skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: I bought this etf a year ago. It is in my RRSP US account. The etf is up 7%. Should i sell and buy it back when it dips. It has 0.15% expense ratio. Can you treat these etf's like stocks, or should it be held long term. It keeps fluctuating, so I thought of cashing in. Is it a good strategy. Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Vinod on April 28, 2015
Q: There seems to be significant concern/fear/terror regarding the rather sudden and substantial drop in share prices of so many of these stocks (VRX,CRX,CSU, ESL, PHM etc); and the possibility of a change of "sentiment" and sector rotation out of these areas. If I read your replies accurately it sounds like you are saying "we don't know" - which of course makes sense. I am wondering though if there is a way to get some sort of sense of whether or not we are at a tipping point in these sectors.

With that in mind, my thesis is that evidence or indicators of sentiment and sector rotation could take the form of large trading volumes, particularly the big hedge funds taking profits and unloading these stocks.

Us lemmings tend to play follow the leader - often too late, i.e. after waiting and subsequently incurring even larger losses - and sell our shares out of desperation or despair!

If there is any logic to the thesis of hedge fund or other large fund trading activity?

If there is, do you have a way to monitor unusually large trading volumes in these sectors?

So, bottom line: if there is evidence of sentiment change or rotation out .... I want out too and now in order to avoid further losses.

Thanks for your help and guidance with this perplexing issue; and decision making.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on April 28, 2015
Q: Hi Peter and Team,

I own G, FNV and SLW representing in total about 6% of my stock portfolio. I am thinking of adding to my precious metals holdings (I like them as portfolio insurance and don't mind the dividends).

Do you think adding another 2% of my portfolio to these three holdings allows for sufficient diversification or would you suggest opening a new position in another company (and which would you currently suggest)?

Thank you. Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on April 28, 2015
Q: Hi Team, I want to pay down some debt so I am looking to sell some shares to rise the cash. I know many things come into play but of the following stocks which ones would you recommend trimming. BAD, CNQ, CSW.A, DC.A, DRM, GH, IPL, PKI, SU. Are there any you would remove right away? Let me know your thoughts.
As always your advice is greatly appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on April 28, 2015
Q: Hi I am a new member
I have look at all your Model portfolio and need to make a decision on how to invest 50k that is sitting in bank saving account not doing much
I am 54 years old plan to retire in 6 years
I think the Income portfolio is well suited for me
I am not sure if 50K is enough money to invest in all 20 equities
Should I pick 10 out of 20 to make my trading fee more reasonable (I have a self manage RRSP trading account)
if yes what would be your first 10 pick in the income portfolio
Read Answer Asked by André on April 28, 2015
Q: Hi Peter and team. As always I value your opinion. Presently I have the following health/bio stocks. GILD (US),XLV (US), GUD,PHM,CPH,CXR = 8% of my portfolio. I have just added CPH + CXR.Unfortunately both of them seem to be correcting as of late.
Questions:
(a) would you swap/change any of the present holdings or %
(b) Is the sector overbought and correcting or?
Read Answer Asked by Terence on April 28, 2015
Q: Hi Peter and 5iResearch Team,
Can you please advise on the outlook for Apple. I am up 25%, with Apple comprising 4% of my portfolio. Can you comment on the valuations for technology and the Nasdaq? With valuations at record levels, are these reasonable given profits, economic outlook. Thank you. Linda
Read Answer Asked by Linda on April 28, 2015
Q: I see today that Credential Direct has listed Knight Therapeutics(GUD) as bearish in todays alerts. todays's closing was 7.75. and Credential alert is 5.10 - 5.60. Would you recommend selling at this point or holding. Thanks. Ernie
Read Answer Asked by Ernie on April 28, 2015
Q: Just a follow up comment and question to my recent question on writing calls on Apple. Sorry, but I think I had the wrong ticker (I see that it's recorded as APPL rather than AAPL; I only realized this when I was trying to refer another 5i member to the answer and couldn't find it by searching the ticker). As a related question, your answer made me wonder if there are some obvious Canadian candidates for doing covered calls (I.e., high volatility, cash-rich, with a dividend)? Methanex? Magna? Thx!
Read Answer Asked by Steven on April 28, 2015
Q: Your answer on tax loss selling was straight forward. but I would like a bit more clarification on average cost / ACB, as I think there may be two averages costs. The first being the "Bucket Method" What is the average cost of your holding in the bucket at time of sale. This method seems to follow all of the CRA's publications on Capital Gains. The second method could be your average cost of your holding for the year. I think whatever method you choose you have to be consistent in application forever. I would appreciate comments on both of these average costs, or is the second average cost just incorrect. Further on taxes is the question pertaining to selling options that carry over December 31. Do you have a Capital Gain when you sell the option / receive the cash or is the Capital Gains deferred until the option expires. As you can buy back the option any time until expiration date and therefore the contract is not closed. I am sure many readers can express comments on the above.
Read Answer Asked by Al on April 28, 2015
Q: Could I please have your current view on Milestone Apartment Reit as a TFSA holding? Is there another apartment Reit that you would prefer?
Thanks
David
Read Answer Asked by David on April 27, 2015
Q: What oil companies would you recommend currently with a long term hold outlook? I currently have holdings in BTE and CPG.
Read Answer Asked by mike on April 27, 2015
Q: Good day to all. Not sure why agt dropped 5% today, any concerns you see, or buying opportunity?
Read Answer Asked by Tom on April 27, 2015
Q: Hi, would you consider investing in healthcare REITs at this time? In your opinion which would be the best one to invest in right now?

Thank you,
Read Answer Asked by Philip on April 27, 2015
Q: Worry about "sell in May & return in Nov".Please provide 6 stocks, which normally do well in the above period,from your 3 portfolios plus 3 if any from outside your portfolios.Thanks a lot for your normal great services & views
Read Answer Asked by Peter on April 27, 2015
Q: My accountant is strongly in favour of keeping our U.S. holdings under $100,000 to avoid having to file with the U.S. government. Could you comment on this. We also do try to invest in Canadian companies doing business in U.S. Alan W.
Read Answer Asked by Alan W. on April 27, 2015
Q: This stock has gone up

$14 in last 2 months

ANY THOUGHTS PLEASE
Read Answer Asked by Suresh on April 27, 2015
Looking for more? Sign up for a FREE 14 day trial! No credit card required

We invite you to sign up for a 14 day free trial of 5i Research!
Experience all the benefits and tools we have to offer; stock research, model portfolios, Q&A with our experts, and so much more. Join a community of like-minded investors today!