Investment Q&A

Q: If I expect the US dollar rises against Cdn dollar to where we see a low 60 cent exchange, what would be a good strategy now? Buy US stocks with our current 72 cent dollar?

Q: Hello 5i,
What do you think of REM as an income stock for a retired person?
Thank you.
Lisa

Q: I have used this etf several times in the past. Most recently, I bought about three weeks ago, fearing the economic effect of the virus. Each time I have bought I have felt that I have violated one of the basic tenants of investing...don’t buy something you don’t really understand. I appreciate that the etf uses derivatives, of course, and thus may be subject to the risks of the solvency of the counter parties. Could I please ask your advise as to whether counter party risk is an issue with this etf given its strong performance of late?
Thanks as always
Neil

Q: ZWK has fallen dramatically in this oil and coronavirus crisis. It now yields more than 10% with a 16 cent monthly distribution. Is this higher yield now a red flag for this ETF and U.S. Banks in general? Your thoughts are appreciated on the risks for it going forward, and given it's holdings and exposure to this downturn, and history, the likelihood that it may cut it's distribution. Thank you.

Q: Can I get your thoughts on this etf? It only has $34 million in net assets. I am looking for a government bond ETF with a 1 to 5 year bonds with a reasonable management fee. Trying to get a bit more yield than GICs while preserving my capital. Any other investments that can achieve this? Thanks for your suggestions.

Q: I am surprised that the CBO etf is down almost 8% over the past few weeks. With rates decreasing I would have thought the fund would hold up better. Is the eft down as a result of credit/default risk? Is this fear justified? Are the holding of high quality or risky? Thanks for your insight.

Q: ETFs
- is it correct that net asset value is determined once daily based on the closing price for the day?
- if correct, shouldn't the trading price reflect changes during the day, disregarding the NAV at close of the previous day?
- if the trading price doesn't reflect changes during the day, I suppose, in the case of a big change in underlying securities during the day, one should postpone a trade decision until the NAV for the previous day is published
- when will the NAV for the previous day appear in the quotation services? By open of trading on the following day?

Q: Peter and team
Could you please explain why XEQT was only up 3 percent on Friday's rally, while XGRO was up 6 percent and the TSX DJIA and S and P 500 were up close to 10 percent. Would that be attributable to the XEF holding
Thanks as always

Q: Hi 5i,
I am not 100% clear on stock and ETF's allocations for investment plans. Take as many points as needed to answer the questions below. I apologize in advance for the length of the question.

As a Canadian investing through a Canadian site (RBC in this case), split into CDN and US sections (moved CDN funds to USD and paid the exchange), which stocks and ETF's should be allocated to RRSP (CDN or US sections), TFSA, & Non-Registered accounts?

As an example, an RBC RRSP account is split into CAD and USD segments. If I purchase VWO in USD on the US segment instead of VEE on the CDN segment do I retain the 15% withholding tax? If I purchase VWO in CDN funds on the CDN side of the RRSP, what happens to the 15% withholding tax?

Is there a tax difference when filing a CRA 1135 form. e.g if VWO or VEE are 100+k CDN value: VWO on the USD segment or VEE on the CDN segment or VWO on the CDN segment.

If a US stock has a dividend, should this ever be purchased on the CDN side of the RRSP or in a TFSA? .. e.g. CRM with a small dividend or AMGN with a larger dividend

Can you please assign the best allocations (RRSP, TFSA, Non-Registered) to examples a the bottom of the question.
e.g. Non-dividend Growth US stocks (Googl, AMZN): TFSA, RRSP
This tells me that AMZN is best in the TFSA for growth, and in an RRSP purchased in CDN or US funds is the same effect other than currency at the time of purchase.
If a stock or ETF should be in CDN or US sections can you note that as well? e.g. RRSP(CDN or US).
It is a lot to ask so limited examples below will hopefully reduce the effort.

5i recommendations
Non-dividend Growth US stocks (e.g. Googl, AMZN):
US small Dividend Growth (e.g. IWO):
US Foreign ETF (e.g. VWO):
CDN ETF with US stocks and other int'l stocks (e.g. VEE):
CDN High Dividend (e.g. CDN Utilities/Reits/ETF's):
US High Dividend (e.g. US Utilities/Reits/Medical/ETF's)
All World ETF (VT):
All World ETF (XAW):

I very much appreciate your service and time to answer questions.

Jerry

Q: I am looking to follow the S&P 500. I am not sure what etf is best to use. I have seen you recommend VFV in Q&A but your model etf portfolios hold ZSP. Is there one you would choose over another? Is there another option I should consider? If you can advise if it is best to put in a register or unregistered account. I have room in both my TFSA and RRSP.

Thank you for the great service.

Q: There were a couple of questions today on BMO's ZCS. Both your replies suggested not too much concern holding the short term corporates over a longer period of time. Do you have differing thoughts on ZCM and ZLC? BBB rated bonds in ZCS, ZCM, ZLC are 36%, 58%, and 39% respectively.

Also of note all three seem to have a large discount to NAV. Yesterday between 4.3 to 5.5% (ZLC being the highest). Not sure that is normal, or not, as I don't look that closely and BMO doesn't appear to post the info.

Thanks

Q: Am looking into investing in ETFs that are exposed to China given things are returning to normal, new incidents of COVID-19 are down, Apple stores are reopening etc. Does this make sense? If so what ETFs would you look at?

Q: Hi 5i team,
I want to buy ETFs for my RRSP to capture the eventual market recovery. I'm thinking of the utilities and banks sectors. I understand that 'covered call' ETFs are not ideal to capture market gain in an upswing. Which ETF would you recommend for Canadian utilities industry? And which one for Canadian banks? Thanks.

Q: Why XGD went down on Friday? For the uncertainty market, is it good time to buy XGD?

Q: Hi, what is the Ex Dividend date? Thanks and Greetings, Peter

Q: ..how do you think HFR and CVD will perform as interest rates skid along the bottom?

Q: Hi 5I,

Looking back to 2008 the utilities sector held relative well to the meltdown of the TSX. This time around ZUT is following the TSX down. One would think people still need hydro to heat/cook.

Can you comment on why this is happening? Is there a fear these companies will become insolvent due to their balance sheets?

Thx,
Chris M.

Q: Is there an ETF that concentrates on 5G technology.
One that may be a candidate to acquire in the down market or would CSCO be a better choice.

Q: First off I just want to say thank you so much for your special report you issued last week. For a young investor like myself who has never been through events like we currently are experiencing your advice has been extremely valuable to help navigate these uncharted waters.

I have been sitting on some cash and would like to increase my technology (both Canada and the US) exposure as it is low right now. I am comfortable with moderate risk. I have a few questions on this subject so feel free to subtract as many credits as you see fit:
1) For Canadian tech companies, after reading your special report and the Q&A's, it seems you like CSU, KXS, DSG, and SHOP. Would you recommend buying these individual companies (or others?) or would XIT be a reasonable alternative with these 4 companies composing ~61%? Or is there another tech etf you would suggest?
2) For US tech companies (or any US company for that matter), with the Canadian dollar being low, would you recommend looking at specific US companies or a Canadian ETF that holds US tech companies? I am worried the exchange would eat into possible returns. Do you have any recommendations (e.g. I have seen you mention XQQ for an etf, SKYY highlighted in etfupdate, and companies like MSFT, GOOG, TEAM, etc)?

Thanks for all that you do.

Q: Hi,
Multuiple questions here, please deduct the credits you think are appropriate.

1) Can you please explain when it makes sense to hold a hedged version of an ETF
2) If one holds a Canadian ETF with US holdings, how does taxation work? Does it change whether they are held in a cash acct, TFSA, or RRSP and how?