Investment Q&A

Q: BITCOIN as an asset .
With the US approval of bitcoin ETFs the volatility of bitcoin will likely decreases. It was approved as a high risk/speculative asset. However the business media seems to discarded the warning and reports bitcoin related news like any established asset or company without any warning disclaimer and contributing to the hype of bitcoin.
What is your general take on bitcoin as an asset and would you invest in it?
What kind of warning would you give a small do your own investors in Canada who wander about investing in bitcoin? Thankyou.
Miroslaw

Q: I have this covered call ETF in my LIF account for income and am wanting to switch to a non covered call US dividend ETF can you give a recommendation? Thanks
Keith

Q: In a recent question concerning VFV held in a RRSP, you replied VFV is subject to Level 1 holding tax because it owns units in a US ETF. With regards to ZSP in a RRSP there is no Level 1 tax because ZSP holds individual US stocks & no US ETFs. Is this correct. Thanks … Cal

Q: Beside exchange rates effects, is there any major difference in owning a CAD bitcoin etf like BTCC.B vs one of the newly minted US BTC etfs? I use GBTC as an example but if there's some you like better please mention.

Q: Hello. can I get your opinion on these. Are they worth buying or can you suggest something else ? Thank you for the great service.

Q: What are the leading blockchain ETFs or companies? I'm more interested in focusing on the blockchain technology and blockchain applications used by numerous industries (financial, shipping, government, etc.) rather than focusing on any specific cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. Thanks.

Q: I currently own some VGCX as a market volatility hedge and due to my perception of its upward growth potentiality. Which of UVIX or UVXY would best complement VGCX as a volatility hedge in an otherwise sector and geographically diverse portfolio?

Q: I have part of my portolio in a self-managed account and another part in wealthsimple's roboadvisor. My fee only Financial planner said that he does not like the bonds in the roboadvisor which has an equal amount of ZFL (long bond) and WSGB (average duration of 5 years). It is not possible to change the percentage of ZFL to WSGB in a roboadvisor. Although I have really appreciated the service from the roboadvisor (I can have phone calls with a wealthsimple advisor) and love their platform, I am considering moving out of the roboadvisor because it is impossible to change the distribution of long to short bonds. In my self-directed account I hold ZAG - an aggregate bond. My question is: how does an equal distribution of ZFL and WSGB compare to an aggregate bond such as ZAG? Am I exposing myself to much longer duration in the roboadvisor compared to the self-directed account?

Q: Can you tell me the approximate P/E of ZEM? The fact sheet dated Dec 31/23 gives a P/E of 20.66 for ZEM. But can that be right, when for the same date VEE lists a P/E of 7.8x and XEC 12.39x?
Thanks!

Q: Recent news reports talk about “The Granolas”. European companies powering markets like The Magnificent Seven are doing. Any comments and are there ETF’S for them? Term coined by Goldman-Sachs, I believe.

Q: please confirm that Owning VFV in an RRSP there withholding tax is not applied? If it is do you have a suggestion on an S&P eft that would be exempt this hold back

Q: My question is on First Trust Rising dividend Achievers ETF, RDVY and RDVI. Wondering if you know much about them, or if you had other suggestions for a US ETF that holds a group of strong companies that are growing their dividends. Thanks.

Q: Please recommend the best fund for sitting on US cash. Thx.

Q: I have been invested into the two ETF’s: HCAL and HUTS. I understand that this is a leverage play i.e. 25%. What I do not understand is why are the monthly distributions so high? I did the math on both ETF’s added all the yields up added 25% and it should not be yielding at current percentage. This is not a covered call ETF. Is there return on capital? What am I missing here?

Q: Hi
i'm invested in zlb. When I look at the report posted on the Globe & Mail by Fund data, it gives my the percentage returns compared to a benchmark. However, the report does not say which benchmark it uses. Which benchmark do you think this is?
CALENDAR RETURN (%)
2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
FUND 9.39 -0.37 22.88 1.62 21.83 -2.78 11.09 13.04 2.67 28.54
BENCHMARK 11.75 -5.84 25.09 5.60 22.88 -8.89 9.10 21.08 -8.32 10.5
thanks

Q: You recently recommended US/CA equities at 65%/35%. With US ETFs and CDRs I am only at 20% US. I am considering significantly increasing my holdings of HXS, VFV, and HXQ to make up the shortfall of 45% US. Do you see any downside to this approach?

Q: Hi, your opinion for RBF- 620 series F of RBC
thanks.

Jean Guy

Q: Hi,

Your answer today on BKCC & BKCL prompted me to compare BKCC with Blackrock BKCL both of which have high dividends….and I still look for sustainable dividends and some growth. As 5i pointed out with BkCC ( usa) it “ tends” to pay a consistent dividend….BUT the share value has dropped from over $16 to about $3.70 today.

1. What is your best guess on the fate of Horizon’s BKCC over the next 5 years?

2. Given that Canadian banks pay consistent dividends and decent dividends….
again best guess…. would buying BNS, CMO, TD, RY, BMO be more likely to provide a better payoff over the same 5 year period.

Thanks.

Q: I Have exposure to all the sectors in TSX index in my non-registered account. All my investments are in Canadian companies except technology and health sector. I chose American equities for health sector because I did not think Canadian sector was true health sector. Instead I bought IBB-Q and VHT-A. What do think of my strategy? What do you think of the ETFs that I have in this health sector? What would be some alternatives?

Q: Morning Peter & Team,

Please recommend a minimal risk minimal volatility minimal fee ETF that will generate a good dividend? I am looking at liquidity within 6 months.

Thanks for all you do.

gm