Investment Q&A

Q: I currently own Sylogist (SYZ), Avigilon (AVO), Constellation (CSU), Amaya (AYA), Fair Isaac (FICA - Q), DH Corporation (DH)and Enghouse (ESL) and am thinking of adding Evertz (ET). I know you like all of these companies (not sure about FICA) but I have two problems.

First, are they all considered technology companies, even though some are software base, they service different industries and some focus more on haresare? Can a portfolio safely handle 5% holding in each of these companies mentioned or os that way out of whack?

Second, if there is portfolio overlap, which are the "best' ones to own, in terms of long term holds.

Thanks for the superb advice. I am now well on my way to be being able to thank you for a constantly better looking retirement!

Paul F.

Q: TSX over 15000. When you hold a few companies that have gains at this time , would you sell all or half of companies such as cnr and CNQ. I only own 100 shares of each.

Q: In researching MST.un I discovered the reit operators have an external contract. Why is this considered bad and an internal contract good?

Q: Hello, What Canadian banks do not use the HFT arena. What trading venue is safe. Flash Boys gives the average investor insight into what occurs with trades. How does any investor feel completely safe?
What are your thoughts on the stock (ESP) Espial group.
Thank you for your time.

Q: Exceptional service. I am 61 and through your advice trying to become more of an investor instead of a trader. Could I have your opinion on my stock portfolio which are all in either in a RRSP or TFSA. I will have a small company pension at 65 and I do hold some GIC's.
Thanks

1.Consumer Cyclical – 11%
CGX – 4%
NFI – 5%
RPI.UN – 2%
2.Energy – 19%
CPG – 5%
IPL – 3%
SGY – 4%
WCP – 7%
3.ETF (Bond)
ZHY – 4%
4.Finance
BNS - 9%
5.Industrials – 14%
E – 4%
NAL – 5%
WSP – 5%
6.Materials – 8%
CHE.UN – 4%
WEF – 4%
7.Real estate REIT – 5%
BPY.UN – 3%
HLP.UN – 2%
8.Technology – 10%
DH – 4%
DSG – 2%
ESL – 4%
9.Telecom
BCE - 5%
10.Utilities – 11%
BEP.UN – 5%
ENF – 6%

Q: Hi 5i team;

I am reviewing my self directed investment accounts, 2 tfsa and 2 non registered with a total of 180k. Should I look at them as separate portfolios and weigh them accordingly (5%) or look at them as one?
I have 29 Canadian and 13 U.S. stocks within the 4 accounts, my top 6 holdings represent 25% and the balance averages 2% each. The majority of the Canadian stocks are "5i" approved!
Thanks again,
Jim

Q: re: portfolio question

saw how Antoine went about asking you to review his portfolio. very organized and well-defined. Can you please tell me how I can go about searching which sector a specific stock resides in?

thanks for all you do

gord

Q: If possible I would like your opinion on my rif portfolio- equity portion..
All holdings are "in the black" and I am up ytd. 25,000 on my equity positions and 5000 on my bonds.
Total rif. acct value is 428,000 split 309,000 equities balance corp.bonds
the portfolios is
1.all five can. banks
2.atd.a
3.acq
4.bce
5.zwu
6.zhy
7.bam.pr.p
8.cnr
9.cpg
10.dh
11.hcg
12.ipl
13.ppl
14.rei.un
15.sjr.b
16.t
17.wcp.

should I cut back on say banks and broaden the sectors that I am in? I am 71, medium risk tolerant and the fortunate recipient of a defined pension so rif is not ultra critical.
I am a new subscriber and just blown away by the exceptional value of 5i. What a great resource! Thank you.

Q: Hi 5i Team,

You have stated in the past that in your ideal world, stocks would be classified with 15 sectors (itemized below). Over the past year, you have suggested target sector weights that a model portfolio should aim for. I am doing some mid year rebalancing / new capital deployment with my portfolio and hoping you can fill in your updated target sector weights for the next 6-12 months based on what you see in the economy.

Capital Goods / Industrials =
Consumer Cyclical =
Consumer Staples =
Energy =
Financials =
Health Care (CDN) =
Health Care (US) =
Information Technology =
Internet / Software =
Materials (Gold / Silver) =
Materials (Metals) =
Real Estate =
Retail =
Telecommunication Services =
Transportation =
Utilities =
TOTAL = 100%

(Risk Profile = 8 out of 10 with long time horizon, current portfolio consists of 45% small cap, 25% mid cap & 30% large cap)

Thank You.

Q: This is question about AAPL but also about what you think of stock buyback in general. How does a stock buyback fit into your criteria for feeling bullish or bearish?

Q: I’d like your opinion on my currrent Canadian equity holdings (please note I own gold and silver as a sepearte part of my portfolio.) I couldn’t buy all of the ones in your two portfolios so had to make choices.
Is it diversified enough? Would you make any changes. Also, technically I am overweight in my Canadian holdings by one position (I should own 16, rather than 17). What would you suggest me selling? I’m wondering if I should sell ACQ because it has gone up so much.

ESL
BDI
CSU
MDA
POT
STN
T
AVO
BEP.UN
SJ
ENB
SU
TD
L
SLF (should I swap for HCG instead? Which will do better in rising interest rate market if housing declines etc?)
ACQ
BAD

Q: Peter, given the seasonal "sell in May" scenario, even though it seems irrelevant this year, combined with the extremely high TSX near record levels, would it not be prudent to wait till the summer to rebalance or increase current holdings, even in growth names like DHX, SJ, ACQ, AVO, AYA, BAD, SGY and WCP. Or are today's prices ok for a 3 year hold. Thanks as usual
Dave

Q: Hi 5i Team,

Can you please comment on the report from Seeking Alpha today that Moody's has downgraded big Canadian banks (e.g., BNS) to "negative" due the prospect of "bail-in" legislation being passed in Canada?

Also, any quick thoughts on how investors with discount brokerage accounts should respond to the possibility of a "bail-in" occuring should something really go wrong with their bank? Does it mean investors would take a haircut if they held stocks and bonds in their brokerage accounts?

If so, is there any defence an investor can mount?

Thanks so much.

Michael

Q: When asked to recommend 4 growth stocks on June 9th you suggested AVO,ACQ,BAD,and AYA. When asked a similar question today you suggest DHX,SJ,and WSP. Please explain why you would recommend completely different 'growth stocks' to the same query within a two day period? Otherwise when scanning the Q/A column for my own guidance I find this inconsistency confusing rather than helpful.
Thanks

Q: 10:18 AM 6/10/2014

Hello Peter :

I am confused as to which sector in which to classify certain companies which I own. The S&P/TSX lists a lot as "Energy" but you seem to classify some as "Utilities".

It seems important to know which are Utilities and which are Energy because as you said to Gord today, for example : "Altagas. As a utility, it should act quite differently from the oil and gas holdings, and may provide more diversification and balance to your portfolio."

Which of these are Utilities and which are Energy? : ENB, ENF, TRP, PPL, PKI, PSK, BNE, BTE

Where would you classify BIP.UN, and BDT ?

I would really appreciate it if you could please classify these for me. What maximun Secor weighting would you place on Utilities and on Energy in a large well diversified income portfolio.

Thank you very much.............. Paul

Q: Hi Peter: The TSX and others offer subscribers what is called a level 2 view of what order volumes are for a given stock both on the buy side and the sell side at specific prices. My question is if someone was to place a stop loss order does this show up on the level 2 feature. If someone was to be able to see stop loss orders on such a service they could manipulate the stock price lower then snap up the stop loss stocks at market prices. Is this a possibility?

Regards
Derek

Q: Dear Gentlemen,
Question : Consumer Sector (for PF balancing)
1) Do you consider Consumer Good, Consumer Defense and Consumer Cyclical as one sector or 3 sectors ?
Thanks
Best Regards

Q: As an avid market follower I value your comments on the market. Knowing that market timing is virtually impossible, what would your favorite indicator(s) be that we have reached the "euphoric" apex? Thanks for the great service! Ron

Q: Not a question, but a comment.
Greg asked about the "parking" of $2mill in a bond fund (Pender) for a short space of time and the fees being charged.
I am sure 5i do not want to advise this member to go to the full service firm management and complain about this purchase/advice for reasons of not wanting to get directly involved, but as a past senior management person in the Investment Industry I will say that this is what Greg should do.
This is client abuse, and precisely the type of thing that management at a reputable Investment Firm would not put up with and a complaint to them would ( I feel ) bring some corrective action.
( Following my management career I did some work acting for lawyers representing abused clients, so I have experience in this field.)
5i/Peter........understand if you do not want to post this comment on the site, but if not then maybe you can pass the advice on directly.....this sort of thing upsets me and the industry needs to clamp down on it.

Q: Both my parents passed away recently, and we are waiting for the estate to be probated. The Portfolio Manager has put all of the $2,000,000.00 into Pender Corp. Bond Fund Class F-NA. We expect settlement in about 2-3 months, and are being charged 1.5% Fee/annum by the PM, and another 1.5% MER by the Bond Fund.
Do you consider this a safe holding for such a short period of time, especially when we are trying to preserve capitol, not make money.
Do you consider the fees, about $2500.00/month by the PM fair, for virtually doing nothing, and then the additional MER on top of the fees appropriate.
I really enjoy your site, your advice, and you have really helped me make more informed, timely descision with my investing. Keep up all the good work.