be equal to or better than UiPath. Thanks.

Q: BN is sitting at 7.5%, AXON - BKNG are 5% and the rest are 3% positions totaling approx. 83% of my stock assets. I have some 1-2% positions in my cash account (GSY, ATZ, PRL, CLBT, HPS.a, BNS,SU, TMDX, TVK and CNQ. I'm heavy tech, financials and industrials going into H2 2025. Would you add to, remove or change anything is this was your account (assuming you're 52 and plan to retire in 8 years). Not looking for a person allocation but rather if it was you, what might you be looking to adjust, if anything. Note I have no utilities currently. Thanks and have a great weekend.