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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: 50-yr old investing for retirement. Have historically been a dividend fiend but open to juicing the growth side a bit more as a result of the excellent advice I can now obtain from 5i. Considering adding to either my consumer defensive/staples allocation or increasing international exposure (the latter via an ETF). Hoping you might help me deploy a half position in an RSP and jump in one direction from a corner of the fence (and understanding you can't personalize such advice) - considering initiating a position in NWC (CA), PBH (CA), or WMT (US) or adding to an existing position in ZWE (European covered call ETF). My current geographical exposure is 34% US; 33% CA; and 32% International (XEF, ZDI and ZWE). My total covered call ETF exposure is around 8% of my equity portion and geographically diversified. Other suggestions for staples and international ETFs will be appreciated. Thanks for the great service!
Read Answer Asked by Mark on January 12, 2021
Q: Hello Folks:
You people have provided such great service to we investors, however I am increasingly frustrated attempting to search questions for a particular company. Each thread leads to another and another and and another and so on, with none paying attention to the company requested. As a result, the only way to check a particular company is to submit a question regarding each company which provides you more work and prevents clients from examining your answers to other's questions. This now convoluted system used to be so useful. There must be a better way than having these companies jumbled together providing no real answers.
My question is your view of Home Depot, Walmart and Costco as long term holds.
Thank You once again for your great service!
brian
Read Answer Asked by Brian on January 07, 2021
Q: Can you please rate these companies according to growth opportunities and another rating for risk? Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Sandy on December 15, 2020
Q: Have $12,000.00 to invest, current BMO Inv Line allocation is as follows:
Communication 8%
Cons Disc 21%
Cons Staples 13%
Energy 6%
Financials 32%
Health Care 11%
Info Tech 1%
Companies held AW, RBC, SLF, SBUX, WMT, BCE, PFZ,SIS, BB, ENB, TNY, HEXO,VTR,ParkLawn

Would appreciate your thoughts on how I could deploy the cash.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on November 30, 2020
Q: Hello Folks:
As the Covid situation has hastened the move to online shopping, some brick and mortar stores are going to have a much brighter future than others. Businesses such as Walmart and Best Buy appear to be having more success than others. I would appreciate your suggestions on choosing companies which have the brightest future integrating these two systems.
Thank you again for your great service!
brian
Read Answer Asked by Brian on November 19, 2020
Q: Hi, based on the companies that you cover and also US if possible, which companies are likely to have a stable and steady growth in the next 5 - 10 years ? I mean, I would like to invest in companies that are fairly valued today and that can grow steadily in the next years, not extreme high growth companies. I aim companies that will give me a CAGR > 10% but with a medium risk.
Read Answer Asked by Clayton on October 27, 2020
Q: What 3 Cdn and 3 US equities would you currently select (without regard to sector) as your best picks for an investor seeking both a) the six "safest" equities over the next 12 months as in lowest downside risk in your opinion, and b) the six most likely to provide at least a 5% total return over that period? Tough one but perhaps very helpful for part of an overall portfolio - Ken
Read Answer Asked by Ken on October 19, 2020
Q: Hello Folks:
What is your opinion of these companies:
Caterpillar, cummins, cosco, walmart
I currently own caterpillar, cummins and cosco. Cummins and cosco have turned out very well. while caterpillar has struggled. Do you think industrials have much upside?
I am interested in what consumer staple businesses or others you may recommend such as cosco, walmart, touche card etc. to see us through these strange times.
Thank you very much
brian
Read Answer Asked by Brian on October 07, 2020
Q: Hi there 5I. I am looking at adding Cons cyclical/discretionary to my taxable portfolio and currently hold PLC(1.2%); WMT(3.1%) and PBH(2.1%). I am weighing the option of doubling down on WMT, or add CVS and/or BIG. Is there a preference in your professional opinion and/or are there considerations that I should consider for the upcoming holiday(thanksgiving, amazon prime days, xmas) seasons to the new year

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Peter on October 02, 2020
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
Read Answer Asked by Jeremy on October 01, 2020
Q: What do you think about competition Roku will face from Amazon in particular given especially Amazon's new firestick reveal today? I've done well in Roku (thanks to 5i) and would like to hold it but am worried about the company getting it's lunch eaten by Amazon. I'm interested in hearing your views on this point - the competition from Amazon. Thank you,

Jason
Read Answer Asked by Jason on September 25, 2020
Q: Please, your views on rth-q. VanEck Vectors Retail ETF ? What would you rather buy now in consumer cyclicals ?

Gratefully,

Jacques IDS
Read Answer Asked by Jacques on September 08, 2020
Q: If one anticipates a significant pick up in inflation due to all the extra costs related to Covid-19, what are the sectors likely to benefit? Could you give 3-4 suggestions for Can and US companies which would be expected to do well in that scenario? Thank you for your great insights?
Read Answer Asked by jacques on August 31, 2020
Q: Hi !
In the US consumer staples sector, which stocks do you see as strong potential growth ? And, any views on Casella Waste (cwst-q), Nu Skin Enterprise (nus-n) and National Grocer (ngvc-n) ?
Please deduct credits as you see fit.
Gratefully,
Jacques IDS
Read Answer Asked by Jacques on August 06, 2020
Q: Shopify got an immediate boost from the announcement of its partnership with Walmart. It sounds like the two are vying to compete with Amazon, selling third party goods on the Walmart website. I had been thinking that the best way to play this for a more conservative investor would be to buy Walmart's more reasonable valuation. Interestingly, the deal did little or nothing for Walmart's stock. Is the deal insignificant from Walmart's perspective?
Read Answer Asked by Ken on June 19, 2020