Investment Q&A

Q: I originally thought equal weighted ETF’s were the ‘ cat’s meow ‘ then I thought, as a long term investor, I would not be adjusting my individual stock portfolio every quarter or 6 months just to achieve equal weighting with no other considerations as to why I am buying or selling the stock.
Your thoughts. Thanks

Q: Hello
Is there a low volatility ETF traded in US similar to BMO's ZLU?
It is my understanding that if the Canadian dollar appreciates against the US dollar the increase in value of the ZLU will be eroded. Am I right on this?
Thank you for your ongoing assistance

Q: Good morning 5i,
I want an etf to cover the US market in an easy to manage way. Given that objective, which of the above etf's would you choose and why? I noted in an earlier question that Vanguard had switched from VOO to VTI for its own pension plans, I presume because of the wider market: large caps, medium caps and small. Then we have RSP, which is similar to VOO but weighted differently. Once again, thanks for the great service

Q: What is your opinion re ETF ZZZD? In what type of market might it be useful?

Q: Good Evening
I have the ETF RBOT in my TFSA account and it is down 27%. I will appreciate your comments whether to hold it, sell it or average down.
Thank you as always.

Q: I hold the above. Is it true that institutional investors are not very active In the preferred market? If this is true then why should retail investors hold these investments, especially given the expeience .of the last few years with the reset disaster?

Q: Can you please discuss the tax consequences of placing VE in a TSFA, RSP and non-registered account? Thank you.

Q: Hi- Please point me to an ETF that is focused on 5G. Thx Frank

Q: age 80, have large amount to invest, looking to make up low risk portfolio that doesn't require constant watching

Q: I own both ZAG and VAB in equal amounts, are they similar enough that I should own just one?
I am retired and follow both the Income portfolio and Conservative ETF portfolio fairly closely.

Q: Hello is ther a way to invest in the Russell 2000 on the TSX, hedged or unhedged. Thanks, Bill

Q: Gentlemen,
There are some ETF in Canada & US with tax advantage others than Horizon
Thanks. Best Regards.
Wish You a better year than 2018.

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

Q: Are these ETFs complementary...or overlapping? Considering putting both in my RSP. Thank you. Similarly, would you consider RYT and QQQ complementary or overlapping? Thank you.

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.

Q: This momentum ETF, with a 5-star ranking (Morningstar), seems to provide a good selection of US stocks, with an excellent rate of return. Would you agree?
Is there a similar ETF structure for the Cdn market?
Thank you, Team!

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?

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.

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.

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.