Investment Q&A

Q: Hi Team,
So; another brutal day for tech. My portfolio is tech loaded with many of 5i favourites. At this point my portfolio is down 18% from October’s highs. Whats your sense on what to do going forward? Hold the line and wait for a hopeful recovery? Add to highest conviction names that are down big? Or sell off some of these holdings and attempt to diversify into metals or something that has moment? My strategy in 2022 was to add to quality such as nvda and shop which paid off well, but now I am quickly almost in the same boat again it seems as 2022 sell off being Csu family heavy , shop , Rddt, gsy , Prl , Srad, Geni , Nvda to name a few weak performing holdings as of late . And standout buys today that are sticking out to you?

Thanks for the advice ,

Shane

Q: - My current portfolio sector breakdown is as follows: 20% tech, 10% health, 20% Financial, 7% utility, 15% energy, 5% consumer staples, 12% industrial, 6% real estate, 5% basic materials. Do you think that any of these are significantly over or under weighted? Includes US and Can equities.

Q: Your thoughts on this tech sell off - getting ugly for Software especially- what could turn this market around. ae we getting close to capitulation iyo?

Q: My question is: How does one decide it is time to re-evaluate and take steps to reduce market exposure? This is unique to each investor I believe.

The Substack link provided in response to Sandra’s recent post mentions the importance of institutions in the proper functioning of modern capital markets.
It states:

“ What matters is the health of the institutions that underpin economic predictability.

The institutional failures with the clearest financial relevance are well documented:

1)Erosion of judicial independence and contract enforcement
2)Politicization of regulatory agencies and central banks
3)Suppression or distortion of economically relevant information
4)Concentration of discretionary power in the executive without meaningful legislative or judicial constraint
5)Arbitrary property reallocation or expropriation and
6)Absence of durable mechanisms for accountability or peaceful policy reversal. “

In my opinion, every one of the listed“institutional failures” has happened to some degree.

As such I’m reconsidering my exposure to the equity and bond markets at this time.
Yes, corporate profits look good.
Yes, interest rates have fallen.

But the reality is markets need robust and stable institutions and these are currently facing great risks. Not to be dramatic, but these are the fundamental underpinnings of modern capital markets that are shifting. I’ve never experienced a massive drawdown.

I realise time in the market is what matters, but I’d rather miss some returns than weather the shock of a 10 or 20 point drop (or more). I think I have answered my own question: Things have changed for me (my view of the current stability of the institutional landscape) while my equity exposure has steadily increased. Yes, emotions and investment decisions can be terrible together.
But 2nd question —what’s the difference between an emotion and a comfort level?

I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this.

Q: Hi, I'm reading that heavy truck sales have dropped significantly year over year - about the same as they did during Covid. I've understood this is a recession signal of sorts, because it acts as confirmation that buying of goods has slowed enough to be affecting shipping. Is this a reasonable assumption? If so I would welcome any comments and thoughts you might offer. If not, please feel free to correct any misunderstanding I have regarding this. Much appreciated!
D

Q: Many markets around the world have outperformed the US market in the past year. Do you feel that investors have had enough of the KING and are looking elsewhere
to invest. Maybe that is why GOLD is rising.
Thanks again

Q: Hi 5I. Would you support a reversion from growth to income (divie stocks) while we wait out a return to geopolitical stability or do you think we are in a temporary market decline and there are more legs on growth, in particular, the AI boom?

Carl

Q: What do you make of the markets today? Tech, gold, silver, metals, and cryto really getting hammered. Is this a result of these specific sectors just running too hot, as well as disappointing MSFT earnings, slowing growth and larger cap ex. Aside from MSFT, META had larger cap ex and the stock got rewarded for larger rev guidance. We can see how these tech companies will get punished on less than above average earnings and guidance. Is this market priced to perfection and expectations are just too high? Is it time to raise more cash and be defensive?

What do you think of the comments below from Powell and Macquarie and the potential for US rate hikes within the next year? We know markets are forward looking and are they expecting this potentially later this year? We all know Trump wants to appoint a dovish Fed chair after Powell. If we do expect rate hikes, this would of course take the air out of tech, risk assets, gold and silver. I hold many growth names that you mention and would like to limit the drawdown.

Lots to unpack here, but what would be your assesssment for the remainder of the year. Thank you!


**U.S. central bank chief Jerome Powell described as a solid economy and diminished risks to both inflation and employment.

**"While the outlook remains uncertain, particularly given the appointment of a new Fed Chair in coming months, our baseline remains that the rate cutting cycle is complete, as labour improvement lies ahead," said David Doyle, head of economics at Macquarie Group.

Q: Hello Team 5i & Everyone,

Thank you for your answer about Palantir’s tech. That was a lot more straightforward than what google was offering.

I’ve observed a few Germans (who have obviously grown up in an education system that does an exceptionally good job of teaching them about their own history) comment that they recognize the playbook happening in real time in the United States at the moment. And to them, what comes next is dead obvious: the current administration will make its move to consolidate power down into a one party state this year. (Akin to 1933.)

I hope that doesn’t happen and I know that I can’t do anything about it beyond learn more about history so that I feel less surprised when people’s behaviour repeats itself. I’m already familiar with the societal side of events when a fascist style of governance takes over, so now I would like to familiarize myself with how the stock markets and economies (domestic & global) have a history of / pattern of behaving when a formerly democratic government consolidates power.

Have you come across any good articles that cover this topic?

Thank you,

Sandra

Q: Hi 5i,

With the recent big run up and huge embedded gains in gold/silver does it make sense to even consider investing in these precious metals at this time?

Q: trying to shockproof my corporate account a bit and wondering what you think about equal amounts of a stock shift to

GIC ladders

T‑bills

ultra‑short bond ETF and an appropriate HISA would be here?

Q: Your thoughts of the unwinding of Japan's carry trade What should your clients
do to protect their portfolio's? For example sell high beta stocks as their values may drop. Will there be pressure on the value of short term money market funds? Will the interest rate paid on the short term market increase or decrease? I know this sounds extreme, but should there be a portion of ones portfolio in cash?

Thanks

Q: Would you currently view it to be riskier to hold USD than CAD?

Q: Greetings,

I have some cash sitting in USD. Do you think it's worth converting to CAD or Euros' on the basis of the idea that the "mighty" US dollar is in decline.

Thanks!

Q: We've been reading books on an eventual financial disaster for decades.
Does it make sense for anyone to have US cash these days .

We incurred some serious erosion of the USD in 2025 and things could get worse in coming months. Obviously DJT is ignoring all caution with record debt growth passed through his so called big beautiful bill.
With currency erosion , as Gold soars to new highs is there a prospect of countries dumping USD denominated bonds ?

Thanks to Ai , it seems that I now have 50% of my wealth on the US stock market.
I think I should start converting or have SOME strategy ... Please give us your opinion. Thankyou

Q: What is the risk if 100% tariffs were applied to CDA according to the recent situation,concerning 1) canadian economy 2) stocks and sectors ; is this is a concern for your excellent team , and does ,or shall it if effective,reshape your investing strategy?

Q: Hopefully, the term is self-explanatory.

So far, very profitable. Have you seen anybody who has written about it?

Q: In your opinion where might the better return be found between American economy or developed non American and reasoning? I realize that this can be a very convoluted conjecture. Thanx.

Q: How should I measure geographic diversification within a small cap growth portfolio of 15 Canadian companies? Say for example if Kraken Robotics gets 30% of its revenue from international, and Aritzia gets 60% from the US. Even though they are Canadian companies, can I reasonably say I have some diversification outside Canada based on source of revenue? Or is this a Canada only portfolio and thus not diversified geographically?

I consider this portfolio in my TFSA to be my fun money to invest for growth, so I’m not as concerned about perfect diversification like we have in our conservatively managed RRSP where equities are split 1/3 each between Canada, US and international.

Thanks for all you do!

Q: It appears that Trump's cognitive abilities are rapidly declining. What do you see as potential outcomes if he is unable to complete his term? What do you anticipate the impact would be on bonds, North American equities, crypto currencies and precious metals? Would precious metals be a possible hedge? I realize this is very hypothetical, but I'm interested in your opinion. Thank you for the service you provide.