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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: What is your take on the move by Telus into health data management and now agricultural data? Is this a long way from their core business? Do you think they will be able to compete with those already in the precision ag space (Ntr for example)? Most importantly, if I already own BCE, are they also getting into these sorts of data management activities, or should I be adding T to my portfolio?
Read Answer Asked by David on November 13, 2020
Q: I currently hold BCE, and I was wondering if it might be worthwhile to sell BCE to purchase Cogeco, as there was previously an offering by Rogers and Altice to buy the remaining shares at what sounded like roughly a 60% premium to current prices. I know the offer was explicitly rejected, but could this mean that either another offer is on its way, or perhaps that there is significant untapped potential in Cogeco? If this is a worthwhile trade, shares of CCA do more volume than CGO - would that be the more prudent purchase? As always, I appreciate your insight, and look forward to reading your comments. Thanks again!
Read Answer Asked by Domenic on November 12, 2020
Q: Hi,
if you were putting a fund together comparable to VGG, but for Canadian equities, what might be your first 5 top picks assuming the same criteria for the ETF? Also, what would be your 3 honorable mentions?
When comparing CDZ and VGG what are the main differences in terms of the stocks that make up these two ETF's?
Many thanks,
Dan
Read Answer Asked by Daniel on October 27, 2020
Q: You have referred to some stocks and ETFs as CORE. What percentage of portfolio would you recommend as core (relative to satellite holdings) and what would be the number of core stocks and ETFs for diversification. What core stocks and ETFs across all sectors would you recommend?.
Read Answer Asked by sam on October 22, 2020
Q: I am not invested in the market right now with the exception of a couple of multi family REITs in my RRSP. I have a lump sum that I would like to start investing gradually. Looking for stable names with good dividends that will not reduce or cut their dividend. I am thinking of starting with ENB, TD and BCE. Do you like these three and can you recommend a couple others. I would like these names to be the foundation of the portfolio and then I will add more growth oriented names as opportunities arise.

Thanks,
Jason
Read Answer Asked by Jason on October 20, 2020
Q: What 3 Cdn and 3 US equities would you currently select (without regard to sector) as your best picks for an investor seeking both a) the six "safest" equities over the next 12 months as in lowest downside risk in your opinion, and b) the six most likely to provide at least a 5% total return over that period? Tough one but perhaps very helpful for part of an overall portfolio - Ken
Read Answer Asked by Ken on October 19, 2020
Q: I am just getting started in DIY investing and have been introduced to 5i by family members who have had great success. I am looking for five-ten really solid Canadian dividend paying stocks to form the core of a balanced portfolio. In my TFSA, I have BCE, TD, ENB, BNS, SLF. Should I be looking elsewhere? Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Christopher on October 08, 2020
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.
Read Answer Asked by Penny on September 29, 2020
Q: We have 300K which we want to use to build a portfolio of Canadian dividend payers in an open account.
This forms a significant chunk of our semi retirement portfolio. We have growth stocks in registered accounts and also some cash in a HISA.

1. Would you think that 10 companies offers sufficient diversification?
2. Which companies would you recommend? (we are thinking 2 x financials, 2 x telecoms, 2 x utilities, 1 or 2 materials, 1 or 2 energy)
3. Over what time frame would you recommend purchasing these companies? (TD charges me $10 a trade)

Thank-you,
Jim and Sharon

Read Answer Asked by Jim on September 09, 2020
Q: I am trying to identify one and only one Telecom co. to invest across the US or Canada. According to Morningstar data, Verizon has the best ROE, ROIC and interest coverage metrics (and the lowest P/E apart from AT&T). Would you consider VZ the best overall for a long term investment? Thank you for your excellent service as usual.
Read Answer Asked by Christian on September 08, 2020
Q: Looking to deploy excess cash, mainly for dividends and some growth. I have room in both utilities and telecom sectors. If I compare the Utilities and Telecoms listed, it would seem from current valuations (Fwd PE versus historical PE average) and looking at share appreciation the past 5 years ( history of generating shareholder value) , 5yr dividend growth rates and expected revenue growth, the utilities group easily wins on all counts. Based on this analysis, I should be buying from my list of utilities before I start buying from the Telecom list. Do you agree with my conclusion? Should I add any additional analysis? Thank-you.
Read Answer Asked by Albert on September 02, 2020
Q: Hello Peter, I am intrigued after reading that a Canadian can earn about $50,000 per year of dividend income without paying any income tax. I know about your income portfolio of course, but with a view to maximizing just Canadian eligible dividend income, what would you think of the following portfolio of 14 stocks. Equal weighted, the stocks would yield 5.3%. (Disregard lack of market diversification; this can be achieved in one’s registered accounts.) Also, if one wanted to pare down the list to 10, which 4 would you delete?
BCE, CM, ENB, FTS, CNQ, AQN, CPD, FSZ, MG, KBL, POW, ALA, BIPC and NTR. Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by James on August 27, 2020