Investment Q&A

Q: Retired dividend-income investor. I am a little light in the Consumer sector. I already own PBH, NWC and PLC with "full" positions relative to their individual risk level, as well as consumer stocks held within various ETFs (ZLB, CDZ, ZWC). I save a full 5% position for blue-chip stocks, like RY, FTS, BCE.

I started looking into the above stocks (AW, CTC, LNF, MG, PRMW, QSR), but filtered it down to a choice of LNF vs PRMW, using both fundamentals and technicals as well as considering my current holdings.

Q#1 = Based on PBH, NWC and PLC being long term holds, do you agree that 2 food companies are enough => I should select a non-food consumer, right?

Q#2 = If I had to choose between LNF and PRMW today, I am leaning towards LNF (better P/B, P/CF, P/S, ROE...better dividend too). So, in my opinion, I think it shows better value. Do you agree? Which shows better upside (I only see 1 analyst on LNF with a target of $17.00)?

Q#3 = Are there other Consumer stocks I should consider? Or, in your opinion, are any of the 5 stocks mentioned above deserve consideration?

Bottom line = where would you put your money?
Thanks, I appreciate your help.....Steve

Q: Hello, I have a 2 part question:
1> I currently own a 5% position in LSPD and 2% position in KXS, ENGH SHOP. and QSR . which one(s) would you sell now as a vaccine will emerge soon? and which one(s) keep long term.
2> Could you provide 3-4 names of Value stocks that pay a dividend, and that will benefit when the economy re-opens. And, will benefit from inflation.
Thanks for your great service
Carlo

Q: It is hard to imagine that this pandemic will one day be a distant memory but eventually life will return to a pre pandemic normal. Can you name 4 or 5 Canadian traded stocks that suffered during the pandemic that you believe will have growth potential in this future?

Q: If you could see into the future and knew COVID, people's fear of COVID, the economic effects of COVID were all gone ( basically a complete return to normal scenario was 100% for sure in 2021/2022) what basket of Canadian stocks would you purchase now for longer term hold (5-8 years).

Q: I have a sizable piece of QSR and am a little concerned going forward. What is your view. Should I ride it out or move on? perhaps trim?

Q: This is actually a followup question to your answer to Steve's question from earlier this morning.

I also hold a core position in TRP. Dividend investor. Intended to hold 'forever'. I'm 43.

I couldn't tell from your answer to Steve's question whether you view TRP as a 'BUY', 'SELL', 'HOLD' or 'GRADUALLY TRIM UNTIL DIVESTED'. You had previously opined that oil will likely subsist as a fuel source in demand for 20+ years. That would take me to age 63. What do you think is the likelihood that TRP continues to pay and grow its dividend for say, 50 years? I know given the time frame, this is a very difficult, speculative, predictive question, but your guess is better than mine. I don't want to hang on to this position only to have to sell it at a massive loss 20 years from now, but that is the scenario that appears to be gradually unfolding now.

I hold a fairly concentrated portfolio of 20 companies, equally-weighted, and each is selected with the intention of holding for their sustained, rising dividend payments in perpetuity. When this is threatened, either imminently or in the medium to long-term, I sell. I sold SU when they cut their dividend and am glad I did.

Given this context, should I exit TRP? If so, should I use the proceeds to start a new position in AQN? I already own FTS and EMA, would this be too much overlap or too much utilities exposure? If so, I am relatively light on Consumer Discretionary (only hold CTC.A in this sector and have been eyeing QSR - do you think a switch from TRP to QSR would make more sense?

Please deduct as many credits as necessary, this was actually *many* questions in one.

Q: I started an RESP for my 2 grandsons about 3 years ago. Only 5 stocks in the account: 3 Cdn. banks, BAM and an energy company. It is doing much worse than my RESP or TFSA. I wanted safe, dividend paying stocks. Obviously the lack of diversification has hurt. I have some cash in account I would like to deploy. Please give me a few suggestions of companies I should add. Thx.

Q: I'm looking for a few suggestions of economy re-opening stocks, US and CAD that you would consider 'investable' with a recovery taking place over the next year or so.

Q: Now that AW has reinstated dividends, do you think it has more potential than QSR?

Q: Retired dividend-income investor. Looking to add to my Consumer sector. I already own PBH, NWC, PLC. I am looking to add one more name, preferably with a dividend > 3%, although dividend security and dividend growth are more important than todays yield.

I have looked at CTC.A, LNF, MG, PRMW and QSR. I have researched each using both fundamentals (beta, P/E, P/BV, P/CF, P/S, ROE) and technicals (higher highs and higher lows, above 200mda), as well as current analyst estimates.

CTC.A comes across as just "ok". LNF has already had an incredible jump recently, so I am hesitant to buy at current prices. MG is not bad, but shows a ROE = -1%. PRMW looks good except for the ROE = -9%. QSR also looks good, showing a ROE = +29% (I can't find P/BV and P/CF anywhere). The bottom line is there doesn't appear to be a stand out obvious buy. I am leaning toward one of MG, PRMW or QSR.

Would you please rank all 5 companies from best to worst for the following (assuming a 3-5 year hold):
a) Dividend security
b) Capital gain potential
c) Total return potential

Thanks for your help. Much appreciated....Steve

Q: According to an Aug. 14 news release Berkshire Hathaway has sold US Bank shares and also QSR . They have bought Barrick gold. Do you read much into this? Comments please. Thanks as always. Frank

Q: I own fStarbucks . i like to add another food service.
i like to consider qsr or dpz. Which one should choose

Q: Hi 5i
I know you like these three companies. Given the present environment how would you rank them for value and for growth over the next two years?
Thanks for all you do

Q: Hi 5i,
Are there any current or future tax disqualifications if I sold for example QSR at a small loss in a RRSP account (no loss tax benefit) to purchase @ the same price within a Non-Registered account exact same time? The reason is to take greater advantage of the div tax credit outside of the RRSP and reallocate the funds within the RRSP to more forced securities such as KXS or even some bond ETF’s. Basically, setting up for retirement & preserve RRSP funds. My concern on the future tax is if worst case scenario played out and the Non-Registered security (QSR) lost further ground a tax loss would be disqualified somehow.

Q: Dear 5i team:
Your software indicates our family’s investments are too Canadian-focused. However, I prefer our “home bias”, for three reasons:
(a) most of our assets are non-registered, and the dividend tax credit is especially favourable for Canadian source dividends in a province such as ours (Ontario);
(b) I like supporting the companies that I invest in (e.g., we buy Peller family wines, since we own their shares);
(c) but most important, many of the “Canadian” businesses we own are surprisingly international; among our top 20 equity holdings are:
Alimentation couche-tarde (Circle K is world-wide);
Brookfield Asset Management (globally focused company that invests wherever the opportunities are);
CGI Group (revenues are 84% outside Canada per 2019 annual report);
CP Rail (significant U.S. revenues);
Fortis (65% of earning are in U.S.);
Manulife (growing Asian revenues);
Restaurant Brands International (most of Burger King and Popeye’s restaurants are outside of Canada);
Shopify (not sure, but suspect international revenues are growing faster than Canadian revenues);
TC Energy (dropped “Canada” from its name to reflect its growing U.S. presence);
TD bank (substantial and growing U.S. presence);
Anyways, the above-listed 10 stocks represent about one-third of our overall equity holdings (in absolute $ terms), but I would not consider these companies as being “100% Canadian”. I wonder whether your software could be rejigged to reflect the relative percent earnings (or revenue) contributions, broken down per Canada, U.S., Europe, Asia, and so forth. I suspect our home “bias” is not nearly as substantial as it appears.
Ted

Q: I gave up on this stock WPK after several years in Tfsa. I am in early 60’s so don’t wish to go too far up risk scale, however our portfolio is fortunately quite significant so can take some risk.Hold BYD and Kinaxis. Do you have one or two other suggestions? Thanks, Bill

Q: I have these 13 stocks at equal weighting of approximately 5 percent each in my RSP, along with 35 percent in fixed income. Stock value of approx 1,300,000. Fixed income is approx 650,000. Cash 50,000. In your valued opinion, is the above stock selection diversified enough?, or are there other sectors I should be in. I am 69 and going to retire in the next year.

Q: I invested in QSR and TRI which to the best my know is with out a deposit receipt but that something for another day). I hold these in a balance portfolio. Now I see QSR is in the 5IR Income Portfolio. With that, would 5IR hold TRI in a balance or income portfolio?.
The reason I ask this as the weighting of these positions would be different in a balance portfolio than in the income one.
........curious me....Tom

Q: I would like to add two companies to my portfolio to increase my US dividends. What would you pick from these 5? Currently NTR and QSR have a higher yield. Does this indicate a higher risk and should I look at a lesser Yield in order to preserve capital?

Q: We held A&W for long term income, now that the dividend is suspended, would you be removing it from the income portfolio?

Would it make sense to switch to QSR (or if you have other recommendation) or hold ?

Thanks