Investment Q&A

Q: It seems like a lot of companies are getting decimated on slower growth and future lower guidance - and in some cases even good results are also getting decimated. This does not seem to be happening in isolation and feels like a broad sentiment. Is this the sign of a weakening market? Does this typically indicate something occurring in the near future?

Q: G &M no longer provides complete lists of New Highs for free.
5i provides a maximum of 10 names.
Would you know of a replacement site? I get my ideas from such lists.

Q: Hi Peter & Ryan,

The company I work for recently brought in a speaker, Salim Ismail from Singularity University, to talk about 'exponential organizations'. The basic premise was to discuss the speed of innovation and disruption that's occurring today. The improvements in various technology is doubling every year. I can't help but wonder if I need to rethink some of the companies I've invested in (from your portfolios).

For example, he gives the example of the drive train in a combustion car having about 2000 moving parts, while a Tesla has 17. There's a small company in the US called Local Motors that has a car with only has 50 parts total and takes 1 man hour to assemble, compared to the average combustion car that has 25,000 parts and takes 1000 man hours to assemble. What does this mean for a company like Magna? Also, with so few parts, there won't be a need for car maintenance. The use of autonomous cars, which should result in less accidents - how does this affect Boyd? EV's in China are also doubling every year, now at 5%. It doesn't take long before it becomes a very significant portion of the market.

Another example is the energy sector. The price performance of solar energy has also been doubling every 2 years for the past 40 years. At this pace, the world supply of energy could be met in just 13 years. The costs of solar (unsubsidized) has been dropping and is now cheaper than all other forms in the US. Obvious question is where does that leave the energy and pipeline companies? Maybe we should be more focused on solar panel makers and solar energy storage. Again, the shift from combustion to electrical vehicles comes into play here as well.

If a company isn't going to be a disruptor (like Tesla, Google, Uber, Amazon), they at least need to be flexible and adaptable. is this a key metric when you grade a company?

I'm interested in your thoughts.
Thanks

Q: In answer to Stuart, who was looking for somewhere which would give him information on his stocks, I have found that Yahoo Finance does a good job of this. Once you put in your list of stocks you'll get a grabbag of the latest stories at the end of the list every day. Or you can click on any given stock, page down past the usual financial information like the stock chart for today and find the latest story on it, including earnings releases. Works for both US and Canadian stocks.

Q: In attempting to assess the performance of my (mainly 5i) portfolios, how dividend %ages determined? In other words, do I divide dividend $ by the "book cost" of a portfolio or by the "market value" ?

As always... as learning experience.

Thanks again.

Q: Hi,

What is your recommendation in terms of no of stocks should be held between US and CDN markets among all the sectors. For Canadian stocks I am focusing on about 22 stocks from the BE, INC and GRO Portfolios with heavy focus on FInancials, Energy, Utilities, Materials and also other sectors. For US stocks I am targeting for 20 - 25 stocks in Industrials, Healthcare,Tech,Con cyclical and Staples primarily large blue chips in growth and dividend income.

Appreciate your guidance as always.

Thanks
Ninad

Q: To the 5i Team - With the tax loss season approaching could you name a few companies that still have good fundamentals but for one reason or another will probably (if not already) be subject to tax loss selling. Sector and dividends are not a factor in this question. Thanks.

Q: Hi, in the past I have always invested near 100% in equities. But now I am a little fearful of the market, have sold some equities and wish to move money to a good interest paying parking spot. Time horizon - 1-6 months. My investments are self directed with TD Waterhouse. Can you suggest a fund?

Q: You've recently mentioned the potential effect of activities of money managers on this market, specifically buying and selling to make targets to ensure their best bonus and keeping up with their competitors.

When does this sort of "bonus securing" activity occur-now near the end of the year? Every quarter?

I suppose I'm hoping to know when large institutional buying and selling are at their highest and lowest, over the course of a year.

Cam

Q: This is a market question. Yesterday, markets were up nicely until news of more US tariffs on China came out, then they plunged. But they plunged deeper in Canada than in the US. Would you have a try at explaining why that would be given our valuations are cheaper and US tariffs on China would have no impact on us? It seems every time US markets drop due to China tariff concerns ours go down more. Are we in a bear market in Canada? Morgan Stanley has said the US is now in a bear market and all rallies should be sold because it's going to get worse. Would you advise that here?

Q: Hi guys:

Could you provide me a couple names that have been beaten up so much that it’s time to back up the truck for a 3 to 5 year hold.?

Thanks for your expertise
Mark.

Q: Hi,

Does your answer to a previous question on the sector weightings applies to US stocks also and will 5i Portfolios also need to be adjusted ?

Thanks
Ninad

Q: As a result of the recent decline in the North American equity markets I would appreciate you advise the current % weighting of the various sectors of the TSE, S &P 500 and Your recommended % weighting of those sectors.
In regards to your recommended weighting of the energy sector what portion would you suggest should be in the energy producers and what portion in the energy infrastructure companies i.e Enb, Key, PPL
Thank you

Q: Hi team, Before I fall for a good div enhancement gimmick, would you please comment on brett Owens div. Conversion machine being applied to us blue chip companies like Google, dis, jpm, pfe, to triple dividends received, and could this be applied to CDN stocks or what's the ketch. Thanks for the heads up.

Q: I am a retired, conservative, dividend-income investor. I have added ROE and Payout Ratio to the metrics that I track to assess the securities that I hold. Can you give me some ballpark levels that are a good starting point? For ROE, is >10% a reasonable level? For Payout Ratio, is <90% ok? I suspect it differs by industry (eg. I know the banks are around 50%), if so can you lay it our for me...thanks.

Q: I know this isn't an exact science, but can you list what Canadian sectors you think will be the hardest hit by tax-loss selling? Is it a good idea to wait until early December to pick up some companies in these sectors?
thanks,
Paul

Q: According to Bank of America while individual investors are still buying stocks, institutional investors are selling. Is that a bearish sign ? Typically professionals exit the market before a major downturn and retail investors as always late in the game throw their money into the market at a wrong time. What are you thoughts on this?
I have recently bought SIS, PBH and other 5i BE stocks. I had placed some stink bids with my buy price atleast 10% below the price about a month ago and all those transactions went through to my surprise. The stocks are still falling further. I know for long term investment one should not worry about 10-20% fall in good companies but are institutions selling the companies followed by 5i portfolios and may be they are waiting to come back in at a much better pricing in near future ?

Thanks for the great service as always
Ninad

Q: How can i find the ex-dividend dates for any company. Is there a specific site?
Currently I'd like to know when MFT (Mackenzie Floating Rate Income Fund) goes ex-dividend, but my question is more general that that.

Q: Hi there,

It seems like in this quarter, good results are being punished. Over the last several years this did not seem to ring true. It seemed like good results were rewarded - even on negative sentiment days - however now it seems like good results are received poorly. Does this usual indiciate something much larger going on in the markets?

Thanks

Q: Good afternoon folks:
Is this a healthy correction plus tax loss selling as well? Could u please give your opinion on what retail investors should do in this volatile environment?