Investment Q&A

Q: Can you provide guidance on what is the most appropriate strategy for profit taking? Should you have an objective in mind when purchasing, and when that goal is achieved, sell? Or if underlying investment still has solid fundamentals, continue to hold?

Q: I am going into retirement and below are the weightings of stocks held in my portfolio. Although the portfolio performed okay over the years, I wonder if there is too much concentration and would appreciate your ideas on diversification given the economic times we live in. My portfolio is about $2M with an investment loan of $150K for which I use the dividends to repay. Thanks. BNS 37%, TD 18%, CM 14%, BMO 14%, BCE 6%, SRN.UN 6%, RY 4%, POW 1%

Q: I read your article about the correlation between stocks and bonds and it made me wonder whether this was a good or not so good time to purchase them? I read a little more in another article and it said that in the same historical instances, bonds have tended to do well after. Would you agree with this?
I only have room in my margin account so would CVD, CPD, and HAB be giving me interest as apposed to Dividends so there are tax implications?
Thanks!

Q: There has been a lot of talk about hyperinflation coming. Do you have any thoughts on the issue and how would you adjust your portfolio to protect one's capital and/or take advantage of increasing inflation.

Q: How does a company repurchasing it's own shares, protect against the action assisting a potential takeover ?

Q: I would appreciate your opinion on the Bit Coin craze. I feel that it is important to be involved in but as a retail investor safety is very important and I am considering BTCC for my investment. So far this company has proven very reliable as I have other investments with them. So, is this a good start into Bit or can you provide better alternatives. Thanks James

Q: what would be a good sector to invest in with possible market downturn scenerios?

I've heard some people say commodities are a good play in a downturn espeically due to inflation but I can't see how they would be due to demand destruction from higher prices.

I think bonds and equities would both suffer - it seems they are more co-related nowadays.

Can you recommend a safe haven in anticipation both a credit-binge/inflationary-based downturn as well as a credit-bust/deflationary downturn?

Q: Good morning,

I recently started selling puts and put credit spreads in SPY, QQQ, IWM and AAPL, these being among the most liquid underlyings with very tight bid-ask spreads. Things have worked out well, so far, as the market has been moving higher and higher.

I'm told that my positions are highly correlated and should consider underlyings that are not as correlated to the broad markets. Could you suggest some underlyings that I can consider? I prefer liquid underlyings so that I can exit them quickly in the event the trade goes against me.

Thank you

Q: Hi 5i,

I enjoyed your article on Ron in the FP and his financial practices. My practice as well is to hold only equities and no bonds. Like Ron, I have an indexed DB pension plan, which serves as my fixed income. Are you comfortable with an all equity portfolio for an investor in these circumstances?

Thanks again
Dave

Q: The data currently coming from Israel and the UK indicate that the vaccine efficacy is waning, earlier than many predicted. Given that most Western countries have employed a vaccine strategy to address Covid, I would like your advice regarding how to position a portfolio in the event of a Black Swan event.

In the fall, we will likely have another flu/virus season in northern US and Canada. Basically, I see 4 possible scenarios of decreasing probability but increasing risk: (1) the vaccine acts as advertised and we have few cases/deaths; (2) the vaccine is less effective than expected and there are many cases, but few deaths; (3) the vaccine is not effective and there are both many cases and many deaths; and (4) as has been suggested by some top scientists, there are long-term risks with these mRNA vaccines and deaths/ adverse events are much greater than if no vaccine was taken.

If an investor has concerns about scenarios 3 and 4 in particular, but is hopeful that such an event does not occur, how should one best position the portfolio. Should one stay fully diversified sectorially and geographically in stocks? Should one consider increasing allocations to gold, cash, bonds, etc? What are your thoughts?

Many thanks for your insightful advice.

Q: I want to understand the economic and financial impact of the Fed’s tapering it’s bond purchases. Is there a good source(s) that discusses this topic in detail and what the difference in impact compared to raising the Fed’s rate?
I would also appreciate a summary response from you on this.
Thanks.

Q: what sectors could really be affected badly if interest rates go up significantly? thank you.

Q: What sectors on the TSX are going to be strong in the next 3 months?

Q: Were do you see the US markets going in the next 5 months?

Q: Hi, My respected 5i team
During the March 2020 market correction, your team provided a special report which was a big help for me to take advantage of the market correction. I bought some solid names at a discount as the report recommended. Are you guys still doing this kind of special report in the future?
Could you please recommend 5 solid names to buy in Canadian and US markets respectively if there is a market correction again? Do you think it is a good time to buy them now during the current market  drawdown?
Pls list the names in the order from your most favorite to the least. Thanks in advance!

Q: It looks like around Seven AM this morning the Canadian dollar abruptly shot up a more than 1%, thus wiping out any gains I might make for the day. Any idea what the cause was? Any predictions about where the dollar-dollar ratio is headed in the near term? I hold a lot of US stocks in unhedged Canadian ETFs and am now reconsidering the helpfulness of hedged products.

Q: Hello. I am looking to add a name or two that has been weaker over the last month or so that offers some good value and above average prospects. Could you please suggest a couple names in both US & Canada that look interesting here? PS I have enuff financial exposure currently too. Thank you

Q: I hope all is well. My portfolio is reasonably well diversified (in my opinion) and I have some extra cash to invest in an unregistered account. Would you have any reservations about investing in theses three stocks equally i.e., NVDA, QCOM, MU (it would be a relatively small position in each). I know you like the first two but I don't understand what the issues would be with MU. Thanks again.

Q: Where do you see the greatest value in the market these days? Cdn Banks always seem like a go to when in doubt, ZWU also seems reasonably priced. Any thoughts on ETF's or specific companies that are positioned well? Thanks as usual.

Q: I believe that inflation is going to hit hard.
What compagnies or type of investment do you feel could benefit?
thanks
Sherrill