Investment Q&A

Q: I have held Novartis for a few years and still show a profit of ~33%. However it has dropped significantly in the last 18 months. In the pharma space, I also hold Knight Therapeutic (GUD) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). I wonder if Novartis is still worth keeping or should I consider switching to something else (or increasing my holding in J&J or GUD). It represents ~1% of my portfolio which is well diversified but light on pharma. Although not your primary field of expertise, I would still appreciate any light you could shed on the company. Thank you for your valuable insights.

Q: Hi 5i Team,

Would you consider Unilever PLC "cheap" now, and a good buy for next year?

Thanks, Shane

Q: Hi Peter and Team!! I do not have any exposure to emerging markets in my portfolio. Could you suggest an ETF for me, and is it a good entry point at this time? Thank you, Tamara

Q: I think I want to buy an international ETF but don't know much about them. I already have shares of Fairfax India and the Mawer world smallcap fund. Do you have some suggestions of Canadian ETF's which might be good?

Q: The Emerging Markets took a bit of a hit today with ZEM being down about 2.5%. Would you consider adding to my position now or should I wait a bit to see how things shake out with the change in the U.S.? Currently ZEM is about 5% of my portfolio

Q: I'd like to get equity exposure outside North America through some ETFs. Could you recommend a few ETFs that would provide sufficient diversification across the rest of the world? Where should I focus? Europe? Emerging Markets?

Thanks,
Jason

Q: Based on your previous suggestion I did not sell my shares of this co. Today the share price has gone up from 4.55$ to 10.07$. Volume of shares traded is up from 2265 to 2,782,448. Should I sell or wait. Share price today dropped from 12 to 10.07. Thank you.

Q: Hello 5i Team,
Could suggest an ETF for each Canada, USA and international that would as closely as possble mirror the methodology used to contruct the balanced equity portfolio?
Thanks
Dave

Q: Currently, I have no exposure to telecoms. I am planning to buy Telefonica (TEF on NYSE) for potential growth in South America and high dividend (almost 9%). Could you please give your views. Is it a buy at current price? Also, is the dividend safe?
Thanks

Q: I bought Laura Ashley Holdings (LARAF) about a year ago, which owns Ashley Home Care in Canada. It trades below its Earnings Power Value (EPV) price and has a 30% return on capital but doesn't seem to produce enough free cash flow to cover the enormous 7% dividend. Do you think I would be better selling it and going into something else?

Q: Hi 5i Team,

Is FEZ a keep for the next 3 years? I have a full 5% position and down 28% since 2014 in my RRIF. What is a good ETF replacement for stable income?
Thanks

Q: What ETFS or mutual funds do you like for European exposure?

Thank you

Paul

Q: Hello: If you were to pick ETF's today for an RRSP, one to cover Europe and another the US, what would your choice be? Large-medium-small cap at this point would make very little difference. They would be for a long term hold.

Thanks, Brian

Q: I have topped up my TFSA to the full allotted amount (since 2009) and am now ready to invest it in a simple way. What are your thoughts about an equal weighting in xiu, spy, vgk, vpl, vwo and xlu?
Thanks
Jan

Q: I am considering one of Vanguards developed Asian Pacific developed countries etf. They are vah or veh. veh is hedged. Which do you prefer for a 5 year hold? I am a conservative investor and I am some what concerned about the Canadian dollar. Which would give the better performance over the indicated time frame? Thanx.

Q: Peter and Team,

My total portfolio is approximately 5% Gold Bullion, 9% Short term bonds (Brookfield Infrastructure 5 year and CBO), 86% Equity. The equity exposure is currently 7.5% in US Stocks (JNJ, SBUX, XYL, V) and 78.5% Balanced Equity Model Portfolio.

I was thinking that I am missing international exposure and am thinking that I should be adding some sort of ETF for this. I originally was thinking of building a portfolio including Nestle but I think that the weighting will be too small to build individual positions.

Can you please provide your ideas for ETFs that would provide international diversification given my current holdings and, if possible, any weighting I should be aiming for in terms of international position? I would describe myself as very much in line with the risk profile of the Balanced Equity portfolio.

Thanks!

Q: Hi team - I know you don't cover Novo Nordisk. I'm trying to find the dividend tax consequences holding this ADR in an RRSP. I have no success finding out what agreement we have with the Danish government. Are you able to help?

Is there any concern about competition for this company? Will margins suffer?

Jim

Q: What are your views on this company ?
What would be good growth alternatives for investing in Mexico ?

Many thanks for your outstanding work,

Jacques

Q: Hi Peter and Team,

In today's Financial Post, there's an interesting article called "Betting on the U.S. election via the ‘Trump ETF’"

If one wanted to "bet" on a Hillary victory, would a small purchase of EWW be a wise move? Any hesitation I have is due to currency risk, but I am unsure.

Thanks for any advice.

Q: Any insights? Deutsche bank is trading below 2008/9 lows and falling. I read top 10 hedge funds are pulling out.