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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: Hi,

I'm seeing more and more evidence for inflation being a real thing that is not yet formally accepted by US or CDN governments. Evidence is obvious increases in the price of some common items (food, lumber, metals, housing) and also an uptick in commentary on the subject by some trusted SA authors.

Can you provide some sectors that typically benefit from increases in inflation (Gold, Finance, etc) as well as some specific company plays that would benefit from increases (Can or US).

Thx,

Cam
Read Answer Asked by Cameron on May 06, 2021
Q: Hi 5i,

I currently own DOL, ATD and PBH for Consumer Staples. I'm getting a little bored of the progress that DOL has made over the last three years and I'm looking for a little more growth.

Looking at EMP, L or MRU as a replacement. Based on today's news from I'm leaning towards EMP. Please let me know what your thoughts on this switch, or if you'd recommend another stock not mentioned.

I have a long horizon, 7+ years, and looking for some more growth.

Thx
Read Answer Asked by Christopher on March 17, 2021
Q: Good morning,

Just wondering your take on Empire in light of news re Longo’s takeover. Relatedly, how would you rank L, EMP.A and MRU for a TFSA investment of likely five years or so?

Thanks,

Steven
Read Answer Asked by Steven on March 16, 2021
Q: Could you please rank these consumer defensive stocks and why - STZ, DOL, ATD.B, MRU and PG.
Need to increase my US and International exposure, however considering selling STZ (in a RRSP)
What are you thoughts? Is there an ETF in this sector you favour with US /International exposure? Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Lorraine on February 19, 2021
Q: I am planning to buy a half position in one of these companies, partly as a defensive holding. Even though the markets are up significantly in the last 6 months, shares in both these companies have been in fairly steady decline totalling over 10% in that time. I find it difficult to buy when a stock price has negative momentum. Do you have any indicators of what is leading to the price decline and when it could turn around?
Read Answer Asked by John on February 12, 2021
Q: Hi 5i team,
Need to up my % in the following two sectors consumer cyclical and consumer defensive.

Can you point me to a few stocks from each sector that are fairly valued and are included in either your balanced or income portfolio? Or if there are other canadian stocks outside your model portfolio that fits the bill.

Thank you.

Rino
Read Answer Asked by Rino on December 10, 2020
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: 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: 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 Team,
On a Corporate account, where capital gain is the main goal for long term hold.
Consumer Staple holdings are ATD.b 6 % PF & 15% gain & MRU 1.8% PF, 8.5% gain.
Your thought on MRU, (hold or sell) ?
Want to add 2.5% one another Cons Staple stock Ca or US. You suggestion please.
Thanks. Best Regards

Read Answer Asked by Djamel on August 05, 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
Q: Good morning 5i,

Having missed the major swap to staples. Viewing them as a buy when they are down not on momentum.
Are their any consumer stocks you see holding value still as an add for longterm hold?
We own QSR and ATD.B.
What are your better / best recommendations.

Thanks for the excellent advice.
Read Answer Asked by Adam on June 05, 2020
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