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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: This is not a question, but a comment. Many years ago I read "One Up on Wall Street" by Peter Lynch. My main takeaway was to look around me. As a shopper I hate Loblaws since there are always bare shelves and they seldom have what I want. If there is a special, they are sold out within hours on the first day. This has gone on for many years. In contrast, Metro always has what I want and sometimes more. Therefore I own Metro and have done well by it.
Read Answer Asked by Rita on November 23, 2020
Q: Hi Team,
For some years it seems 5i has preferred Loblaw over Metro. I believe this has to do with L being bigger (by about 50%) and more diversified with its Shoppers and financial services operations and Optimum loyalty program vs. MRU with only the Jean Coutu operation and no financial services. MRU is more concentrated geographically (~70% in Quebec).
Debt levels are lower for MRU than L.
Yet for almost any timeframe one selects, MRU has outperformed L on a total return basis.
I'm sure I'm missing something here but why the preference for L and is that still the case?
Thank you, Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on November 23, 2020
Q: Hello Folks:
I owned Costco for a number of years, however moved into Loblaw as Costco has become so expensive. Costco continues moving higher while Loblaw remains stagnant. Is it unreasonable to switch back to Costco, or are there better options?
Thank you for your good service!
brian
Read Answer Asked by Brian on November 19, 2020
Q: Good day,
I have built my daughter's RRSP with your wise direction. She is up 15 to 25% on BAM;EMA;FTS;L;OTEX;RY; BEP and RBF 1030.(My choice) Wonderful. Thank you. We are down in descending order on ENB;CSH;BCE and MFC.

Overweight in Utilities and Financials but okay with that.

Would you add to the latter group? Add any new ones.

Looking forward to Peter on BBN Tuesday.

Long term 25 years+. Many thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Paul on November 16, 2020
Q: Hi team,
For one looking to beef up the consumer defensive sector of it portfolio with strong growth stocks, both Us and Cdians, what would be your best choices at the present time ? I am looking at ATD.B, PBH, NUS, HELE, PG, GIS, DG, HD, BIG, SAM, KR, etc...and just cannot make up my mind. Help, please !

Gratefully,
Jacques IDS
Read Answer Asked by Jacques on October 29, 2020
Q: For long term hold and to choose only one, which one of the following would you pick and why:

. Metro
. Loblaws or George Weston

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Steve on October 22, 2020
Q: Thank you for your great advise. I currently have a good positive portfolio thanks in large part to your suggestions. I need to increase my consumer defensive by about 1.5%. I currently own the above companies at different weights. ATD 3.5% PBH and L at 2% and DOL at 1%. Where would you add or would you suggest another company. Please rank in terms of preference.

Thanks, Yves
Read Answer Asked by Yves on October 19, 2020
Q: Hello 5i, thanks for all your wisdom!
my question for you: could you please recommend your top 1 or 2 picks/favourites in the following sectors. Can be either US or Cdn.
consumer discretionary
supermarket/grocery
health care
big cap tech
Many thanks
Read Answer Asked by ralph on October 13, 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: Would like your opinion on which one of these 3stocks you prefer for a long term hold.
Do you feel the current price is reasonable for a long term hold.
Thanks Gord
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on October 06, 2020
Q: Hi,
I would like to start a new position in L and CSB and increase my existing position to CCL. Defensive portion of my portfolio, long term hold. Would you endorse? Also, can you please comment on L current valuation. Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Pierre on September 03, 2020
Q: Inflation expectations - which sectors are expected to do well as inflation picks up? Please name your top picks in those sectors.
Thanks for all your advice.
Read Answer Asked by sam on August 11, 2020
Q: Hi Peter, Ryan, and Team,
I know you continue to like Loblaws, which we own. We also own Metro, which has a much better one-year chart. Is there a compelling reason to continue to hold L? Why is it such a laggard? It appears to me that the Shoppers Drug Mart acquisition didn't really yield the results that one may have expected. Am I wrong about this? Your insight is invaluable.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on July 27, 2020
Q: Can you please compare the current valuations of these stocks with their historical/average valuations? Can you also comment on whether there appears to be any parallel to their behaviour now as compared to during the last financial crisis, and if so, what happened to their share values after things returned to “normal” then? My concern about investing in the consumer staple space now is that they might suffer from a rotation out when the outlook for other sectors eventually start to improve. Do you share that concern to any degree?
Read Answer Asked by Stephen R. on July 20, 2020
Q: Hi Peter, Ryan, and Team,

Today (rightly or wrongly), I used the large uptick in the share price of CAE to sell my position that's held in my TFSA. (I sold with a gain of 4%, not counting the previous dividends.) I feel that the "airline" sector will still be under pressure after the present euphoria settles down, but who knows?

Having said that, please suggest two or three stocks or ETFs from each of the following sectors that could be considered somewhat defensive as well as being suitable for a TFSA. Portfolio Analytics indicates that I'm underweight in:
Basic Materials
Communication Services
Consumer Defensive
Energy
Financial Services
Healthcare
Industrials

Please deduct as many credits as you deem necessary. Thanks for the continuing superb service especially during this unusual time.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on June 11, 2020
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