Investment Q&A

Q: Hi: I am listening to all the doom and gloom about bonds - heard the term yesterday "taper tantrum". I have about 40% of my Fixed Income Exposure in CBO, 40% in HPR and 10% in HAB. HPR has slowly recovered from its downturn of a few years ago and I like the yield. HAB is doing better than CBO. Question - should I sell CBO at a loss and invest in a more active fund like HAB? My time horizon is at least 5 years.
thank you

Q: I would like to purchase some protection against market volatility but am unsure of the best way to do this. VXX and HUV are a play on the futures but if I am correct there is a time/price decay involved in the price as well. Is there another way to to protect against market volatility other than holding cash? Thanks

Kenn

Q: I am currently trying to put together a fixed income allocation for our portfolio. I am using your balanced portfolio as a model. I have a few questions regarding this, though and would appreciate your commentary and suggestions.

Looking at your portfolio I see that you have a mixture of 1. Canadian Preferred Index (CPD) 2. the Convertible Bond Index (CVD) and 3. I shares US Hy Bond (XHY).

You mention that this would be a good model portfolio for dividend investor, which I suppose I am.

But, I was struck (rightly or wrongly I don't know) by the fact that some of the bond funds that are often mentionned on your site are not included. Clf and VSC, for instance.

Would the actual portfolio do the job, or would it be wise to add these two etf's?

Second question. I would like to have a large part of my bond allocation in US dollars. Can you suggest some US equivalents for a bond portfolio? Would an emerging market bond fund such as ZEF be worth looking at? If so, would you know of an equivalent in US dollars?

I know that you concentrate on Canadian stocks, but since you also offer model portfolios which include fixed income etf's, this question might be legitimate.
thanks

Q: Can you recommend an ETF equivalent/similar to the TD Science & Technology Mutual Fund? Thank you.

Q: Good Morning
In my portfolio review AUG/16 you suggested the following for my fixed income portion (50%) of my rrif- xhy 5.6%, Clf 5.7%, MDL 240 14.1%, XSH 12.3%, ZAG 12.1%. Reading the last mutual fund/etf update I am wondering whether you would make any suggestions as steady interest rate rise seems more of a certainty than at that time. A conservative income oriented portfolio.
Tom

Q: Could you please explain the difference between a bond ETF (like XSB or CBO) and buying a bond portfolio in a mutual fund.
Are the ETFs safe for capital retention or do they act more like equities?
Thanks

Q: Hi. I am looking for a China Technology ETF. What are your thoughts on QQQC or are there other ones that you prefer. I will be purchasing in US$. Thanks for your help.

Q: Hi,
I am a long term growth investor, with no need of the invested money right now. Do you think I am better off long term with BEP and using a DRIP program or moving to a different utility company? The only other utility I have is AQN. Or can you think of a different place to put the money to work (maybe a few suggestions in case i already own what you suggest).

Q: Hello
Further to Steve's question about Medx Health yesterday, do you have access to more information about revenues and other financial metrics? I'd much rather invest in a small growing company that helps with skin cancer than some 'crypto'.
Thank you!
Brian

Q: I notice sometimes that when you are analyzing a stock that you will warn the person asking a question to note it has missed 7 of the last 8 quarters, or that the company has missed X % in the past 2 years. On this note, how has PEY performed in the last 2 years? Would this not be a strong indication PEY will cut its dividend? Thanks....lionel

Q: What books/web sites/resources do you recommend that deals with Estate planning for Canadians, ON resident. Something that is easy to decipher with the emphasis on transition of wealth to adult children in a tax advantaged manner?
Unfortunately most of the advisors/banks seem to interested in selling Universal/Whole Life insurance or asking to make their organisations be the Trustee/co-executor. Prefer that is something conflict free like 5i !!
Thanks in advance.

Q: For a retired investor with 2/3 of his portfolio in an diversified dividend equity portfolio and with 500 k to invest in safer income producing investments and just purchased 73k of CPD, 60k of ZPR, 40k of XHY, leaving 327k still to invest, would you add to these positions or could you suggest other places to invest for income. Would you wait till after NAFTA is decided and then invest. Thanks for your opinion.

w

Q: What is your opinion of ZST as a fixed income asset? Would it be a good ETF in a market downturn? What are your favorite fixed income ETFs?
Thanks

Q: After reading your article about Dividend Growth Stocks, the first question that came to mind was "Is there a Canadian ETF that covers dividend growth stock for Canadian stocks and one for US stocks and would you recommend them based on past experience? With thanks, Bill

Q: What sectors would you consider to be undervalued at this time? Or at least undervalued in relation to the rest of the market? Thanks.

Q: Good Morning team, the only thing that’s more of a mystery is the weather

I am thinking of starting my ETF income portfolio with a 5% position in PMIF. With all the interest rate forecasts for 2018, do you think waiting for later in the year is advisable or strike now?

Thanks team and a prosperous New Year to all.

Q: Recently I read an article in my local paper written by Peter and he warned about Split corps and inferred that people are "sucked by the high dividend and went on to say how much better slow steady growing dividend payers are. What I have found about these investments are that they get no love in the investment community but are growing in number and every over night offering is fully filled, and have (if purchased in the right context to your individual needs) preform well. For me a 3% weighting in ftn, 2500 shares, purchased in Feb of 2015 at $8.90 has a cost base of $22250, current price is $10.50 ish =2500 x 10.50= $26250 ( a $4000 gain) BUT the sole purpose for holding this was to add to my living income in retirement. At 2500 x .1258 I am receiving $ 315 a month that I either reinvest in growth stocks or use to spoil my grand kids. I went into this eyes wide open knowing they can suspend payouts as CAN any dividend paying company (ie energy) You say they do not grow dividend well a 4% paying company is probably never going to give me the same payout in my lifetime left. In short I certainly see the pro and cons of these but do not consider myself a sucker for being in one.

Q: I hold ZEB. The banks have been good since 2009 raising dividends. Would those individual dividend increases be passed on and benefit holders of this etf? Thanks, Bill

Q: Could you please rank the three Balanced Portfolio consumer non-cyc names along with Dollarama separately for growth potential, value and risk?

Q: Many of my friends upgraded to the $60 - 10GB holiday promotion plan offered by both and it seemed to be brought up at every party I went to. This would have increased my bill by 50% so I didn't do so. I'm thinking that this promotion should move the needle on spend per client and move the margins - as 10GB is nice, but most will not be able to use it. Telus recently bought Alarm Force, adding 30,000 subscribers (which won't hit the Feb 8th quarter). Do the Feb 8th upcoming earnings for both include Christmas sales? With the recent dip in BCE I'm thinking of adding to both. Your thoughts?