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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: Conservative, retired dividend investor. I've held Sentry in my Cash account since 2012 and sold 25% in 2017. My current weighting is 3.8% of my equity holdings. I didn't mind paying the hefty 2.44% MER when it was performing well. The last few years I have periodically compared it to ZRE and XRE, hoping for a turn around but my patience is running out. Now to be fair, Sentry reconfigured their REIT Fund a few years back to make it a global fund. Therefore the comparisons are a bit or apples vs oranges.

For the 1-3-5 year periods as of Dec 31/18, Sentry has returned -1.5%, 2.5% and 5.7%, while paying a 6.7% dividend.

ZRE = 3.2%. 11.3%, 7.3%, while paying 5.0%

XRE = 5.8%, 10.5%, 7.0%, while paying 4.8%

Question #1 = please confirm that all of these returns include the dividend payments.

Q#2 = while I love the higher dividend via Sentry, it really is all about Total Return over the long run. Is the global nature of Sentry (diversification) worth the lower returns?

The goal for this allocation is for stability, income, then growth, in that order. I am leaning towards selling Sentry and buying ZRE, due to the equal weight allocation. There are minor income tax ramifications.

Your advice is appreciated...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on January 15, 2019
Q: Does the following make sense, or is there a flaw I'm missing? For a beginning RRSP with 35 yrs to retirement: 50% VGRO and 50% equal amts TD, EMA, PBH, BEP.UN? ( to increase Cdn exposure and to make a little more conservative)
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by M.S. on January 14, 2019
Q: We are often counselled to hold US dividend-yielding securities in an RRSP, since there are no withholding taxes (as opposed to a TFSA). However, let's say I hold a Canadian-domiciled ETF that holds US dividend yielding stocks, for example, ZDY. The ETF automatically withholds foreign tax (eg. in 2017, ZDY paid 0.140134/unit in foreign tax), that also cannot be claimed on a Canadian tax return, so isn't this just as disadvantageous as holding this same ETF in a TFSA?

Read Answer Asked by Walter on January 14, 2019
Q: At current levels this ETF is down ~21% from highs set in January 2018. With a ~4% yield and 18B in net assets would you see the current levels as attractive to begin to step into the ETF? In your opinion is brexit already priced into this ETF, or would expect more downside should brexit go through? Your thoughts on the opposite scenario where Britain remains in the EU would also be appreciated. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Marco on January 14, 2019
Q: I am interested in an AI/Robotic ETF. I know you have recommended BOTZ in the past.
Are there any Canadian ETFs in this space you would suggest? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Wendy on January 14, 2019
Q: My daughter TFSA contains the above stocks. She can add 1 (full position) or 2 (half position) this year. What would be a good fit for her present holdings? Would you suggest selling Stella Jones &/or Telus and replacing it with something else? She has a long time frame as she will not need the money in the foreseeable future.
Read Answer Asked by jacques on January 14, 2019
Q: Further to my previous question on these etfs. if I buy these etfs and they over time accumulate gains from distributions. And I then sell some units for income is my gain or loss solley dependent on wether I sold above or below my purchase price or could I in fact sell for my exact purchase price and still have a cumulative gain from distributions from the swap? Also in your opinion would these funds as start ups be a poor way for a retired person to avoid income as to gain on oas and gis ?
Read Answer Asked by Larry on January 14, 2019
Q: I currently hold a global infrastructure f class mutual fund (CIBC Renaissance ALT062)in registered acct's. It has had poor resent performance with a big drop at the end of 2017. Cause?( It has a 15% investment in UK and top holding in Eurotunnel). Could you recommend an ETF or company as a suitable replacement. Also, would it provide more choice and liquidity if I converted to US dollars?
Read Answer Asked by Peter on January 14, 2019
Q: I am retired and have over the last year built a somewhat diversified portfolio that is geared toward income. I own 1000+ shares of the following of stocks and ETF’s.
Stocks : AQN, ENB (2K), BEP.UN, CVE, RY, SLF, BCE, CPG, IPL,NGD,BT,TD (U.S.),GE (U.S.)
ETF’S: ZEF,ZWE (3k),ZWU, CYH, REEM (2K),MFT (3K), XTR, ZMI (2), ZWP, ZDM, ZPW,ZWH.
I am presently holding an additional 45% in cash and feel that I am lacking in US exposure. I am thinking of purchasing either HEA or ZDY. I like the yield of HEA (6.46%) vs ZDY (2.96%). My question is should I be worried that there is not a lot of daily volume with HEA, in fact some days none. 2. How does someone go about buying 20,000 shares of an ETF with very little daily volume? Is there another ETF(income) that pays a minimum of 3% yield with a broad US exposure that you would recommend? Please note this is for a 5-7 year hold. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by Brian on January 14, 2019
Q: what would you think of the following strategy?
instead of paying the high MER of ZLB i buy the top ten stocks listed under ZLB in the proportions listed and then at the end of each year I readjust to match their new top ten? i know this would involve some trading costs but even if all ten would have to be replaced (not likely) i would still be ahead. anything i am missing?
Read Answer Asked by Astrid on January 14, 2019
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