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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: 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: 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: Of the top 6 Canadian Banks, can you rank their exposure to the US from the least to the most exposure?
Read Answer Asked by Dino on March 28, 2018
Q: hello 5i:
clarification please. "Chris" asked about the big 5 Canadian banks, but I only see 4 listed. Where does BMO fit in this mix?
thanks
Paul L
Read Answer Asked by Paul on March 19, 2018
Q: I need to unload one of the 5 big banks. How do you rate the 5 on a scale from best (keep) down to "worst" (sell)? Thanks for the continuing great service!
Read Answer Asked by Chris on March 19, 2018
Q: Hello: I currently own BMO, CM and BNS. I’m thinking of switching BMO for TD as BMO did not increase its dividend as TD did. Also I believe TD has more US exposure which should show better growth. Your opinion please.
Read Answer Asked by Valdis on March 05, 2018
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?
Read Answer Asked by Brian on February 09, 2018
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
Read Answer Asked by George on February 08, 2018
Q: I like CIBC because of it's personal mortgage exposure: higher mortgage amounts means more revenue for the bank, also rising rates, a healthy dividend, and great earnings reports. Now that it has more US exposure others seem to like more as well. It has had a good run since I bought at $104. Would now be good time to take these profits or do you see more upside for CIBC?
Read Answer Asked by John on January 09, 2018
Q: Hi 5i,for some reason I didn't get a reply for my yesterday's question. I would like your choice of the above, perhaps suggesting better ones. Can you explain why are they trading substantially below their book value. How will future interest rate increase effect their price. Can you suggest a web site for rate rest prefers. Many thank, J.A.P. Burlington
Read Answer Asked by Joseph on September 12, 2017
Q: Hello i5, Please help me to understand why cm.pr.p @$18.26,paying 4.26%div,redeemable @$25.00 with a floating rate feature trading at, in my view, a large discount price? or is it? Please explain how the actual floating is, in terms of %div on this preferred. Also would appreciate receiving a couple more alike rate reset ones at lower than redeem Price. How would the reset preferred be effected by the prime rate change. Many thanks J.A.P. Burlington
Read Answer Asked by Joseph on September 12, 2017