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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: Hi Peter et al
I’m overweight in the technology sector due to significant growth (20% of portfolio) and am thinking of trimming. I currently have ENGH, CSU, AAPL, NVDA and GOOG in fairly equal weighting. I’m not sure whether to sell one of these outright, or just trim one or two back. I’d appreciate your thoughts. With the proceeds, I am considering adding CGNX to my Industrials, which currently includes SIS, WSP and NFI. Do you think CGNX would be a good addition, or can you suggest another CDN or U.S. stock to add in this sector? Thanks so much!
Read Answer Asked by Lois on March 08, 2017
Q: just a comment about your comments. I am in the real estate business and affordability is not always the driving force in prices. It is demand from offshore money, investors, both locally and from abroad. In Toronto, there is a lot of money that can afford these investments and a collapse in the housing market would mostly hurt the working people who if they had to sell or refinancing would be stressed. If investors have lots of money, they are investing with the risks. they do not need these investments to pay for their own food and accommodation. I have worked through the housing price correction in 1974,1989,2001, 2008 and it was brutal for some people but an opportunity for investors with money. Now we have the additional overseas money which even at 5-10% is paying up for real estate in an already tight housing supply market. Who would want to sell and have no place to live. There may be a correction in Toronto but the investment fundamentals have to change. Keep waiting.....
Read Answer Asked by john on March 08, 2017
Q: This is not a question but just an appreciation of what 5i has done for me and my family. I used to have a wealth MGMT company take care of my funds, but 4 years ago I found 5i. I started small with 5i to test the waters vs. my very expensive wealth advisors (2.5% fee plus 25% of profits over the TSX). In 4 years, my TFSA is up 226%; one of my other portfolios is up 102% in the same period. In 3 years my children's RESP is up 39% and in one year since I transferred all my other accounts I am up 20% in my RRSP; and my largest account is up 19%. The returns are so much higher than my fund managers ever did. In many of my accounts I have not sold any stocks in 2 years, not all have worked out, but my returns have. Just wanted to say a huge thank you.
Read Answer Asked by stephen on March 08, 2017
Q: I wanted to ask about Discovery Air, but the "ask a question" interface doesn't recognize either the symbol or the name - not sure this is how this is supposed to work. I believe that, in a previous iteration of this interface, 'DA.A' was recognized and searchable as such.

In any case, today's press release from Clairvest <http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/clairvest-update-on-its-investment-in-discovery-air-inc-tsx-cvg-2201427.htm> announces their intention to purchase (at a substantial discount) all the common shares not already owned by them or their affiliates. Supposing this occurs, does this devalue the convertible debentures, or do the debs effectively become a kind of private debt? Put another way, could this actually be good for the security of the debentures?

Edit/share (or not) as you see fit.
Read Answer Asked by John on March 08, 2017
Q: Please accept my apologies for what could be a request for a long-winded answer. You welcome to debit my 5i bankroll for 5 question credits in effort to better compensate you for your time.
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If possible, please provide your opinion on something I wish to term "Peak Credit" in Canada. We are all aware that Canadians are spending themselves into a life-long love affair with mortgages, lines of credit and credit cards. With Canadian interest rates at 35 year lows, the availability of loans and credit climb while region-specific real estate prices inflate to valuations that seem to defy logic. Young families in their 30's commonly have mortgage debt over $500k and barely earn the income to cover payments at today's rates.

In general, what is the mix of insured/un-insured mortgage debt on the books of Canadian banks? If wages are not keeping pace with inflation and the cost of living, how are Canadians ever going to own their own home? Are we doomed to a life of the English, where the concept of home ownership is more of a dream than it is a reality?

Do you feel banks in Canada are prepared for higher rates in the next 3yrs?

Is Canada showing the early signs of a credit bubble?

Do bank common stock investors have anything for fear?

Am I a coyote howling at the credit moon?


Thank you for your guidance. This topic should be on the minds of many Canadians.
Read Answer Asked by malcolm on March 08, 2017