Investment Q&A

Q: My international holdings (ex-US) currently include positions in Germany, broader Europe, and Japan. I am specifically considering initiating or adding to positions in China-focused ETFs, such as MCHI (MSCI China), FXI (FTSE China 50), and KWEB (China Internet).
I would appreciate your perspective on the following:
- Geopolitical Stability: Given what appears to be a more predictable and stable global posture from China relative to the current erratic US Administration , do you view Chinese equities as a viable "hedge" or a diversifying force against U.S. domestic policy risk?
- Trump is to meet Xi in Beijing May 14-15. Given the erratic nature of relations, is it more prudent to initiate positions now while valuations are compressed—particularly in KWEB, which remains down ~17% YTD—or wait for clarity following the meeting?
- ETF Selection: Between the broad exposure of MCHI, the large-cap/SOE focus of FXI, and the tech-heavy KWEB, which vehicle do you prefer for a 12-to-24 month horizon? Furthermore, are there other US-listed China ETFs (e.g., ASHR for A-shares) that you believe offer better risk-adjusted exposure? :ao:

Q: Can I please get your thoughts on Robinhood's latest quarter? Would you buy, hold, sell here? Couple of other suggestions for Financials if not a buy?
Thank you

Q: It's rebalancing time, for me. I need to augment our fixed income positions and would appreciate your thoughts on best current options. I already have short and long bond positions at present, not doing much but paying the payments. I'm not keen on pref shares. I am perplexed by the interest rate regime by and large. Are rates going to lower, as I assumed prior to Trumps Iranian caper are will they rise, to counter inflation which may be lurching from the grave. Laddered GIC's? I would rather not carry all the cash I'm generating from trimming equities but have a bit of analysis-paralysis. What would you suggest, Obywan-Kenobi?

Q: Psychedelic drug stocks are surging after Trump's order to fast-track development for medical use.

Any you would suggest to buy a small amount? Canada or US?
Thank you.

Q: Markets appear to so fickle on whatever news is happening. A year ago, resource stocks were in the dump, only to surge as a result of the war. Now they are down a lot today on the news that Iran is opening up the Strait; however, Trump just indicated that the blockade is still in effect. Is this an opportunity to buy some of these resource names?

Q: Dear Peter et al:

First of all KUDOS to Chris for his appearance on BNN Bloomberg today. His voice was calm, measured and answers balanced.

A question for you. Slightly different from the usual. As everyone is talking about US Israel Iran war, the tariffs have taken a backseat! Trump Xi meeting has been postponed. Asia and many small countries in the world and European countries too have been affected by the current crisis involving oil price.

Surely they can't afford to pay the tariffs, can they? How is that going to play out ? They cut down their exports to the US? Is Global recession inevitable EVEN IF peace breaks out? Your fellow Sprott alumni, Rick Rule is fond of saying "Tariffs are taxes"! Isn't that the worst thing one can do during a recession?

My friends from South Asia and South East Asia tell me things pretty hard in their cities. Small businesses have already been shut down. This doesn't get much air time in North America.

Anyway, your take on this is welcome.

Q: I bought this ETF sometime ago in my RRIF for its delicious yield ( at the time 15%, now unfortunately 18% ) , thinking that Trump will get his way and rates will decrease . This does not seem to be happening but in the end nobody really knows what rates are going to do. Silly me for putting my hat in the ring with Trump.

I am down 20 % on this ETF but the large distribution has mitigated my loss. It is 4 % of my RRIF and 2 % of total portfolios . What would you do with this ETF ? Thanks. Derek.

Q: In regard to the question about Hammond Power this might help..... from TD this morning,

National Bank Financial analyst Baltej Sidhu thinks the simplified rules emerging from “significant” changes” by the U.S. government to Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper will provide a notable “structural tailwind” for Hammond Power Solutions Inc. (HPS.A-T).

Shares of the Guelph, Ont.-based company jumped 15.3 per cent on Monday after the Trump administration announced updated guidance on those tariffs, clarifying how rates apply to imports.

“The updated framework introduces a tiered structure, with 50-per-cent tariffs on primary metals, 25 per cent on derivative products, and a reduced 15-per-cent rate on select metal-intensive industrial and grid equipment,” he explained. “Overall, the tariff calculations are simpler and transparent, and could be viewed as the administration working with the industry, in acknowledging supply constraints and the need to support ongoing U.S. industrial and grid buildout.

“While the 15-per-cent grid equipment category appears to capture HPS’ suite, we believe its transformer products are likely to fall under the 25-per-cent derivative category, based on product codes listed in the annex. That said, we view the revised framework as more transparent and consistent, replacing metal-content-based calculations with a clearer rules-based approach, which should improve confidence and create a more level playing field.”

While acknowledging the overall financial impact “remains under evaluation given the complexity of HPS’s input mix and broad SKU base,” Mr. Sidhu thinks the revised framework could “prove incrementally less punitive” for Hammond.

“Under the revised tariff regime, the effective burden may be more manageable relative to the prior structure,” he said. “There are puts and takes as the savings may flow through to the customer in maintaining relationships. Stepping back, the policy shift reinforces an already tightening supply backdrop for transformer equipment while supporting continued investment in grid infrastructure, leaving us optimistic that HPS can recover costs and sustain pricing.”

Maintaining his “outperform” rating for the company’s shares, the analyst raised his Street-high target to $235 from $220. The average is currently $161.

“While we have more clarity, we are comfortable with our current estimates, and believe the reaction in the shares reflect margin expansion of 100-150bps vs. our modelling of 120bps. Owing to the continued structural drivers, and increased confidence, we increase our target,” he explained.

Q: I bought this ETF in January 2025 thinking that the Trump administration would be good for the financial sector. I am down 7+% and the ETF is down almost 13% YTD. My logic dosn't appear to be all that logical! What do you think of this ETF? Buy, sell, hold? Any better suggestion?

Q: A Wall street Journal article today paint a dire picture for LNG supply for the next few years. "Even if the Trump administration and Iran agree to end the war soon, the consequences for the LNG market will be long-lasting—and even more profound than for oil, experts say."
Even if the war ends overnight, it will take the gas market much longer to return to normal than oil,” A lot of the slack in the system used to be picked up by LNG, so the knock-on effects are massive.

My question: what stocks do you see that will benefit from this shortage of LNG?

Q: Hello Team 5i and Everyone,

Unless Trump pulls a rabbit out of his hat, from what I’ve been reading the closure of the Strait of Hormuz falls into the category of “too big to fail.” And since the price of oil affects nearly everything globally, one would assume that we’re likely to see price increases soon enough in nearly everything as it is passed onto the consumer. (Like food, unfortunately.)

In another service I subscribe to a member there has a background with global oil logistics. In their assessment, if the war ended today it would take 4 months to get the shipping lanes fixed. 6 months to restart the oil fields at 85% original flow. 4-5 years to fix the LNG plants. Meanwhile countries are starting to hoard oil and oil products too, which only adds to the global demand when we really need to be destroying that demand at the moment. They equated that we need to destroy as much oil demand as we reduced during covid, but this time we need to do it with price.

At least with the problem of the tariffs, if the current US administration had snapped their fingers at any point last year and got rid of them, in theory the problem would have been solved “instantly.” But that doesn’t seem to be the case here because of the drones and missiles hitting the oil refineries. And sadly, especially for the people living inside this war, this is turning into a pretty big mess.

So what I’ve been mulling over is:

What effect would prolonged higher energy costs due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have on the data centre & AI buildout, etc and the debt being used to finance these projects? I’m under the impression that the AI buildout is supporting the US’s economic growth at the moment. Also seems like Space X, Anthropic, Open AI are all trying to IPO this year as soon as possible. The KOSPI which is over-concentrated in semiconductors looks like it had a blow off top recently.

What other important potential problems have your attention at the moment that the increase in energy costs could exacerbate?

Any further comments would be appreciated.

Thank you & appreciate the big brains at Team 5i,

Sandra

Q: Is Palantir a good trading proxy for this "Trump Excursion" as it does have a lot of contracts with the US defence dept?

It is trading at the lower end of its range.

Thnx
Dave

Q: I am thinking of adding one of these 2 beaten down health related ETF's to my holdings. I wonder if you can tell me if you feel either or both are at risk of further decline due to Trumps RX plan, and/or their exposure to the US healthcare system which seems to be under attack by this administration?
Do you have a preference for one over the other, or do you have another name in this space that you like, and how safe do you feel the dividend is for each of them?
I am looking for a steady reliable yield and prefer ones that trade in Canada. Thank you.

Q: My investments, across non registered, and RRIF accounts are full of banks, Brookfield’s, pipelines and utilities. My TFSA holds more small growth stocks and is 5% of total portfolios. I have never owned gold stocks but with their continued pullback are starting to look interesting with continuing geopolitical chaos ( not expected to stop as long as we have Trump ) and the significant decline in US government finances, I am looking at AEM or AGI as my foray using my TFSA.
Your thoughts on these two. Do you have a preference ? Time to buy a full ( or partial ) position or wait until decline seems be over.
Thanks. Derek.

Q: Hi Peter and Team,

The March 21st issue of the Globe & Mail had an interesting article called 'Give peace - and bonds - a chance'.

My feeling is that the war cannot go on much longer, and Trump will be compelled to 'claim victory' even though Iran still seems to have the upper hand in their blockade of the Strait. Perhaps it's true what the US underground bombing of an Iranian facility in the Strait very recently stated "We not only took out the facility, but also destroyed intelligence support sites and missile radar relays that were used to monitor ship movements," Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (Centcom) says in video message posted on X."

It occurs to me that it's extraordinarily difficult to follow one's portfolio with any degree of certainty now that economics and politics are so completely linked.

What's your take on David Berman's thesis, and the ZAG ETF he refers to.

Thanks as always for your insight, especially in these difficult times.

Q: I bought PHYS a year ago with all the Trump uncertainty going on (1st time buying gold ever), but knowing that it is not a long-term asset to hold, in my mind (difficult to forecast its trajectory). Now with interest rates and the US$ going up, gold is losing its shine, is there any reason to hold on? Thanks

Q: US treasury bonds held by this fund have continued a downward trend, now at its 52-week low just under $13. Is this a good entry point, or is the risk profile too high and unpredictable due to the Trump factor?

Q: Really a question of safe low growth dividend stock prices. All these utility stocks are at 52 week highs. Are they worth it at these prices or are they simply a place for people to hide out until Trumps latest crazy ego trip comes to an end. Thanks

Q: Hi 5I,
It may be somewhere out there, but I can't seem to find any info justifying the (at present), 8+% mid-morning drop for Cameo on heavier than average volume. Are you aware of anything?
Thanks,
Don

Q: So Trump is bombing Iran because of nuclear capabilities.With AI needing all the energy it can get why such a sell off in the stocks.Time to steep in?