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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 am retired, living on dividend income and looking for more yield to supplement my income. Thanks to 5i, I recently became familiarized with covered calls and chose ZWU yielding 6.5%.
Now I am interested in Debentures. I recently read in 5i Q&A a question on CSU.db debentures that guarantees 6.5% plus inflation rate to yield 7.5-8%, and your response was that it's a quality security.
Regarding Debentures, are they simply traded like a regular stock with scheduled dividends paid that can be bought and sold as I see fit without penalty?
Debentures seem like a low risk way to get a higher yield as the price hardly seems to fluctuate. Is this an accurate assumption?
Would you recommend for an income investor to invest 5-10% of portfolio into 1-2 debentures for higher yield? If so, can you recommend 1-2 that look most attractive for a 1-2 year hold?
Read Answer Asked by Curtis on October 13, 2017
Q: In general over the last little while when asked about favorite stocks in your portfolio you include SIS, TOY, PBH, CSU and GUD. I fortunately own all of them and have profited handsomely. Thank you very much! If you had to currently add a stock from each TSX sector which stocks would you pick? One caveat, please do not pick any of the 5 listed above! Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Paul on October 13, 2017
Q: Hello;
I am trying to understand/develop bench marks for stock screeners. I need input regarding 3 popular criteria; Price/Book; Price/Free(?)Cash flow and Price/Sales.
1. Please confirm suggest hurdle rates; Price/Book < 3.0; Price to Free Cash Flow < 10; Price/Sales ??
2. Which Cdn sectors can use these bench marks. I understand cyclical commodities have great seasonality/cycles and the above are not suitable. Please confirm and suggest sectors.
3. Should it be Price/Cash Flow or Price/Free Cash flow?

Thanks

Read Answer Asked by Shah on October 13, 2017
Q: Good afternoon,

I am looking for exposure to the US market, in my RRSP. According to your previous answers on this type of inquiry, an ETF would be the easiest way to go, since it automatically brings both diversification and exposure.

My time horizon is minimum 10 years and don't mind a medium amount of volatility, as long as the returns are there in the end. My plan is to invest into the chosen ETF each year, so that my exposure to the US market is taken care of.

I have been looking more closely at VGG, VFV and VUN, mostly out of the reputation of Vanguard products. The dividend growth orientation of VGG sure is appealing, but I am not primarly looking for income. Aside from that they all seem pretty similar.

I would like to know your point of view on these ETFs I mentionned and if there are any others that you consider that would fit better in a long term plan.

Thank you very much!
Read Answer Asked by Pierre-Charles on October 13, 2017
Q: Good morning! Could you please give your choice of a Emerging Markets ETF. I have just looked at Goldman Sachs "GEM" which has been recommended. Do you like it or is there another that you would choose. Thanks, as always your opinion is so appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by Susan on October 13, 2017
Q: Hi there, I was thinking of the putting a small amount of mad money to work in block chain technology. I believe the 3 mentioned names play in that space. Were there any more that I have missed? I know each is completely speculative at this point - but is there one that stands out as having more potential than the others? Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Michael on October 13, 2017
Q: I have a portfolio that mostly mirrors your balanced portfolio with some stocks from your growth portfolio. In tech I hold PHO instead of SYZ which has worked out great. However in consumer discretionary I hold a 2% position in XTC instead of MG which has not been as great. I also hold TOY (5.6%) and DOO (3.5%) instead of GC. I have a 1.5% cash position to put to work and am trying to decide on adding a half position in GC or adding to XTC. Alternatively I could sell XTC at a loss and buy a full position(3%+) in MG or GC. Your ideas would be appreciated. Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Paul on October 13, 2017