Investment Q&A

Q: Hi team,
I bought Verizon two years ago in expectation of a stable price and a good dividend. Two years later it is down 11% eating up the dividend and leaving me essentially where I started. Would it make sense to sell VZ and use the funds to buy IBM which has a similar dividend and perhaps some growth potential? I can also claim the tax loss on Verizon.

Q: Hi, as a retired couple looking for US div. Co.s for income and safety, please list from best to worst and those not to buy or your own preferred picks, thankyou

Q: Hello,
I am looking to purchase a stock for my RRIF. I would like to have something fairly safe.
With Amazon/Google being so expensive I would only be able to purchase a small number of shares but with Amazon having recently pulled back is now a good time to start a position? Where it is a RRIF would the dividend of IBM be a better choice or TOI for growth?
Thanks very much.

Q: Will Watson health separate from IBM? If it does separate what will be the impact on the IBM and Watson health stock?

Q: "Quantum computers would provide the computing power required to solve problems that are currently intractable for classical computers—at least in a timeframe that’s practical." Analytic Insights Magazine.
It lists top 10 quantum computing co in 2020 by alphabetical orders: Accenturre-ACN, Alibaba-BABA, AMZN, GOOG,, MSFT, INTC, IBM, BAIDU, AT&T, Atos Quantum. Your thought on 2021 on my preferences: IBM, GOOG and ACN

Q: Hello,
I have been reading about FaaS (function as a service) and from my readings it is predicted this will grow in the next 5-10 years. Which current companies would be ones to invest in now in hopes for growth in the future?

Q: Are there any companies i should look into that are in the machine learning and A.I. space. I believe there has been and will be great opurtunity here

Q: In a recent response to a portfolio question you said you couldn't comment on over 40 stocks in the portfolio but could comment on a few of them. Of IBM you said: "IBM we consider 'meh' and there are better ideas."

My question is this: Couldn't IBM have a place in a diversified RRIF portfolio from the perspective that it provides a reliable income stream to help meet mandatory minimum withdrawals? If you have to withdraw say a minimum of 4% a year, then IBM's 5% dividend certainly helps. If you still don't like IBM in this context, what else would you suggest for a 20 year hold?

Q: I have the following sector stocks and would like your expert opinion on which stocks I should keep, sell, buy more OR please suggest new stocks I should buy. Please take into account the survivability of the company if economy takes a 1-2 yrs to get back to "normal".
Financial - BNS,ECN,FSZ,MFC,TD,ZBK
Technology - FB,GOOG,IBM,KXS,LSPD,PHO,QTRH
Industrials - AFN,FDX,QST,RUS,SFL,SIS,STN
Energy - FRU,HWO,RDS.SU,VET
Materials - LIF,MX,NEXT,NTR,SJ,TECK,TV
Consumer Discretionary - BOS,BPF,CCL,CGX,DIS,GC,MG,NFI,PDYPY,TCL

Q: Hi, Could I please get your thoughts on this company? As a long term holder, do you think right now is a good time to start a position? Thank you!

Q: I hold IBM for many years but it doesn't perform well, would you like the idea to trim IBM and purchase CGI in the current market. Thank you for your service.

Q: Hello everyone at 5i! I presently hold IBM, and have done so for several years. Other than a decent dividend, it has not done much. I was wondering, should I continue to hold it, or swap it up for Microsoft or Apple, for a little more growth? From a value perspective, would now be a time to do so? And if so, what would you suggest? Cheers, Tamara

Q: Please comment on IBM's latest quarter and your thoughts on the company. I currently hold it and was thinking I should sell and by MSFT or NVDA or FB - your thoughts?
Thanks!!

Q: Good morning,
I am interested in blockchain.
Not, the currency, but the technology behind the concept.
Do you have ideas on small/mid cap companies that are involved in blockchain as a business model?
thanks
rick

Q: With the world feeling a little uneasy about a pending recession, I want to keep only holdings that will weather a downturn. I'm not trying to time the market, and want to hold stocks, that while they may dip, have good balance sheets, good management, and will likely see a recovery. Others I will sell and hold the cash. Above are my current holdings. Do you see any that may be susceptible to excessive weakness in a recession and would therefore meet my sell criterion? Thanks,
Kim

Q: We need to bump our US tech exposure and would like to know your opinion on IBM. We are also interested in Microsoft ( which you like) but the dividend payout on IBM looks more inviting. Thanks

Q: Greetings 5i,

Your thoughts/impression on the RedHat aquisition?

Cheers!

Q: I am a recent subscriber to your service, and I find it to be excellent. Thank you.

I am in the process of looking for a low risk US stock. Dividends are not necessary. I was considering IBM given its leadership in analytics. What is your view? Do you recommend other US stocks, with a 2-5 year time horizon?

Q: I have been a die-hard on IBM, holding through the long decline, thinking that the promised turn-around would come. Meanwhile other companies seem to have superseded them in cloud computing. I thought that I could not go too far wrong, since ibm had such a good dividend.. But, I have noticed that the dividend payout has become quite high (0.98) i think. And some have raised the question of the sustainability of the dividend. Especially since their buybacks seem to have occured when the stock price was high and not recently when low. I am thinking finally, because of this, of throwing in the towel on ibm and buy something like Nvidia in it's place. I was wondering whether you thought there was any hope for IBM and also your opinion on the sustainability of the dividend. Thanks as always for the exceptional service.

Q: I have a large gain on MSFT and am contemplating trimming holding and with proceeds, purchase IBM. Would you recommend doing this trade? If not, what would you do?