Investment Q&A

Q: Will you be making any recommendations on probable 'tax loss selling' opportunities?
Using an example of a recent member question about Peyto Exploration. (I don't own it). The price keeps drifting lower yet it appears to be good value at today's price. is it likely to go lower still due to tax loss selling making it a better opportunity in the coming weeks? Are there a number of other stocks acting this way today that you might 'predict' being a better opportunity soon?
Thanks!

Q: This may have been asked before but is there a link which provides the specific date or month a security was added to each of the model portfolios? Can this be added to the monthly report? Thanks

Q: How do you recommend investors handle cash balances while they are waiting for a compelling investment opportunity? Presently, I use a combination of bank "high interest" e-savings accounts (.75% at RBC; 1% at Tangerine) and the "Cash optimizer" within Scotia i-trade accounts (.25%). How can I do better?

Q: I think I noticed earlier in one of your answers to a question you stated you did not think a Canadian could buy a us based mutual fund.I am looking at buying "IAT" which is a etf based in the US.What is the difference between buying mutual funds in the US and etf's based in the US?

Q: Hi 5i Team,

Happy Thanksgiving! I am looking for 'sleeper' picks to tuck away and look at again 3-5 years from now. Other than GUD which you have been vocal about it being that kind of stock, could you recommend two of your favourites in each of the small, mid, and large cap segments of the market. They don't need to be new, they could just be unloved, unfollowed, or under appreciated. Thanks!

Q: Could you please 5 or 6 forever stocks in the USA.

Q: If I own in a U.S. dollar account,Canadian cross-listed companies which pay a U.S. dollar dividend,do I receive the dividend in U.S. dollars free of any exchange fee and the dividend tax credit?If the answer is yes,where can I find a list of these companies?I have a U.S. dollar trading account with T D.Thanks for your help.

Q: If the Canadian banks can ( total) return 13-14% consistently why wouldn't an investor just target them and leave the rest of the market alone? Your thoughts please.

“In fact, Canadian banks are the only sector/subsector in North America to generate a better total return than Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway over the past 20- and 25-years, which in our view speaks to the powerful and consistent compounding mechanisms they have been… In other words, based on their history of success, we have a high degree of confidence that they will manage their way through current headwinds,” Barasch said in the note.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/canadian-banks-can-support-higher-multiples-rbc-capital-markets-says/ar-BByT3ZU


https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/as-long-term-investments-the-big-5-banks-are-hard-to-beat/article4506573/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&

Q: Like many others, I rely on my stock portfolio for income. Fixed income won't provide it. The possibility of a significant correction seems to be not a matter of if, but when, and the prospect of another 40% drop portfolio value is scary, especially at this point in life. Based on the past couple of crashes it takes 4-5 years of agony to recover.
However with a portfolio of companies having a history of NOT cutting dividends through the market crashes, the income relied on would be preserved, and the recovery period somewhat less painful. So thats the type of portfolio I'd like to see 5i construct. Rosenburg's recent comments on BNN suggest good balance sheet, predictable earnings, low correlation to economy. I would add liquidity, ( I find that a number of the stocks 5i portfolios just don't have enough trading volume).
Whats your thoughts on this strategy? Is there enough of these companies, and suggestions?

Q: Greetings 5i,

I realize you cannot give individual portfolio advice on this forum, but was hoping to ask a question regarding portfolio structure and exposures (rather than on the holdings themselves). However, if this question is inappropriate for the public forum, please disregard. If appropriate, please deduct as many credits as you see fit.

My stock portfolio consists of 30 holdings in the following structure:

- 19 Canadian positions covering all major sectors of the TSX (16 large cap dividend payers and 3 small cap "higher risk" names).

- 5 positions held in US Dollars (all large cap "blue chip" names) for currency diversification and to augment sectors I feel are far stronger in the US (Healthcare, Tech, etc.)

- 4 equity ETF's covering USA, Developed Europe, Developed Asia, and Emerging
Markets (1 ETF per region).

- 2 bond ETF's covering Canada and the US (1 ETF per region)

- No single holding exceeds a 5% weighting

I am 36 years old, debt free, conservative (although not totally adverse to risk), and consider myself a "buy and hold" investor.

In addition to the aforementioned stocks, my portfolio includes GIC's, gold bullion, and a small cash position in both Canadian and US Dollars.

In general, does this structure seem appropriate to you? Do you feel as if I have missed some region(s) and/or investment type(s)? Is there anything you would suggest for further diversification?

Thank you.

Q: Hello - is there a Canadian currency version of iShares 20+ Year Treasury US Bond ETF (TLT) ? If not, do you have a recommendation for reasonably close ETF in CAD ?
Thanks

Q: I cannot find anything on this company. Do you know it ?
Thanks Team

Q: I am new to this forum but have been 'investing' faithfully for over 30 years (what that really means is that I have been funding both mutual funds and the investment advisor buying them - last year that was $9,000 for the investor for me and my husband combined for the mutual funds to earn net 4.4% (the SandP/TSX was at 17.51). I'm tired of the high anxiety fear factor he generates for 4.4%. For the fee, he can earn us between 2 and 4% in coming years and insists this is a good thing.
Why wouldn't I buy Berkshire Hathaway A with the money currently invested in mutual funds and the advisor and invest on my own using a couple of your portfolio models with the money I have stashed? At this stage I am 56 years old so not a big risk taker and want to preserve what I/we have. With thanks, Wendy

Q: Hi 5i team,

I trimmed a couple of stocks recently from gains (thank you for that) and was wondering if you could give me a couple stocks to buy now for a 5-10+ year hold with medium to high risk? Thanks!!

My portfolio is as follows with pretty balanced positions:
ATB, BNS, KXS, CSU, BYD, SIS, PHO, TOY, DOO, SHOP, NFI, CSH.UN, GUD, SLF, PBH, GSY, SJ, RRX, and CRH.

Q: Peter and His Wonder Team
I accept the fact that you cannot time the market and that no theory or metric is always right or correct. If so we would all be rich! Ha!Ha! However, I do try to minimize risk by having the odds in my favour. So here is the question ...in your experience what tends to be the worst and best months of the year for stocks? For example I notice that August and September many stocks go sideways or drift down because buyers disappear. On the other hand in February, March and April they seem to do there best and peek. Your observations please! Is there any correlation between large and small cap? Thanks again for your great service!
Dr.Ernest Rivait

Q: Hi Team,

I am a real estate investor and I have been for the last 15 years. Real estate is my passion and I enjoy it very much. I am trying to balance this with investing in the stock market. I enjoy researching companies, but I don't want stocks to take up the majority of my team. Is it best to construct a portfolio of high quality, low expense ETFs and add to it monthly or quarterly? Or is it better to follow a model portfolio like 5i or invests in particular companies. Less risk of picking a wrong stock in the ETF approach, but potentially also less reward. Real estae is still going to be my focus and I plan to use the real estate to fund my retirement.

Thanks for your help,
Jason

Q: I am trying to clean up my husband's portfolio but am missing some ACB data. Specifically, when I checked his 2000 investment statement, he had Janus Global Equity Fund, but now he doesn't have this holding. However, he has a Mackenzie fund (MFC1055) that he didn't remember buying. I am thinking there was a fund merger at some point. Where can I find information about historical fund mergers?

Q: I am a relatively new investor and want to understand how the tax loss function works. I have a few questions.

What is the standard taxation rate for capital gains?

How is the tax loss calculated? Is it based on the average cost of purchases or the last purchase or some other formula

I am assuming that you can buy back any stock that you have sold for a tax loss after 30 days. Am I right?

I look forward to your answers

Q: Hi All at 5i! I am looking to initiate a position in my RRSP. Could you suggest a few names two income, two balanced and two growth that are of good value to buy right now. Cheers, Tamara

Q: Just need a bit of clarification about your response to my biotech questions answered earlier today. You begin by stating that once biotech has a run, it usually continues running. However, subsequently, you call it a 'tough sector'. Does this mean you are lukewarm to the sector?
Thx
Karim