Investment Q&A

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

Q: For a 40 year old, starting to save for retirement. Currently have in an RRSP these stocks: TOY, ATD.B SIS and TD. Now have room for two more holdings. Can you suggest 2 or 3 please?

Q: Hi, since the end of Sept. TD.PF.B price has risen by 5% & RY.PR.H by 7%. When purchased TD.PF.B interest rate was 3.8% & RY.PR.H was 3.9%. Their 5 year interest re-calculation date is 2019. During that same period ENB.PF.E price has risen by only 2.5%. At purchase ENB.PF.E interest rate was 4.4% & it’s 5 year interest re-calculation date is 2020. The present dividend yield of ENB.PF.E is 1% greater than the two bank preferred shares. My question is, do you have insight as to why the bank preferred shares have performed much better than the Enbridge preferred shares since the end of Sept. Thanks … Cal

Q: TD along with the financial sector has displayed an unusual upward trend since the first week of September. Now it, along with the entire sector, is rolling over. Do you know why?

Q: As a follow up question to that asked by Mary Ann about the ten "forever" stock ideas. You indicated a few names could be added to the list and I was interested if you could provide a few of the names you think could be added.

Q: In the financial sector, specifically banks, what dividend stocks do you prospect to have higher growth rates in the long run. Narrow down on a few stable growth stocks in the sector.
Thank You!

Q: Please provide your opinion on TD bank with reference to buying it on the TSX or NYSE. Since I have both a US and Canadian denominated accounts the buy can be made in either account. Is there any advantage to buying in one versus the other? Is the US listing subject to influences relative to all US banks, which currently are seen in a positive perspective with respect to the US Fed intending to raise interest rates? Although the rates are expected to rise in Canada as well, it does not seem to be as important a factor as compared to the US. At current exchange rates there is a difference in the relative value per share as well as a difference in the proximity to the 52 week high. Is there an explanation for this situation and is it significant to making in buy in US or Canada?

Q: First off I am 30yrs old slightly more growth investor and plan on holding for long term. I have a 25 CND stock portfolio of approx. 300k and Pension of 100k split between a Global Fund and CND Fund. In reviewing my personal portfolio I feel my financial exposure maybe needs some work (17% Weighting). I have a full position in GSY, TD,SLF and a half position in CXI. My question is because TD and SLF are probably already represented in my pension fund and they don't really fit the style of my portfolio would you look at switching them out? If so what suggestions would you have that would compliment GSY and CXI. Thanks

Q: 12:32 PM 9/11/2017
Hello 5i
Thank you for your answer to my question this morning about selecting companies with the highest probability of reliable long term income and dividend growth.

Just to follow up, if I am reading between the lines correctly I infer you would clearly choose banks if we didn't already own some. But since we do your suggestion is to buy CSH.UN and NWC.

I am fine with your suggestion but did you make it basically just to provide "diversification" at the cost of buying much much smaller and possibly less stable companies or would it be just as safe to simply overweight on Canadian banks.

Do you really think CSH.UN and NWC are as "safe" as RY and TD? After all if banks go down, so goes everything else. Just how "dangerous" is it to have a 20+% position in the big 5 banks?

Thank you............. Paul K

Q: 9:57 AM 9/10/2017
Hello Peter :
My wife and I are in our 70's and require additional steady dividend income to complement our pensions and bond income. We wish to choose companies that we never need to consider selling and that have reliable dividend growth and little chance of dividend cuts.
We have a 4.5% cash position we want to invest.
We need to decide between two options:
1. Invest the whole 4.5% in RY or TD, [we already own 10% split between BNS and CM], or
2. Add to 2 or more of these existing positions : CSH.UN [3.2%], SIA [3.9%], NWC [2.2%], CSW.A [3.1%], RPI.UN [1.0%], or invest part in new positions in one or more of ET, ZCL, ABT, or ADN.
What choice or choices would you advise us to make for the highest probability of reliable long term income and dividend growth?
Thank you............. Paul K

Q: Hi Peter, Would you advise on to buying more of BNS/TD ( recent strength) or pick up BMO instead to take advantage of its price as it lagged recently ( Yield @4%). I am more inclined towards BMO as they perform similarly over the longer term. Please advise.
Thanks.

Q: Greetings 5i,

I currently hold positions (slightly more than a half position each) in both TD and BNS (TD for their American exposure and BNS for their international exposure). In your opinion, is it necessary to own two Canadian banks? Do they complement each other well, or is there too much redundancy? If the latter, would you recommend one over the other?

I have a long term horizon (I am 35), am fairly conservative, and prefer long-term holds. In the Canadian financial sector, I also hold SLF and BAM.A.

Thank you.

Q: Hi 5i
I'm contemplating creating a Norberts Gambitt using TD in my TFSA and having my broker(TD) transfer it over to the US side of my TFSA. I'm hoping to make a bit off our higher dollar as the US dollar creeps back higher (as time goes by)? ...And that TD will do a bit better as well and then sell my US TD to buy another US holding (not sure which at this time). So the question is "Is this a good idea at this time?"

Thanks for holding my hand

Q: Good morning,

Would this pull back be a good time to pick away at Canadian banks particularly TD and BNS.

Thanks Carl