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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: Peter and Ryan, appreciate all that you do both with this service and with your blogs and bnn segments.

My question/comment is valuation based. I began investing a few years ago and was taught/told and preached how important valuation plays as a factor in stock picking. A few years later said value/cheap stocks I got in generally underperformed while all the higher valued companies continue to appreciate. Just this past summer I held off on such stocks with strong fundamentals such as BIP.UN, CSU, NVDA, RBA and MTY because of "expensive" valuations only to continue to watch them go higher as I've seen this story play out time and time again since I began investing. So now I concentrate on fundamentals and technicals for confirmation and not so much valuations. I know you guys don't mind paying up for quality and growth generally so just wanting your thoughts and comments on the matter. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by George on November 28, 2016
Q: On October 24th you posted an article by Michael titled Looking for Profits During Tax-Loss Season. In the article thete is a list of companies and it sets out their percentage decline this year and their expected growth the next year. What are the top 5 companies in this list you would recommend based on fundamentals that are currently valued attractively that will grow in 2017?
Read Answer Asked by Grant on November 27, 2016
Q: I am considering adding to my positions in SLF and TD. Given murmers that Poloz is considering a cut in interest rates on Dec 7, I'm wondering if it's wise to wait until a decision is announced.
Further, could you comment on the implications for these 2 companies in an environment where we see Canadian rates staying the same or going lower while American rates are trending upward.
Thanks for the great service!
Read Answer Asked by Warren on November 27, 2016
Q: I have never understood the mathematics of OPEC'S potential production cuts. If they cut between 1.1 and 1.7M barrels daily - including NON-OPECers such as Russia, that would be a 4-5% reduction. With that cut, oil will most likely rally at least 10%. So, it would seem apparent that producers could produce less of their reserves and generate more revenue/profit every day. If oil rallies to $55-60, the case is even stronger. I suppose the only hitch is the rest of the world pumping more but that can be mitigated somewhat by what world demand could handle as going overboard puts the situation back where it is now.
Sounds good to me. What do you think?
Read Answer Asked by Steven on November 27, 2016
Q: I have a $700,000 portfolio 50/50 including a mix of ETF's and stocks - blue chip value /dividend. I also have $60,000 in a GIC ladder with Oaken many at 2.5%-2.75% in TFSA accounts. There is $200,000 in a cash account, $50,000 with Oaken at 1.75%. I am 70.
I am expecting an inheritance of $300,000. Should I put this in more GIC's with Home Bank and Oaken or start a new series with your Income Portfolio or is there another suggestion?
Read Answer Asked by STANLEY on November 27, 2016
Q: Hi 5i. I saw an interesting interview on BNN's 'Money Talk' (Nov23) with Damian Fernandes of TD Balanced Growth Fund. He was discussing the impact that a Trump reduction of corporate taxes would have on the S&P 500.
Hereis the link : http://www.bnn.ca/money-talk/money-talk-trump-s-impact-on-markets-and-sectors~1001584
If you have a chance to see it I would be very interested in your opinion.
As a result I am looking into investing in a S&P 500 ETF. I have looked at iShare's IVV (US$) which has 506 holdings and a MER of 0.04% - this would require converting CA$ to US$. Two other Canadian ETF's are Vanguard's VFV containing 509 holdings and MER of 0.08%, and iShare's CA$-hedged XSP which contains 1 holding (being IVV) and has a MER of 0.11%.
Two questions:
1. can you explain why XSP (hedged) MER would be almost 3x the IVV Mer that is its sole holding.
2. I assume that Vanguard's VFV is "unhedged". Can you explain how the Hedged product (XSP) differs from the "unhedged" product.
Thanks as always for your great advice.
Read Answer Asked by Terrance on November 27, 2016
Q: Yesterday I put in a limited price buy for 100 shares of the ETF PEJ. It was filled with one individual stock. When I brought this to the attention of ScotiaItrade using their call centre I was browbeat by the initial answering person and then her supervisor. I did not know what the acronym AON meant and since I did not use the button on the order it was my fault I got a fill of one share. I have been using a discount broker for 19 years, am a fairly active trader and have never encountered this situation. I was told by the supervisor that board lots only apply to the TSX and not the US Markets. I would like to ask you if that is true and I will govern myself accordingly in future. In passing it took 26 minutes or so to resolve this issue. Now to wait till Friday to order 99 shares using AON.
Read Answer Asked by James on November 27, 2016
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