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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: RBC direct investing is offering a private placement at $76.15 while the last trade was at $78.24, does it make sense to place an expression of interest. Secondly what does the following mean. " Please be advised that if you participate in this new issue offering, RBC Direct Investing will receive a selling concession equal to C$1.43 per share"
If i expressed interest in owning 1000 shares would i actually get less? Please help me understand the math and logic behind this?
Read Answer Asked by Brian on June 04, 2018
Q: What are your thoughts on BNS at these prices and the negative sentiment around a few things (expense increase, acquisition today SP down 2.5% afterhours, and Russia)? I own the stock but have been looking closely at it lately and wondering if I should be sticking with it, buying more, or moving elsewhere. I feel the south american presence adds diversity but also risk. The market is clearly beating BNS up more than the other banks for a few reasons. Most concerning is when I look at the top 4 biggest banks in size (BNS being 3rd), BNS has performed the worst over 1yr, 2yr, and 5yr periods. Looking at that I'm not seeing the higher dividend being worth the lack of performance. What am I missing?
Read Answer Asked by Adam on June 01, 2018
Q: My question is about allocation of Canadian Banks in 5i Portfolios and what would be a reasonable weighting in a broad portfolio of 30-35 holdings which looks 80% like a Balanced with 20% Growth. BNS is the only Canadian Bank held in 5i Balanced Portfolio (4%) and Income Portfolio (6%). Historically, Canadian Banks have provided substantial returns through dividends and capital appreciation. But, I like 5i approach of finding companies with value/growth potential in small/mid cap universe and structuring portfolios. By association, my portfolio weight in Canadian Banks has grown to about 15%, CM,TD and RY, in order of 10.5%. 3% and 1.5%, respectively.
Would it make sense to reduce these holdings to align more along the line of 5i approach ?

Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by rajeev on May 28, 2018
Q: 11:10 AM 5/16/2018
I very much appreciated the geographic distribution of business exposure to different countries for BNS that you provided this morning to Ron.

It would be very helpful to me and likely to many other members if you could provide a similar geographic breakdown of activities for the other 5 Canadian banks. It would help us to calculate our exposure outside of Canada.

Thank you............. Paul K.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on May 16, 2018
Q: I have recently inherited a portfolio of stocks heavily weighted towards the Canadian banks (RY, BNS, TD, BMO, NA, CM). About 30% of the portfolio is made up of these six banks and I am uncomfortable with the lack of diversity and high correlation.

Which two or three banks do you feel are the least attractive and therefore the best sell candidates?
Read Answer Asked by Chris on May 03, 2018
Q: Hi 5i team,
From your 3 portfolios, which are the stocks that interlisted on US exchanges, and which stock pay their dividends in US$? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Willie on April 20, 2018
Q: Hi Group thanks for your advise on the following - Currently own 15% Canadian + US banks+ Pay Pal / Score . Have done well in the past 2 yrs however the profits are slowly but surely eroding (add the Canadian dollar recent strength and the us banks are getting hit pretty hard) My question is due to market + consumer spending+Real estate concerns should I sell off and lock in the profits or do you see another option Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Terence on April 20, 2018
Q: My weighting in the financial sector is 12% and I am wondering if it is time to increase it to 15%. I already own BNS,RY and SLF. I was wondering if ECN and FCR would be good choices to add to the mix or if you have any better suggestions.
Read Answer Asked by Terry on April 11, 2018
Q: I've decided to begin building an income portfolio and have chosen the companies listed above. (Mostly from your Income Portfolio). I am retired but my pension income covers my monthly expenses. I'm looking for companies that you believe are strong enough to maintain, and hopefully increase), dividends in the long run. I understand we are in a climate of interest rate increases and income stocks could suffer as a result so I'm wondering if I should wait to begin building this portfolio. My intention is to round out the portfolio by adding companies from your balanced portfolio. My questions are:
1. Can you suggest a strategy that you consider to be wiser as I begin to develop my new portfolio?
2. Do you consider the companies I have chosen to be the best choices for a new portfolio considering all current investment metrics? Could you suggest any I have missed?
Thank-you for your continued support.
Read Answer Asked by Les on April 10, 2018
Q: 11:56 AM 4/3/2018
I own RY, CM, BNS, and some TD, and they comprise nearly 20% of my income-oriented portfolio. It is often suggested that I should own shares in one or more insurance companies, but I think the big banks are already in the insurance business so I believe I am already am invested in the insurance sector.
Would you think I need to buy some SLF?
Could you please give me an estimate of what proportion is in insurance business in each of the big banks.
Thank you............. Paul K
Read Answer Asked by Paul on April 04, 2018
Q: In my TFSA currently have BCE, ENB, FTS, TRP, CNR, SLF, BNS and TD - Currently down about 5% in the portfolio. I'm looking to make a change to get some growth in lieu of dividends - what would you recommend keeping and buying.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by JOHN on April 03, 2018
Q: Added positions in SIS and SJ today on the dip. Any other really good buying opportunities off the list in the portfolio (dont need energy or financials) with the current volatility. SIS and SJ where on my add next list and hadn't really made a plane beyond those...
Read Answer Asked by Tom on April 02, 2018