Investment Q&A

Q: About 1 year ago we created an equal-weighted 'balanced' portfolio of 30 Canadian companies in a non-registered account. Most were chosen from companies either covered by a 5i research report or included in a 5i model portfolio. The remainder were chosen, based on the 5i Q&A section, from what appear to be 5i sector favourites. All purchases are made with the intent to be long-term holds (10+ years). As well, we intend to increase our investments over the next 2-3 years, and then adjust over time as needed. Currently the amount invested represents ~40% of the eventual total.

Although a goal is to keep the portfolio roughly equal weighted, of the 30 companies, the following 14 were acquired in 3 purchases (full position) and currently have weights in the 2.31% (SHOP) to 5.00% (ATA) range for an average of 3.71%: CSU, MG, GSY, WSP, LNF, ATD, ATA, SLF, BAM.A, BIPC, FTS, DOO, SHOP and TFII. The remainder were acquired in 2 purchases (2/3 position) and currently have weights in the 1.98% (BEPC) to 3.17% (TCN) range for an average of 2.56%. So, overall, the weightings currently range from ~2% to ~5%.

Over the next 6 months we will invest another ~25% of the eventual total. As we make additional purchases, we need to strike a balance between keeping the weights roughly equal while taking advantage of market opportunities. Please provide some broad guidance/wisdom.

Of the 30 companies in the portfolio, which 10 would you have the highest conviction in today? Please rank them.

Are there any of the 30 that you might consider as candidates to be replaced because there are better options, and if so, what replacements would you suggest and why (disregard tax considerations)?

What additional 3 Canadian companies might you consider adding to the portfolio and why?

As always, thanks for the great service!

Q: Hello 5i team,
Need to build equity portion of a portfolio for a recently retired almost senior citizen.
Very conservative, sleep at night stocks. Not needed for at least 5-10 years.

Need about 10 for RRSP and 4-5 for TFSA.

Do you agree with above stocks or would you pick others?
No oil stocks and no significantly cyclical stocks.
Don't need to be dividend payers but looking for total return of 5-8% or more per year on average.
Can you provide about 12 choices including above suggestions if you agree for RRSP and 4-5 for TFSA.

Take as many credits as needed.
Thank you so much for this great service.

Q: For context, this is a locked in RSP which will likely turn into a LIF and I am looking at this in terms of a dividend stream. Cashed in some cnq and have cash to deploy.

Of those mentioned, for relative safety of capital, good yield and yield appreciation, how would you rank these (cdn or us it does not matter). For eg, ABBV has an attractive yield but I am unsure of patents expiring etc. You thoughts.

Thank you

Q: Hi Peter, Ryan, and Team,

Portfolio Analytics indicated that we had too much Technology, and not enough Utilities. I recently sold XIT, and added more BEP.UN. In the Utilities sector, among our accounts, we own AQN, BEP.UN, and FTS. The Utility weightings are now AQN = 3.65%, BEP.UN = 2.86%, and FTS = 1.49%.

In 5i's answers to questions, I notice that you generally rate BEP.UN higher than AQN.

Recently, John Heinzl wrote in his "Yield Hog" column that he bought more AQN, and gave some good reasons for doing so. I'm now wondering if I did the right thing in adding more BEP.UN, and am asking for some "reassurance".

Finally, I note that PA still shows that we could add more Utilities. I would be doing this in a non-registered account, and am wondering what to add. Please rank AQN, BEPC (better tax advantage than BEP.UN), FTS, and NPI (this would be a new holding).

Thanks in advance for your insight.

Q: what 5 Canadian utility stocks would you currently recommend and why? please rank them in order of highest to lowest recommendation.
thanks

Q: Why does AQN underperform to its peers this year? Because of renewable energy?
Thx.

Q: With proceeds from a recently matured GIC that paid 3% I am thinking about buying 5 Canadian dividend stocks with a current yield focus and that as a mini portfolio gives me the best chance to get my capital back in 5ish years. In effect creating my own market linked GIC that I get income from, not my bank for guaranteeing the capital on a specific day 5 years hence

Categories and top contenders in each to buy today are;

Bank - BNS
Lifeco - SLF
Utility - FTS
Telco - T
Pipeline - ENB

What do you think of the strategy? What would be your top choices today in each category?

Q: In my dividend portfolio, I have half positions in these stocks. Can you put them in order of which you would bring up to a full position first to last in light of their current value? Thanks!

Q: Hi, looking for a steady income with a little growth.
Which sector looks better to you in the next 4 years , with the expectation of rising interest rates and possibly a correction in the market that I would ride out. Anything else you would consider?
Thanks

Q: FTS is at all times highs while BEP is down 33% from the highs. Why the big discoonect?

Q: Hi Peter & 5i,
Wishing you and the staff a joyous holiday season!
Would you see any red flags in this portfolio for a conservative investor needing the dividends for cash flow. The portfolio would be 50% equities and 50% fixed income - 5 year laddered GIC's.
Here are the stocks and their proposed weightings:
Financial Royal Bank RY 5.7%
TD Bank TD 3.6%
Sun Life SLF 4.4%
Power Corp POW 4.0%
Utility Fortis FTS 5.7%
Brookfield Renewable BEPC 4.2%
Algonquin Power AQN 2.2%
Comm TELUS T 4.7%
Bell BCE 4.1%
Cons Staple Costco COST 4.3%
Loblaws L 4.0%
Cons Discr. Magna MG 3.8%
Restaurant Brands QSR 2.4%
Industrial CN Rail CNR 5.2%
Savaria SIS 3.6%
Energy Enbridge ENB 4.6%
Suncor SU 2.9%
Materials Nutrien NTR 4.3%
Real Estate BMO-Equal Weight ZRE 4.2%
Tech Thomson Reuters TRI 4.8%
Health Evolve Global Health LIFE 3.8%
ETF BMO-Low Volatility US ZLU 8.7%
iShares-US Equity-Hedge XSP 4.8%
Thanks so much for the fantastic service.

Q: It's curious that Fortis seems to be thriving in December despite the market being spooked about impending interest rate hikes. None of the other utilities seem to have benefited. To what do you attribute their upward momentum and would you buy a utility today given likely interest rate hikes?

Q: Hi Peter,

In this downtrend market could you please give your three best stocks to buy for 3 to 5 years hold in each sector in canada and US as well ?
Thank you for your best advise on this platform.

KT

Q: I'm replacing ZWU and ZWC since I would prefer to hold stocks at this point. What 5+ stocks would you recommend to replace ZWU and ZWC each. Thank you.

Q: Which one would you choose: fortis or capital power

Q: Thank you for your response to my last question. As a follow-up, do the four utilities stocks that I currently own (BEP, FTS, AQN, NPI) offer adequate diversification within the sector? Just wondering if I should add to these (in the best to worst ranking you provided) or is there another utilities name (Cdn nor US) that you would add to be better diversified and if there is, would you sell one of my current 4 utility stocks or just add the other name?
Your insight much appreciated,
Doris

Q: Hi, I am looking to add to my utilities and currently have partial positions in BEP, FTS, AQN and NPI, none of which have moved much of late. I am looking at adding FLNC as a partial position thinking that it may have more growth potential.
1) Can I get your opinion of FLNC for long-term hold/moderate risk tolerance?
2) Can you rank the 4 stocks currently owned from best to worst, again with a long-term time frame/moderate risk?
Thank you as always for your insight.
Doris

Q: Hi team,

I have the following partial positions (less than 2%) and am looking for guidance on which ones look like good adds. Please rank in order and also provide a target price.
AC, ABNB, ATZ, DOO, CSU, ENB, FTS, KXS, MED, PXT, PINS

Q: I am trying to steer my and my husband's TFSA's more toward growth. The stocks listed are some of the stocks in our TFSA's that I am considering swapping out in favour of growth-oriented stocks on my watchlist. Can I get your opinion? Do you think that any of the listed stocks have enough growth potential to belong in a growth-oriented TFSA?
Thank you, Doris

Q: I know you like all of the above. As you look through2022 (so 12-18 month horizon) how would you rank each of the 3 stocks on a scale of 1-10 - and what relevant significant opportunity/risks do each face.

Thanks,

Terry