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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: Hello,

I am gradually adding companies to my portfolio when the funds become available. My question is, should I also be selling portions of my stocks that are doing well to fund my next purchase? Or should I only do this if one stock has taken off and created a significant overweighting? I guess what I'm trying to decide is if it is more important to quickly diversify or to let time do its thing and patiently add companies when able.

Thanks,
Al
Read Answer Asked by Alex on March 15, 2017
Q: Good morning 5i team,
How do you make the distinction between heat chasing (i.e. buying a stock that has gone up significantly due to popular demand) and momentum investing which you seem to like a lot and which, on the surface at least, consists in buying a stock that has been rising in price for some time? Going by all that I have read on investing, heat chasing is very risky and to be avoided while momentum investing is an approach you often recommend. When does momentum investing become heat chasing?
Robert
Read Answer Asked by Robert on March 15, 2017
Q: Hi 5i,great information. Only wish I had found you sooner. I am a 60yr DYI investor, I inherited 100,000 and decided to invest with a CIBC financial advisor in a balanced ETF.
Now seeing your great site I am thinking to move my money, into one of your suggested model portfolio's (save on fees & diversify).
My personal investments are both ETF & stocks I am heavy in financials & precious metals. I have just recently started the google app which is helping me to identify where I am heavily weighted.
What are your thoughts to have mixed investments? Or move ahead doing all investments on my own? Looks like a lot of work to initiate but once engaged perhaps not so much work?

Thanks

What are your thoughts?
Read Answer Asked by Paulette on March 14, 2017
Q: Just a comment
Over the past 3/6 months I have witnessed a significant activity in the micro cap and the small cap "bought deals" at discounted prices that are simply an insult for retail investors (Ie. the suckers..... I am one of those...). Discounts of 30 to even 50% are in the order of the day. The last one Acuity deal for 3000000 units at $ 3.4. Price this morning ... (drums rolling....) $4.25 at the open.
Well I have my idea about this gouging.
1/ Everybody is trying to is trying to grease their wheels before they cannot do it anymore, and nobody Ie. the Pros?? would buy acuity at 4.4 even 4. I agree and I would not except I am frustrated not to be able to get my fair share at 3.4.
2/ The market space has changed drastically with spreads so big that a mammoth would fit easily, Prices quoted are the reflection of TSX while in the meantime The pros are trading on Aequitas, Alpha, CSE, Instinet, Matchnow, Nasdaq CXC, CXD, and CX2...
3/ short sellers have a wonderful time in Canada, IROC nowhere to be seen or heard.

So what to do?
1/If you take ownership of your stocks take advantage of the gift that shor sellers give you (PHM anybody)
2/ Accept the fact that you are not the Alpha one around and that your power is limited, but refuse to be fleeced.
3/ Do not trade blindly Ie. open orders and follow YOUR stocks: Your level of comfort is directly related to your level of ownership.

Peter, your comment would be appreciated as usual.
CDJ

Read Answer Asked by claude on March 13, 2017
Q: Hi 5i
Due to one of the holdings becoming a runaway success it has turned into approx 30% of the overall portfolio value (I know you think this is a bet on one company, leaving that to one side my question relates to the the weighting of the remaining holdings). I'm uncertain as to whether it would be necessary to adjust the weightings of the remaining holdings and in what way. Growth/losses in the other holdings appears to be masked/muted by the overwhelming good fortune that is the 30% holding.

Thanks as always
Mike
Read Answer Asked by mike on March 10, 2017
Q: Hi 5i
When market sentiment turns against a company due to a miss, for example, in this case, like-for-like sales growth (1st slow down in 9 years), but accompanied by a dividend hike and an acquisition among other positives, how significant would you consider one miss? In terms of market expectations are some metrics far more relevant than others ?

I think it's too early to know whether "something has changed" but market reaction was brutal on one of my foreign holdings today (I won't mention which as its not a CDN or US holding).

I know this is a vague question but I guess market sentiment baffles me sometimes.

Thanks for any comment, greatly appreciated.
Mike
Read Answer Asked by mike on March 10, 2017
Q: Gentlemen,
If I want to buy puts to protect $1.5 million in S&P500 Index fund against a 10% decline in the market in the next 6 months how many SPY options do I need and how much do I have to fork out. Does it matter where your broker is? That is do the options listed on TD have the same price as those listed on Scotia.

Let’s say the expiration date is September 15, 2017.

I appreciate it if you detail the math and where you are getting your price from.

Thank you for taking the time to teach me and my fellow 5I members regularly.
Read Answer Asked by Saeed on March 10, 2017
Q: Hi Team,
A quick follow up to my earlier question about Central Fund. When you say "we would simply tender to the offer" can you kindly explain how I do that. The shares are in a discount brokerage account. Do I have to contact the broker? Thank you. Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on March 09, 2017