Investment Q&A

Q: I realize that BNS is in your portfolio but if you were going to buy shares in a Canadian bank would you still suggest BNS as the top choice. I tend to lean toward Royal or TD as perhaps better choices at this time but would appreciate your opinion and thoughts on how each of the banks is positioned for best growth and how you would rank the three banks for purchase now.

Q: Hello Peter, Ryan & Co.
The Canadian banks are core holdings in my portfolio, which I intend to hold for a very long time. I am a bit perplexed, however, at the recent selloff. I recognize that the current pullback/correction in the market is very broad, but it seems to have been triggered by a fear of rising interest rates - don't banks & insurance companies actually benefit from rising rates? The banks' shares seem to have fallen as much as the interest-sensitive stocks this week (like REITs & utilities), which makes no sense to me. Can you explain?

Q: Thinking of changing 4 Can. banks into 1 for tax loss but not missing the upside in the next 30 days. Which one would you pick, or just leave as is ?
Thanks

Q: If I buy TD Bank shares in the US (NYSE) and place them in the TD Waterhouse US account. Do I pay the .15% non-resident tax on dividends? Also, when I sell the shares are their currency exchanges between US and Canadian for Tax purposes?

Q: I am looking for a preferred that can be expected to hold its' value over time. I understand that it should be a decent credit rating, have a fixed reset rate and be non-convertible. Does this preferred meet that criteria, or could you recommend one ?

Thank you,

Tim

Q: I understand that due to the new US Tax bill, US banks as well as Cdn Banks with US operations such as TD will take a charge in the 1st quarter. Do you think these bank stocks will take a hit this quarter as a result of this charge and thus I should delay investing in TD and US banks.

Q: Andrew McCreath had a banker on his Friday show that made a good case for buy outs coming this year in US banking industry just not the very large banks. The large banks would not be allowed to merge/takeover more banks because of regulatory concerns.
Could you meanttion some of the stronger mid size US banks that would be good candidates for take over and their related dividend as he mentioned that big dividend increases are on the way.
Mike

Q: In financials I own about 2.5% of my overall portfolio in both TD and RY with about 1% in ECN (total of 6%). What would be your recommendation if adding more to the financial sector. Stay with Canadian banks (add to TD or RY or possibly BNS) or add something like SLF OR MFC? Any other suggestions?
Thanks.
Brian

Q: Hello 5i, Have you any information as to the financial problems at TD Waterhouse direct investing as I have sent emails with no response and tried to phone also with no answer after a long time on hold. There are financial errors in my accounts which is quite concerning. Thanks

Q: Hello 5i, I have nice gains on both of AAR.un and TD, is there a chance for a better offer for AAR.un ?
Would you sell TD and if I want switch to another bank, which one would you commend?
Many thanks, J.A. P. Burlington

Q: If Nafta gets ripped up, the auto industry in North America stands to be severely disrupted. In the short term I expect many will get hurt. I'm thinking I should be proactive and sell-off Magna now while it is still near its top. But what to replace it with? Does TB (Toronto Dominion BanK) stand to show a major growth spurt once its new AI acquisition is in place and providing heretofor unavilable information on its clients? I hope your 2018 is as good as 2017 was.
Elmer

Q: US banks have had quite a run lately because of tax cuts and regulatory changes coming, with TD's large US presence they haven't had the same increase. Any thoughts on if TD's stock price will benefit from these changes?

Q: I own TD shares and I'm also a customer. All the analysts and experts seem to love this bank, but based on the way they have treated me and their other customer issues I am starting to doubt this view. I think when your service is this bad - and yes dealing with any of the Big 5 banks is no picnic - its only a matter of time until it works its way to the bottom line. Thoughts?

Q: WE HOLD THE ABOVE STOCKS IN OUR CHILDS RESP AND HAVE A FEW THOUSAND TO ADD, WE WONDER SHOULD WE ADD TO ONE OF THE ABOVE OR ADD AN ADDITIONAL STOCK. SHE HOLDS ABOUT 10% OF EACH

Q: Hi There,

I hold TD in a couple accounts mostly because of it's US exposure. After today's slight miss, do you think it will be weak going forward? Would you suggest swapping it out for a different Canadian bank with better momentum. Ideas?

Q: Two questions: I’ve recently intiated a half position in GSY and hold full positions in TD and BNS. I’m wondering what your take is on the implications for these companies as the new rules for mortgages takes effect Jan 1. Would it be prudent to scale back my bank holdings somewhat and increase my position in alternative lenders? Would you recommend a full position in GSY at this point as some borrowers may have to make a move away from the big banks? I accept GSY is riskier and the government could impact the alternative lending space with regulations.
A second related question, Cannacord is forcasting an 8% decline in mortgage lending for 2018. Your take on the impact for TD and BNS please.

Q: I have the following stocks in an non-registered account with curent weightings between 2.5% and 3.5% : TD, WSP, CSU, TOY and PBH. I would like to deploy a 2% cash.
Which one of the following now would be best to add for a full position or would you suggest another company? I was also thinking of starting a new half-position with NFI...

Thank you,

Q: Hello 5i,
Love the new website. you must have put a lot of work into it. Thank you very much for your efforts.
I have been concerned about what is often called the 'housing bubble" in Canada. I am certainly no expert but house prices to rent, to income, per capita gdp and just the general high degree of debt in our country.

Knowing that I am not an expert in this area I don't want to bet too heavily on this fear. So, I think I have found a solution and thought i would run it by you for your commentary.
I don't have a lot of real estate other than my own home. So I am not worried about that, I am going to live here anyway. But, it seems like the Canadian banks would be hit if there was a big drop. I don't know if you know of other industries which would be affected?
Now, I have about ten percent in fixed income and I think all of that is in US funds in a rrif. I thought I might shave off some of the banks and buy my fixed income in Canadian funds. Then I would invest all of my US funds in stocks.

The big problems with this plan, as I see it, are capital gains and especially hold ing my fixed income outside a registered account ( because this is where my banks are, from which I would be raising the money). Of course at todays rates the taxes on the fixed income outside the sheltered accounts wouldn't amount to that much anyway. I know that you speacilise in straight forward questions on stocks but I notice that you sometimes venture further afield and reply to questions of strategy. So, i hope I qualify for this latitude. There may be a few questions in here so take off the points necessary
thanks

Q: Hi David,
I'm looking to add three positions to my business passive account -- i'm up 15% year to date.
I have equal weight in each stock and am looking to add more diversity. A combination of income and growth US or Canadian -- minimum $1 billion market cap.

What would you recommend here.
Thanks,
Raymond

Q: Lately, a few analysts at BNN have mentioned about canadian banks being overvalued. I own TD, NA, BNS with about 4% each on the portfolio. All in registered accounts and above purchase price. Would it make sense to sell all (or some) and wait in case they correct ?. If yes, what can they be replaced with ? Thanks