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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 Team,
I was hoping you could help explain something. I own a five-year corporate bond ladder. This year to date the value of my bonds have fallen 0.91% (which on its own is fine as I hold the bonds to maturity). I am unclear why my bonds would underperform VAB (up 3.56%) and CBO (down 0.16%) in the same timeframe.

I realize VAB has a longer duration on average than my ladder or CBO. Credit quality may be better in both funds, and mine are typically in the BBB range. But is there any other reason why bond funds should outperform specific bonds in a ladder? Is there a scenario where a bond ladder will outperform the bond funds?

Finally, is there any advantage to owning bonds in a ladder at all?

Thank you. Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on July 07, 2016
Q: I have been wanted to diversify my portfolio and I was wondering if this is a good list or a bit of overkill. I have recently bought some XBB. I want these for fairly long positions, my concern is that I might be over paying for these as everyone is fearful and flocking to bonds as a safety net. Would it be wise to let things settle or buy partial positions in these etfs. Also would it worthwhile also owning some us long term treasuries. I am looking to try to cover all possibilities so I am not chasing in the future when market conditions change. I would like diverse group to cover inflation, rising market, recession. I know that I cant take all risk off but I would like have some safety net and not hold all equities.
Read Answer Asked by Geoff on July 07, 2016
Q: Hi Peter
I have been doing well with TNC over the past few months and it is up to 5% of my portfolio with a 50% gain. You still rank it as a B- but since your last report it has doubled its Market Cap and finalized its most recent acquisition. Would you still consider it a B- because of risk? Do you think I should take profits or let it ride a while longer. It is rather illiquid at times.

Also KUDOS on your chapter in the Market Masters book by Robin Speziale. I am on my second reading. It is the best book on investing I have read. Extremely diverse ideas. From common sense to algorithms. I highly recommend it!
Read Answer Asked by Bryan on July 07, 2016
Q: I've decided to sell DH as other than the dividend I don't think it now has the management or leading edge technology to compete in the US anymore. They had a good business for many years but have not kept pace. Looking for a replacement in a RIF which includes MIC, IPL, EIF, KXS, ESL, KEY & WSP. Your recommendations. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Robert on July 07, 2016
Q: In Jan 2015 I had 7.55% of my portfolio invested in Energy companies. BP (ADR), SU, CVE, Encana, and Total SA (ADR).

I watched these companies fall to all time lows earlier this year and now recently they are going back up again along with price of oil.

I plan on selling one or two positions in Energy and reallocate the funds into other sectors.

How would you rate the companies I have listed above and which would recommend selling.

Regards

Read Answer Asked by Stephane on July 07, 2016
Q: I've own WSP since 2014, though still sitting on a 10% gain, I'm frustrated by the poor results of the last year or so. If I choose to reduce this holding, I would like to pick up something in the renewable energy sector. The two candidates I have in mind are BLX and INE. Which one of these two, in your view, has the higher growth upside and the potential for sustainable increase in dividends? Or staying with WSP would be a better option than switching to either of these two?

Thanks.

Read Answer Asked by Victor on July 07, 2016
Q: RE below your answer still does NOT appear (even in your reprint and attempt to remedy this:

July 07, 2016 - Asked by M S

Q: Your answer to Oliver ( July 6) seems not to have printed. He was asking about his allocation to the 12? sectors.

5i Research Answer:
This is strange, so our IT team is checking what happened here. Here is the question and answer:

July 06, 2016 - Asked by olivier

Q: Hi,

I have a diversified portfolio consisting with the majority of my money being in etfs: XIU, XEI, VTI and VXUS

I use a spreadsheet to calculate my sector allocation.

At this present moment in the macroeconomic cycle, should I be equally weighted across the 12 sectors ?

If not, in which sectors should I be under and over weighted respectively ?
Read Answer Asked by Scot on July 07, 2016
Q: I realize these two companies are very different, but both have had a nice share price reduction recently (well, nice if you're a potential buyer!). Straight-up question: Which would you choose for a better TOTAL return over a 5 - 10 year time frame?
And do you see a material difference in net risk between the two over such a time frame? Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by James on July 07, 2016
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