Investment Q&A

Q: The TSX has been on a tear since the beginning of the year and US Markets have hit all-time highs. Do you think the TSX is poised to make new record highs as well? I haven't been reading the financial news a lot lately, so I'm not sure if there is an irrational exuberance that is occurring right now. Would like 5i's thoughts on general market conditions.

Q: Oil industry.

David Fingold was on BNN Business Day Monday stating that in general over the last 50 years oil stocks in broad terms were a poor investment, only beating the average market twice, and that often their dividends were paid out by more stock being issued. A comparison to the airlines was also made.

Please comment.

Q: I realize that different sectors likely have different ratios to analyze fundamentals but in general what do you consider the most important ratios to look at and what range is good vs bad - such as PE, Price to Cash Flow, Price to Sales, et.
Thank you.

Q: Hi,
My son is taking a break from active stock picking and has gone with this ETF model: VUS(15%), VBU(5%), VCN(22.5%), VAB(5%), VI(22.5%). His investing horizon is very long (10-20 years). Your thoughts on the individual ETFs? How about sector & geographic diversity? Any other concerns?
Thanks!

Q: In your research reports, I really like the "Report Card" section that contains a summary of company financials on the first page. I have two questions about it:
1. How are you calculating ROE?
2. Where are you getting the financial data? Does it come directly from company filings?

Q: On Friday, July 22 there was a pull back - some of my holdings came back approx. 1%. CXR sold off 5%. Any reason. X dividend - sell after x dividend date to capture dividend? Buy before x dividend date to capture dividend date? Thank you, Dennis

Q: In numerous answers to investment questions you refer to the Q&A Section. I cannot find this section.
Please tell me how to get there. Thanks
Mike

Q: I am a retired senior managing and living off his dividend portfolio.

What do you think of using leverage- no more than 10% of portfolio value?

Can you seeing selling some of these equities when new highs are reached and re-investing the after-tax proceeds?

At the moment it's just buy and hold.

Thanks.

Paul

Q: At canadianmoneysaver.ca/events I would like to register for your
Canadian MoneySaver Day. The Register button takes me to the main MoneyShow registration page. Do I register here for your Canadian MoneySaver Day?

Q: Healthy 93 year old has enough cash flow from pensions, GICs, etc to cover all long term care expenses. We have a million in fixed income such as Gic, 3 year bond ladder. We have $200k in prefered shares. We are purchasing $10k positions in the income and balanced portfolios. Any thoughts about this approach to managing our fathers money?

Q: July 22, 2016 - Question Asked by Hector:

x_dividend: The answer given assumes a zero day settlement. A buy on the 16'th with a 1 day settlement
will settle on 17th (the x-dividend date)? Not sure what the settlement days duration is but its not zero.

Q: There was a question that mentioned a list of top ten USA stocks for an option writing strategy. Just wondering where I can find that list.
Thanks

Q: My son turns 18 this August, when can he begin his TFSA?

Q: Total return index ETF; is it good ?

Q: This question has to do with research. Recongnia shows Ithaca as being under valued, with ESP growth rate of 35.6% and a Rate of return of 185%. Do you put much store in this kind of research.
GUY R.

Q: What are your thoughts on this new ETF? Global Momentum Factor ETF (VMO)And the momentum strategy employed vs a plain vanilla index as the global portion of one's portfolio?

Q: Hi 5I team. Can you please tell me if companies in general have been increasing their dividend payout ratios? Where might a little guy like me find this information? Benjamin Graham had written something like "Never buy a companies stock only for its dividend." Probably pertaining to value traps but in this environment many people are being forced to do this. This makes me worry about some of the higher debt levels and earnings decreases perhaps many companies that are increasing their dividends are chasing investors in hopes of higher stock prices. I realize every company has a different story but market sentiment pushes everything in the same direction irrelevant of what is happening individually. Thank you
J

Q: I have been dabbling with momentum investing recently after reading endorsements of a 70% value 30% momentum approach. I haven't been able to find too many concrete details on momentum process, mostly vagaries. So far, I have been keeping things simple - buying names with reasonably good fundamentals and strong momentum over the last 6 or so months and riding the momentum until 10 day SMA crosses below 30 SMA. The results have been mixed so far, I reckon I've come out about even. Does this approach seem more or less sound based on your experience? Are there other details you might include in the process (i.e. absolute loss limit in addition to SMA trigger)? Finally, how to stick to the process when markets are in a down trend (i.e. very few stocks have good performance in last 6 months) -- I assume it's important to stick with the process to catch momentum when it turns.

Q: I recently purchased shares of Magna on the idea that the sector is simply oversold and given a 5 year time horizon is as close to a sure thing as there is in the markets. When I look at the US markets in particular there are a lot of still beaten down sectors. Automotives is one of them. In Canada I am having greater trouble finding these kinds of bargains, while in the US there are chemicals companies, consumer discretionary companies, oil refiners and even banking which are very cheap and all of which could make some very nice moves akin to the one made in the materials sector these last few months. Do you see any of these unloved sectors here in Canada and/or which of them either here or in the U.S. would you currently favour. Thank-you as always for your answer.

Q: Please let me know your general theory on the following. Assuming one believes in getting dividend ( predominant ) income, interest income and capital gains what are your thoughts in allotting these between a TFSA, RRSP and regular margin account. Assume that RRSP and TFSA are maxed out contribution wise.

Thanks

Paul