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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: I hold BABA.us in a registered account. I bought believing Chinese sponsored ADRs are subject to SEC disclosure requirements. Your response to my question on MOMO.us confirmed the above. But I am not so sure now that you or I are correct in our beliefs. I was not necessarily surprised to hear Jim Chanos say he was shorting BABA.us. That’s not odd per se. I was however startled to hear him go on to say his SOLE reason for shorting BABA was that he didn’t trust its accounting and filings. He went further and said BABA-- and I now presume other Chinese ADRs--- do not follow US or international acctng rules (IFRS, FASB etc. and not SEC regs). Yet BABA is by law required to file disclosure with the SEC. Please comment on the issue of the RELIABILITY of financials AND those all-important DISCLOSURES, that BABA and its auditors need to file with SEC. Should I believe those filings as much as you do? Chanos’ argument and puzzlement were over the fact that net value of BABA was lower today than when it did its IPO. Chanos wonders where the profits and cash are flows the company has generated and reported since IPO ! Chanos or his shop is do not slouch when it comes to doing homework on filings. What gives? Should I believe those filings (as stated in your response to my question on MOMO?) I have a lot in Chinese Tech ADRs and this issue now has me re-thinking the basis for my buy decisions.
Read Answer Asked by Adam on June 15, 2018
Q: Rising interest rates have definitely put downward pressure on bond-proxy types of companies i.e. those that pay dividends. I am an investor who believes that those companies that pay dividends and have the ability to raise those dividends consistently over time tend to outperform. I would like to purchase 6 such companies for the income portion of my portfolio, and would appreciate the names of your favorite companies that pay, and have a history of increasing, their dividends.
Read Answer Asked by Les on June 15, 2018
Q: Very disappointed in your CGX trade in the Income Porfolio. You don't seem to follow your own advice when it comes to the income portfolio and recommend stocks that are in a downtrend/negative momentum simply to chase yield.

Aug 30-2017 you stated - Rationale: While the growth potential behind CGX is lower, now that the yield is in the 4.7% range, we view CGX as a good addition to an income portfolio. Cineplex offers size and stability along with an attractive dividend stream, making it a good fit for the income portfolio.
June 14-2018 you stated - Trade Rationale - Cineplex has been frustrating to say the least. On one hand, we do view that it has been unduly punished but on the other hand, management does not appear to really be helping the case. They have not done a whole lot to address the specific concerns against their core revenue base and while diversifying into the Rec Room business has potential, it is a slow roll-out and capital intensive. One could argue it is also akin to doubling down on the current business model.

Everything that you stated June 14,2018 also applied Aug 20, 2017, yet you still bought it seemingly for the yield.

The Balanced Portfolio seems to be where all the 5i focus and interest is, where the income portfolio is an afterthought. I assume most in the income portfolio are like myself, retired and living off dividend income. Yet you are recommending stocks simply for yield, even if the fundamentals and technicals are both negative.
Read Answer Asked by Curtis on June 15, 2018
Q: Thanks to Lloyd (5ier) and 5i, I purchased this etf for my mom’’s rrif. I purchased it for the 2020 dec 31 maturity date, low(ish) mer, and ok yield. Since purchasing, the etf has changed names twice and may have new owners- Guggenheim-power shares-, invesco. I have noticed that her monthly payments are never the same but not so bothered by that. Will the mer change? Will the maturity date change? What normally happens when paper is shuffled around like this? Is it a bad sign? If I hold to maturity will there be a capital loss?
Read Answer Asked by Kat on June 15, 2018
Q: Good Morning Team,

Just wanted to confirm the following:

- Capital gains on a US or Canadian stock held in an RRSP and TFSA are not taxed either by Canada or the US
- Capital gains on a US or Canadian stock held in a non-registered (RRSP) account are taxed
by Canada only.
- Dividends on a US stock held in a non-registered (RRSP) account are taxed both by Canada and the US.

Thank you for your confirmation or corrections!
Read Answer Asked by Saeed on June 15, 2018
Q: I'm thinking of following your lead and selling Stella Jones in my TFSA. Also, I have a small amount of cash to deploy. I hold the above stocks in less than full positions. Which would you add to at this point? I could also include COV although it's near a full position after it's nice rise. Also, what are the implications of holding an American growth stock in a TFSA. What would be your top 3 suggestions if you were going to add an American stock. Charge as many credits as necessary! Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Rod on June 15, 2018
Q: Just wandering about your thoughts on TEVA for a 1 year hold do you think they have “turned the corner”also same thing question about ALIBABBA for a 1-2 year hold seems to have good momentum lately charge me for 2 questions and thanks for the professional service
Read Answer Asked by Greg on June 15, 2018
Q: Hi. There are several companies in the Canadian technology sector that I'm interested in buying. They are TSGI, KXS, PHO, CLS. How would you rank them in terms of their potential to grow? Thanks and have a good day.
Read Answer Asked by Esther on June 15, 2018
Q: I am interested in the purchasing Horizon Benchmark ETFs, such as HXS because of the tax advantages. The MER is reasonable at .11% but they charge a swap fee of .30%. I assume that the swap fee added to the MER makes the total fee .41%. This would mean that from a fee perspective VFV is more attractive with an MER of .08%. Given the importance of low fees on total returns will VFV outperform HXS over the long run?
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on June 15, 2018
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