Investment Q&A

Q: As concerns withholding tax on foreign-but-non-US dividends in registered accounts: the member's concerns are certainly valid, but it bears mention that a great number of ADRs also give holders the option of receiving dividends either as shares, or as shares converted immediately (by the issuer) to cash, neither of which option involves withholding taxes.

To be sure, this exposes you to risk as concerns the share price at the time shares are sold, but for corporations with liquid shares, this is unlikely to cause significant losses, and, certainly, should not cause losses anywhere near the tax hit.

The complication in this arrangement is that not all ADRs offer the most-tax-efficient option by default, i.e., for such ADRs you would need to give instructions to your broker prior to some cut-off date. This sort of information falls under the general heading of 'Corporate actions', i.e.: supposing you trade online, you would need to check your inbox for a corporate action notice re: the ADR in question.

Q: I will be spending a significant amount of time travelling for work. I was wondering if you had any podcasts you could recommend relating to financials and investing. Thank you

Q: What do you think of their latest guidence for the year.

Q: In the Macro economy numbers you publish, is the Canada GDP Growth Rate including inflation? In other words, is that a nominal growth rate or a real growth rate?

Thank you.

Q: EQB and ROKU are a couple of under-performers over the last while that I hold. With EQB, I read your questions and answers everyday and I have come across better stocks than this and I am wondering if I should just move on. I know any information I get from you on US stocks is a bonus but by doing the reading on the Questions & Answers, ROKU is one of the stocks that you used to like, hopefully you still do and there are just so many other US ones I read about that are doing better. What is your opinion on this? I really enjoy the service. Thanks Dennis

Q: Trying to decide what to do with the cash from selling TOY. Thoughts on moving this to a new position in GIL? I see they had a big drop in October. Any reasons to stay away? Or any other suggestions on what to do with this cash. This would be a new position in a TFSA.

Thanks

Q: I have some extra money to put to work and am looking at a 3 to 5 year time frame. From a total return prospective, please rank the above companies. Please add any helpful comments.
Much appreciated as usual. RAM

Q: Do you know when BIP.UN approx. date is for the split and also approx. date for the TSGI takeover?

thanks,
Paul

Q: I'm having trouble with the high valuations of some of today's star stocks. On top of that, and as illogical as it is, I have trouble investing in the these stocks after they have run so far. What 2 or 3 stocks are you guys watching at this time that are at beginning stages but have the potential to turn into stars like shopify
Thx

Q: Hello 5i. I use symbol ^TNX:US to track/monitor the 10 year US T note. Is there an equivalent symbol for the Canadian 10 year note that I can use for on-line access. Many thx. Steve

Q: Hi 5I
Can you provide 3 or 4 recommendations to replace Toy with?

Thx,
Chris

Q: A highly regarded economist/strategist recently recommended going overweight consumer staples, energy and utilities for 2020. Can you please provide your top picks for these sectors considering their current valuations??

Q: Ignoring taxes, cash requirements, sector allocation, on a straight-up basis, for a minimum one-year hold, which of the above-listed equities would it be prudent to currently sell,buy, or hold? Thank You

Q: I am interested in your view on the best strategy for selling stocks to raise cash in a non-registered account. I am looking to sell 1% of my total portfolio, and my thinking is to either A) take this out of one or both of two stocks that are the largest (each about 5%) weighting in my portfolio or B) sell my least favourite, lowest weighting, stocks (energy producers) with 3 stocks comprising 3% total weighting.

With option A) I could pare one of my largest holdings back to 4% or both of them back to 4.5%. One stock is ENB, in which I have a 30% gain and the other stock is AAPL, in which I have a 350% gain. ENB pays a 6% dividend, which I am reluctant to lose, and which benefits from the dividend tax credit. AAPL pays a 1% dividend, which is fully taxable and easier to give up, but I will have to pay a sizeable capital gains tax. I have no stocks with losses that I can sell to offset the gains. You have always advocated hanging onto winners, and both of these stocks are "winners" in a way, one for income and the other for growth.

With option B) I could sell half my energy producer holdings. I bought the energy stocks as a "lottery ticket," expecting at least a double if and when energy prices rebound. I hold CVE (up 25%), ERF (breakeven) and WCP (up 32%). They are roughly equal weight, so I could achieve my goal of selling 1% of my portfolio by selling just one of these three stocks.

Which stock(s) would you recommend I sell and why?

Q: I noticed in one of the questions asked yesterday there was the following disclosure: Authors of this answer have a financial or other interest in AAPL, AMZN, GOOG at the time of answering this question. This seems new any reasons to start including it?

Also as you give us great quality names such as SHOP which is up over 1700% since it is inter listed can you by the US listed shares ? Or is the team not allowed to buy inter-listed companies?

Q: In my well diversified portfolio, ignoring taxes and cash requirements, which of the above equities would it prudent to be sell or add to currently? Thank you.

Q: Could you please tell me the difference in these choices? Are all dividends paid by all the Brookfield entities in US dollars. Thanks so much.

Q: I currently hold RUS, TFII and SIS for my industrials. How would you rank the above industrials and should I be making changes?

Q: Hello Peter, Asked this question over weekend, but may be lost somewhere so asking again.
As part of a balanced portfolio in TFSA, which of these are worthy of new money in order of preference ( FROM TOTAL RETURN PERSPECTIVE - 3 YEAR TIME FRAME), I own all of these but low in weights. X, NFI, TOY,NTR,QSR,SIS, ATD.
Or if anyone else you like better.
Also, if any of these is a outright sell and re-allocate into others.

Q: I am interested in buy some shares of Brookfield Properties or Brookfield Asset Management. What are you thoughts on the various Brookfield companies. Thanks.