Investment Q&A

Q: Re: the previous year's total return for the TSX, XIC the i Shares ETF says 25.06% and I have seen other numbers close to that. But the yearly performance without dividends is said to be 21.07%. So two questions: 1. What is the correct number? 2. If it is 25.06 or close to it how can that be so much higher than 21.07? The composite dividend yield was not 4%, correct?

Thank you!

Q: Do you still like this stock? It seems that it is not holding its own in the bitcoin space. If you do not like this stock ,would you suggest an alternative? I realize that the bitcoin space is speculative. Thank you for your reply. cheers

Q: Hello,

QYLD ETF has recently raised their dividend from 0.22 USD to 0.50. I am confused whether this is in lieu of paying out two consecutive months or is it a their dividend/share going forward? I am looking forward to your comments.

Q: Hi, I hiope that you had a nice holiday. I would like to add an ETF that provides a diversified health care focus. I am also desiring income / over growth. One such
ETF is HHL - Harvest Healthcare Leaders Income ETF. Questions:

1. Are there others that could be considered and if so how would you rank each, including HHL?

2. If I were to purchase HHL, which version should I consider HHL, HHL.B or HHL.U and why.

Thanks Len

Q: It’s my understanding that Chinese ADRs listed on the NYSE are in the process of being delisted. I don’t hold any directly but I have ETFs that hold them [IEEE. KGRN]. I’m assuming they will be directly affected. Am I best selling them, or holding them and waiting. How are the ETF companies likely to deal with any Chinese ADRs they hold. I’m sure they will appear in a number of ETFs that are not directly tied to China, for example BYD and BABA. I’d appreciate your thoughts. Thanks for the great service.
Bryan

Q: I was looking for a similar US etf to CWS. I like this etf but 5i seems to feel that the fees are too high so I would like your opinion on an alternative.
Thanks James

Q: Hi,

Do you think we're in in a 'commodities super cycle' - and if so - which CDN and US stocks/etfs would benefit from that?

Also, I know what carbon eta's GRN and KBRN do, but do you think they are good, safe investments for the long haul?

Q: Hi, Happy new year!!

When looking at the long term rates of return of Emerging markets, developed INTL markets, Canadian and US stocks, the US has outperformed by a mile. I hold mostly stocks that are Cdn and US and I have global international and developed exposure through the mentioned ETF's, which only account for around 6% of my total portfolio. My questions are:

1. What is the simplest way to break down portfolio exposure without getting too overly complicated and detailed? Currently I break it down by where they trade. But for example, I hold stocks such as BAM, SLF, GOOG, JPM, V which are more global. How would I go about classifying some of these stocks? Would I allocate some % of these towards international exposure based on the company revenue breakdown, etc? any other metrics? Any good sites that easily summarize this info. or do I need to go looking through the companies financial statements?

2. Is there any mean reversion long term between CDN, US, INTL, and EE markets? So since INTL and EE has underperformed so much lately, is it time to rebalance equities from US to CDN/INTL/EE? Or for a long term growth investor, is the US still the best place to invest for growth whereas INTL/EE look cheap and have better value, although slower growth? Thoughts?

Q: What is the difference between VTIP and STIP? Is there an advantage of owning one over the other?

Q: My 25 years old son is starting a portfolio by buying all equity ETFs XSP (30%), TEC (30%), and XWD (40%) in Canadian dollars, which he intends to hold for a long time. 1. Is the selection of ETFs OK ? 2. Are there better alternatives in performance and fees? 3. Is the allocation OK? 4. Do you have any suggestion? Thanks.

Q: lOTS OF MONEY HAS BEEN MADE IN THIS AND SPACE SECTOR FOR RISKY INVESTOR WHAT TO BUY?

Q: I paid a lot more attention to my investment approach this year, and obviously used your service to make a lot of my decisions, slowing trying to align with the recommendations of your portfolio analysis. I currently hold 25 different stocks.

Looking back at 2021 my overall investment return was 21.41%, slightly lower than the TSX Composite Index of return of 21.74%.

I'm not unhappy with that return, obviously, but I'm wondering given my level of success if I should be simplifying my life and just moving to a few ETFs to cover appropriate geography/industries and forget about it.

This is probably a hard question for you to answer but you might have some insight.

Q: Not a question but more detail for Dan's follow-up inquiry. It is the Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF website: https://freedometfs.com/frdm/

Q: Hello, Just came across this ETF and it looks like an intriguing way of investing in the EV and battery ecosystem. I note it is off its highs and wondering what you thought of this ETF. Thank you as always and Happy New Year.

Q: I am trying to set up moderately conservative portfolio for my sister who is close to retirement. What do you think about the following portfolio: XBB 20%, CBO 10%, VBAL 15%, XIU 20%, CDZ 10%, XTR 10%, VGRO 10%, BAM 5%.

Thank you,
Milan

Q: Dear 5i,
Is TEC ETF CAD hedged?
Does TEC ETF hold all stocks directly?
The MER for TEC is 0.39 and the MER for QQC.F is 0.26.
If one already owned 8% VFV and 10% VVL in an RRSP and wanted to increase technology exposure by 2% which one would you choose?

thanks

Q: Can you provide a recommendation for the the equivalent to PFFA in Canada. i am heading into retirement so looking for dividends.

Thank you and merry Christmas

Q: Do you think that the growth of vertical farming/hydroponics offers strong investment opportunities, and if so, stock or ETF reccomendation?

Q: Hi Peter and Staff

Want some of my grandkids RESP’s getting in on FANG stocks (and apple) but obviously per share Cost of AmZN and GOOg would mean high concentrations. I believe there is an ETF that holds those stocks as a major part of their portfolio?

If so can you name it and % of its current holdings in each of FB, AAPL, AmZN , Goog and MSFT as well as any other significant holdings

Thanks for all you do

Q: I have had RBF7280 for a long time, since it was a PH&N Fund. Its MER is 1.43 and yield is 3.43. Would XHY be a proxy for it at a higher yield and lower MER?
If not, is there a different ETF that I could replace 7280 with?
Thanks for all you do. I sleep better during the downs now, and even better on up days.
John