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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 very little US exposure and have US$40,000 in my RRSP that I am looking to invest. I have looked at questions and profiles on VIG, VIGI, VYM, VTI and DGRO but I am unsure which of these or others ETFs would be best and am looking for some direction. What low cost, large US $ ETF or ETFs would make the most sense with the goal of maximizing US$ dividend income. This will be a long term holding.
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Mark on January 22, 2020
Q: Currently my only international exposure is with VEE and ZWE. Can you please recommend 2 international equity ETF's that would compliment these?
Preferably one low cost index and one high yield.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by EVAN on January 22, 2020
Q: Hi There

I'm needing to add some international exposure (outside NA) to my portfolio and am also under weighted on Financials, Healthcare and Industrials. I'm 38 so growth is the focus in portfolio. Can you recommend 5 top options to fit this mix - ETFs or individual stocks. Some will live in RRSP, some unregistered if that makes a difference in suggestions.
Read Answer Asked by Ryan on January 22, 2020
Q: RE: -- Stephen's 2020-01-22 question on VGG & IWO --

Comparing VGG vs IWO over last ~ 7 years (details below), VGG has less risk/volatility (beta), a higher dividend, and a better return (based on risk for the ETF category). As I slowly adjust my portfolio this year to reduce downside risk when a market correction eventually hits, what do you think of moving some or all IWO to VGG. Most interested in your thoughts here.

As always, thanking for you wise advise.

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Ticker IWO VGG
MER 0.24% 0.30%
Dividend 0.70% 1.20%
Beta (Risk) 1.12 0.74
Style Small Cap Growth Large Cap Blend
P/E 25 26
Mkt Cap $9.8B $625M
Risk vs Category Average Risk Average Risk
Return vs Category Average Return Above Average
Morningstar Rating *** ****
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Read Answer Asked by Paul on January 22, 2020
Q: Like many CDN Investors, I am overweight Canada. Plan to reduce that in 2020. Looking at candidates I find some "Canadian" investments have the majority of their assets outside the country. Example: BGI.UN - only 20% of assets are in Canada, yet it pays quarterly $CDN income. Seems it would meet my objective. Please provide names of other CDN-based candidates that hold a lot of ex-Canada assets and derive much/most of their income from those. Looking for US/International diversity and some $CDN income. I hold some US Pharma stocks directly and a Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF (10% of total portfolio). Thank you.
IslandJohn
Read Answer Asked by John on January 22, 2020
Q: Hello Team, thanks for providing a wonderful service! Would you have any recommendations for an Emerging Markets or Japan ETF?
Read Answer Asked by Jennifer on January 22, 2020
Q: Hi guys

Thanks for all you great information.
I have held both Morguard Corp (both MRC and MRG.UN) and Mainstreet Equity for quite a time period and done quite well in both, more than doubling my initial investment.
All these stocks have always traded at substantial discounts to net asset value, which has given me downside risk protection, and at one time I thought they might trade closer to NAV. In the past year I have heard from multiple BNN guests that Rai Sahi who runs Morguard, and apparently owns more than 50% of Morguard, could pay much more attention to delivering shareholder value, including moving the share price closer to NAV. So my question is, looking 5 years out, which company, MRC or MEQ, do you feel: 1) has better MGMT, 2) is in the better real estate sector to deliver value and 3) is most likely to see the share price come closer to NAV. A last question would be do you think either company is likely to receive an offer and be taken over by another REIT or pension fund, and if so would it be at NAV or above?

Thanks in advance

Stuart
Read Answer Asked by Stuart on January 22, 2020
Q: Hello, I'd like to know what you think of Roxgold and Semafo. Their latest press releases seem promising but on the other hand, the fact that their activities are concentrated in Burkina Faso may add a considerable risk. Is the business risk already included in the share price? With the rise in gold prices, this could be an interesting investment opportunity. If you had to choose between the two, which one would you take with the assumption that the risk is not considered too high. Thanks a lot.
Read Answer Asked by Stéphane on January 22, 2020