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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: I have a small position in each of the above listed ETFs. I believe one must be invested in more than just North America but, I am concerned with the Geopolitical situation in Russia (re Ukraine) and China (re Taiwan). Additionally, these ETFs have been down lately and I'm thinking of selling them. What percentage of each ETF is invested in Russia/China? What would you recommend to replace these ETFs in order to exclude or have minimal exposure to Russia/China?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Sean on March 01, 2022
Q: What's lit a fire under the renewables all of a sudden? The market has suddenly fallen in love with them again? Is this a temporary fling or likely to last?
Read Answer Asked by John on March 01, 2022
Q: Morning,
Best vehicle to park cash today. Criteria: safety.
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Lawrence on March 01, 2022
Q: Hi,

With stock prices much depressed I have concerns that some unprofitable growth companies will have a hard time raising sufficient cash to fund operations; at least without massive dilution.

My question is two part:
1. What is (are?) the best metrics to assess profitability of a company (net margins, cash flow, etc)?
2. From your Canadian list of companies which do you see as the most needy to raise cash within the next 6-12 months in order to continue to fund operations.

Thanks,

Cam
Read Answer Asked by Cameron on March 01, 2022
Q: Retired, dividend-income investor.

I just flushed a legacy mutual fund that was planned to be merged into a different MF. I didn't like the new MF asset allocation. I plan to top up some of my existing ETFs and stock holdings to my maximum comfort level re: asset allocation, then (if needed) add an additional ETF to complement the portfolio.

Q#1 = I own CDZ and ZLB. For a conservative, long term, core ETF what guideline would you use for maximum asset allocation? I currently am at 7-8% each for the equity portion of my portfolio.. Is it reasonable to stretch this to 10% each? When I look at the top 10 holdings in CDZ and ZLB, there is no overlap at all.

Q#2 = I also own LIFE and ZWC, both covered call ETFs...total exposure is 11% of my equities. What maximum exposure to CC would you recommed? I seem to recall a question a while back that you suggested 10 or 15% was reasonable.

Q#3 = depending on your above answers, I may need an additional ETF with the following attributes for a long term holding = conservative, dividend >3%, Canadian holdings (ok to have some foreign). holdings should hit as many of the 11 sectors as possible and if possible, little overlap with the top 10 contained in CDZ or ZLB.

Thanks for your help...much appreciated...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on March 01, 2022
Q: It seems agriculture companies are doing well in the current and probably future environment. NTR looks good but has already moved up a lot. Appreciate your opinion on whether it is still wise to take a new position. Also, do you know of other companies that should benefit from the current dynamics. I'm open to Canadian or other ideas.
Read Answer Asked by Les on March 01, 2022
Q: KEN is a holding company that has had quite a rise in share price over the last two years .....It has a 59% position in OPC Energy ...... A 26% interest in the shipping company ZIM and 12% in QOROS a Chinese auto company ..... Could you give me some details on these three companies ? And growth going forward ? At first blush it looks like a conservative company with a juicy dividend and a rising share price .... Also in your last question on the company you mention a 9.6% yield ..... My TD Waterhouse account shows 7.6% and Yahoo Finance shows 12.9% ..... Could you confirm your 9.6% number .....Thanks Garth ......
Read Answer Asked by Garth on March 01, 2022
Q: Hello I’ve been watching what has been going on in our world and it is terrifying and heartbreaking
Would you have a few cyber security stocks we could add to our portfolio and stocks that you would be looking at in these times
Thank you and take care
Read Answer Asked by Marla on March 01, 2022
Q: Read your answer to Ken's question dated Feb 25, 2022 to STLC question. You answered "..with the pricing discrepancy on the basis of hedging through the use of futures, management noted significantly lower prices for steel, which will dampen revenues." Looking at the charts for US steel companies: where NUE and RS hit new highs and X rose 10.45% on Friday. I would have thought this price action would also be reflected in Canadian steel companies (ie: STLC, RUS) based on "A tide rises all boats" theory. However this was not the case on Friday. Is hedging and/or steel tariffs the reason? Or maybe something else? Thank you your insight.
Read Answer Asked by Karen on March 01, 2022
Q: Good morning people. Could you please rate the following U.S. traded energy companies in terms of possible investment, and why one instead of another? BP, CVX, XOM, COP- As always, thanks for what you do
Read Answer Asked by Tom on March 01, 2022