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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: I would like to understand better why preferred shares, as represented by CPD, plummeted in 2007-2008 and again in 2013-2016. They dropped about 35% in the first (recession) episode and about 36% in the second one. Most recently, between September 1, 2018 and now, they have dropped about 13%. How vulnerable would CPD be to another huge drop if the economy continues to weaken through 2019?
Read Answer Asked by Philip on April 05, 2019
Q: Hi there,

I was wondering if you knew of any Canadian listed ETFs that would be suitable for cannabis US MSO exposure.

Also, if one wanted to exposure, would you recommend an ETF such as MJJ, HMJR or HMMJ - or would you sooner buy a basket of a few big Canadian players?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Michael on April 05, 2019
Q: If you followed the Balanced Equity Portfolio and the Balanced ETF would you be fairly well represented in each TSX sector based on previous 5i answers and would you also be well represented geographically ie Canada/US/International ...40% ,35% and 25%. If not what would you suggest to come close to these percentages and TSX sector allocations?
Read Answer Asked by Paul on April 04, 2019
Q: I want to invest part of my portfolio in emerging markets. My present portfolio makeup is 89% CDN equities & 11% US equities. What percentage of a portfolio do you recommend be invested in emerging markets? What parts of the world do recommend for investment purposes & what ETF’s specialize in those areas? Thanks … Cal
Read Answer Asked by cal on April 04, 2019
Q: Hi Guys
I'm really starting to look at fund fees in my portfolio i.e.
ZWU management fee 0.65 & mer 0.71
SPY management fee 0.05 & mer 0.09
I'm not sure if its apples to apples given the covered call strategy of ZWU do you add the fees together for the total cost to reflect your total return.
Best Regards,
Tom
Read Answer Asked by Thomas on April 04, 2019
Q: ZHY: high yield bond fund. Sitting on a fair bit of cash in RIF & RRSP from accumulated dividends. Don't want to deploy into buying more shares (dividend growers) as I think there may be a buying opportunity in the near future: uncertain economy and interest rate policy. Mild recession - rates the same or may go down, and if no recession rates may go up again at some point. Each scenario will have an opposite effect of the price of this ETF. Best case please.
Read Answer Asked by James on April 03, 2019
Q: I currently hold WMT in my us non registered account. I like WMT as a defensive stock . Do you think selling WMT and buy VIG would reduce risk and still be defensive. At the same time WMT provides more leverage. Your thoughts.
Read Answer Asked by Roy on April 03, 2019
Q: Good Day 5i,
Which Canadian Dividend ETF's do you recommend, The main choices I have been looking at are CDZ, XDV, XEI, VDY, ZDV. I Currently hold CDZ and XDV.

Thanks,
Dan
Read Answer Asked by Dan on April 03, 2019
Q: I am interested in two ETFs from Dynamic iShares. Both are actively managed and both have limited history but the history they have is impressive. DXU is US oriented and DXG is global (the global fund has extensive US holding so may not be appropriate for diversification). I was wondering if you at 5i had any comments.
Read Answer Asked by Fred on April 03, 2019
Q: Hello, Just starting an RESP, roughly 18 years to grow, ok with medium risk, dividends would be nice. Starting off with $2500, adding that amount annually afterward. What would you recommend to start with, stocks or ETF's? thanks for the great service! Lavern
Read Answer Asked by Lavern on April 03, 2019
Q: Hi, In order to increase my international exposure, I am considering VIU. But I was wondering if there are any equivalent of IWO for international exposure (i.e. a more aggressive small/midcap international exposure), a low cost mutual fund may be an option as well. Thanks.

Regards,

Shyam
Read Answer Asked by Shyam on April 02, 2019
Q: Hello 5i team,
I have noticed from looking in the past 3 years that most of my losses have been from small cap stocks (BOS,MCB,RRX,RHT,etc...) and almost all of my gains have been from mid to large caps. I would still like to have a certain percent exposure to small caps without buying individual stocks.

-I was wondering if there are ETFs that track small caps in Canada or the US (or and ETF that tracks both) for the very long term?

-Are there some that would have a decent dividend?

-What is an ideal percent allocation for small caps in a diversified portfolio?

Thank You,
Andrew
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on April 02, 2019
Q: In February of each year, iShares attributes a significant amount of Non-Cash Re-Investment of Capital Gains for the previous year for holders of CEW. For tax year 2018, it was about $0.533 per unit (roughly 4.3% of unit value). This increases my average cost, so when I sell it in my cash account, my capital gain is reduced (or loss is increased) an equivalent amount. I don't mind this too much in a taxable account.
1. However, If CEW is held in a registered account or a TFSA, am I correct in believing this non-cash reinvestment offers no advantage whatsoever?
2. Why don't these ETFs simply issue a cash distribution? That would benefit owners irrespective of which type of account the units are held in.
Read Answer Asked by EDWARD on April 02, 2019
Q: Hi the dividend on this etf shows on iTrade as 3.43%. However the stated dividends of the big five show as being between 3.9-5.2% when I check them individually. Is the difference explained simply by the management fee/mer? Should I sell the etf and just buy say two banks and if so whIch two would you recommend? Thanks, Bill
Read Answer Asked by Bill on April 02, 2019
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