Investment Q&A

Q: I am down 26% on MG in a non-registered account. I understand the geo-political reasons behind the slide, but am tempted to take a tax loss and replace MG with FTS. Would you recommend this...or suggest I hold the course with MG? Thank you.

Q: What are your five favourite dividend stocks with growth possibilities at the moment? Please include one in the utility sector (perhaps a renewable). Thank you as always, Pete in Calgary.

Q: I hold 13% of my non-registered account in energy and utilities, spread across the following stocks, with a focus on long-term income.

Would you suggest any consolidations or removal of any of these positions?

AQN, 9.70% of total, 3% gain
CU, 4.78% of total, 3% gain
ENB, 21.43% of total, 31% gain
EPD, 7.50% of total, 2% gain
FTS, 8.14% of total, 1% gain
KMI, 7.54% of total, 6% gain
PXT, 7.19% of total, 15% gain
SPB, 8.48% of total, 3% loss
TPZ, 4.19% of total, 8% gain
TRP, 4.86% of total, 11% gain
WMB, 4.63% of total, 10% gain
ZWU, 11.55% of total, flat

Thanks as always for your excellent work! Aaron

Q: With intrest rate rising,perhaps faster in USthan Canada Which stocks will benefit and which has more risk but perhaps benefit.
Does Energy stocks still have room to grow?

Q: Hi,
I just saw a question on the percentage of renewable energy sources versus hydrocarbons for a number of companies, including BEPC, NPI, AQN and FTS. You said there was no material exposure to renewables for FTS. You may be right of course but what is the definition of renewables? Is it only wind and solar, or is hydro considered a form of renewable energy? If so, FTS has plenty of hydro power sources.
Thanks for clarification.

Q: Could you provide the % age of the bottom line for these co's that is generated by renewables vs hydrocarbons?
Also if possible could you provide their strategic focus - capital investment % on renewables vs hydrocarbons?

I may have the incorrect BAM listed and I may have missed a key player in this domain.

Thank you

Q: Hi 5i,
Was looking to add to my half position of FTS and came across this news.... heading.....

"Veritas Downgrades Fortis to Sell from Buy, Keeps CA$57.50 Price Target."

Can you provide any insight on why they would consider FTS a sell and would you agree?
Would you be comfortable adding at this price for 2-3 yr hold or would you wait for maybe better entry point?

thx
Jim

Q: This is a follow-up to our question from last week (see: https://www.5iresearch.ca/questions/140708).

Based on your response that nothing in the list gives you much cause for concern, we would understand this to imply none of the 30 stocks would be considered a "sell" today.

Please divide the 30 stocks into a pair of ranked (best to worst) lists, one of "buys" and the other of "holds". As well, for each of the "holds" indicate the principal rationale for caution.

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?