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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: For international exposure in taxable account, what is your thought on:

EUFN: playing on european banks. pretty depressed but room to run with rebound?
EWT: a play on taiwan rebound?
EEM: emergering markets.

any other thoughts on CDN $ equivalents?

Should be aggressive in taking position now or buy in over time?

Read Answer Asked by Chris on October 15, 2020
Q: Just read your email update on preparing for potential increased volatility. One of the measures was to focus on lower beta stocks, which I do anyway. I went though all of my holdings (easy because beta is one of the metrics I track).

I was surprised with one of my holdings = CDZ, the Canadian Dividend Aristocrats ETF, whose beta is 1.1. I would have thought that with the very nature of this ETF that it would have a much lower beta. Can you explain why the beta is as high as it is?

Thanks for your help...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on October 15, 2020
Q: What are your thoughts on ONLN, an ETF for online retailers?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by TK on October 14, 2020
Q: What are the best bond etfs to own in Canada and US in your opinion? Please provide several options in both countries. Thank You.
Read Answer Asked by Mirjana on October 14, 2020
Q: What is your take on SPYC (sp 500 ETF with options overlay) ? Thanks ..Martin.
Read Answer Asked by Martin on October 14, 2020
Q: Hi 5i,

Thank you in advance for you guidance. It is much appreciated. So, I am very bullish for gold and silver. I have invested in physical gold and but I want to take advantage of gold and silver companies as well. I love The Gold Fund at EuroPacific Asset Management (https://europacificfunds.com/funds/gold-fund/) that is managed by Adrian Day, but it requires a $100K minimum investment for Canadians. Can you recommend a really great ETF or Mutual Fund that is similar?
Read Answer Asked by Tye on October 14, 2020
Q: Hello, a new ETF (stock symbol: HCAL Hamilton Canadian bank 1.25 x leverage ETF) is going to be released in the market soon. At the moment, I don't have too many Canadian bank stocks in my portfolio. The 1.25x leverage and 6% yield seems interesting, especially as the price of Canadian bank stocks are quite low now. What are your thoughts on this ETF? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Esther on October 14, 2020
Q: Good Afternoon
Can you recommend 3 stocks in Canada and the US that are good momentum plays? Also are there any ETF’s that track this that you can recommend?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Marty on October 14, 2020
Q: I have been following 5i advice for a few years now and it has served me well. Thanks! However, this is the first time I have had a question that I haven't seen an answer too in the forum; I some capital that I need to invest shorter term 1 - 1.5 years. Everything fixed pays next to nothing, so where should I be looking at this time? Bank stocks with a safe dividend? Other high dividend slow growth companies? If so, which would you recommend? Thanks, Dan
Read Answer Asked by Dan on October 13, 2020
Q: Could I have your views on the Emerge suite of etfs; EAUT, EARK, EAGB, EAFT and EAAI. Returns so far seem to be pretty good but wondering if some of those could become part of a personal portfolio. Haven't heard very many questions on these particular etfs.

Jacques
Read Answer Asked by Jacques on October 13, 2020
Q: Hello 5i Team. My question relates to the dividend on HFR. My plan is to use this ETF as a cash savings fund in hopefully a tax efficient manner. As such, can you confirm or comment on the following: from the Horizon web site (T3 Tax Distribution 2019) it lists the dividend as 93% "other income" and 7% as "foreign income". Can one assume that other income would be taxed as interest income by the CRA? If my assumption is correct, what other ETF options might one look that combines safety and tax efficiency? Many thanks. Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on October 13, 2020
Q: Could you please inform me on what companies you would recommend for for renewable energy? Mainly interested in Wind and solar power as well as an overall alternative energy ETF. Also what weighting in a portfolio would you recommend for this sector?

Thank you for you great service and expertise.
Read Answer Asked by Richard on October 13, 2020
Q: Hello 5i Team
I want to invest in an Emerging Markets Bond Fund or ETF. My preference is to invest in Canadian Funds. Choices I have found are:
iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) – Symbol XEB.CA
BMO Emerging Markets Bond Hedged to CAD Index ETF – Symbol ZEF.CA
RBC Emerging Markets Bond Fund Series D – Fund Code RBF1097:CA

Questions I have are:
1 – It is not clear from BlackRock’s website, but is XEB 100 % invested in BlackRock’s US ETF EMB:US ?
1 – XEB and ZEF net assets are $97M and $380M, is the lower net assets a concern?
2 - XEB and ZEF average trading volume is 1,707 and 2,664, is the lower daily average volume a concern?
3 – Although the MER for RBF1097 is 1.07% is this a better choice than XEB/ZEF whose MER is 0.54% and 0.55 % as the net assets for RBF1097 is approximately $1.7B?
4 – Any other ETF/MF that I should review?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on October 09, 2020
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