Investment Q&A

Q: Where can I find the historical price/earning multiple for a sector like food retailers or a specific company?

Q: It appears to me that you favor diversification outside of Canada and the U.S., even though your primary recommendations cover the Canadian market. What would be your top recommendations for the emerging markets, India, China, Japan, Europe, etc ?

Q: I am looking to buy up to 10Growth stocks, the US and Canadian and medium risk, I am not worried about sectors, but momentum stock will help?.

Q: I'm wondering if your service will keep members posted on the yield curve trends in the US?
I'm no economist. But many pundits are saying big trouble lies ahead: Short term rates increase, long term rates don't, curve flattens, recession hits, corporate bonds default massively, blood in the streets etc etc. I think I am a typical member, in that I have some confidence that I am building a portfolio that works for me ( with help from you). But I am lacking knowledge about the macro risks that could wipe me (us? ) out. Will 5i monitor and comment occasionally on this risk?

Q: I am retired and my income needs are covered by pension and RRSP. My question is about my non sheltered investment account and the dividends. Since I don't require the income from that account, would it make sense to enroll the dividend securities in the DRIP/DPP plans available? Would this reduce my income for tax purposes because I would just be "buying" more of the security instead of gaining cash dividends?
Thanks for your help.

Q: Hi
Just read the question from another member regarding long term returns and longrundata with the response including a link to a Canadian Dividend Aristocrats site.
Are you aware of this site that has a monthly update of Canadian companies that increase their dividend ranked by the period of time the company has annually increased its dividend to shareholders? (CU is #1 at 45 years).

http://www.dividendgrowthinvestingandretirement.com/canadian-dividend-all-star-list/

Q: Although I know it is not your area of focus, I am wondering whether there are a handful of European stocks that stand out to you as possible value picks at this point in time. This would be an additional or alternative strategy to investing in a broader ETF. Any insight you can provide would be much appreciated.

Q: I would appreciate your comments on the use of DRIPs in margin, RRIF, RRSP and TFSA portfolios. I am a conservative investor (age 75 with company pension plan) and favour banks, utilities and telecoms.

Q: Where can I find a source of long run stock analysis --- say 30 years --- to look at "what if" scenarios looking at the stock using DRIP and not using DRIP. I prefer Dividend Aristocrats. Is there a list of Canadian Dividend Aristocrats? I read that in thirty years Royal Bank went from $3 to $100 and their dividend grew to equal the $3 cost of the stock 30 years ago thereby realizing a 100% yield. This reinforces the "buy and hold" philosophy.

Q: For the RRSP and TFSA account , Is there any rule by CRA that you have to invest certain percentage of the portfolio in Canadian equities?

Q: Hi the great 5i team, following your portfolio suggestion, we finally turn a losing into a gain this year. What we want to know is related to capital gain / loss. If net loss 2016 is 20000 and net loss from other years is 80000, what would be the amount of total capital gain this year without paying tax ? Thanks always.

Q: Sorry this is going to be a long question and I suspect your response will be market timing never works and stick to your guns. Everyone seems to be singing off the same playbook indicating that the majority of economies are enjoying synchronized growth and it’s full steam ahead. That may be the case but have to believe that on the balance of probabilities markets are due for a fall. The question is how do you minimize risk for taxable accounts, which enjoy sizeable gains? I am reluctant to utilize derivatives given the cost and complexity and no assurance of success. If you had to sell certain stocks in a taxable account, what would be the nature of those stocks? Any particular sector? What securities would you view as core holdings? What do u think of structuring a taxable portfolio with a mix of Cdn dividend paying stocks and high growth technology stocks? This would provide flexibility in controlling tax, given that a drop in the former class of securities would not matter as the dividend income would continue and you could control the gains generated by the latter class. Thx

Q: Hi 5i team, different analysts use different data bases and we have faith in yours. Would you please mention 10 growth stocks that will have earnings double such as PUR and growth rate / PE ratio > 1. Thanks.

Q: In your answer to Joe this morning about analyst ratings, you are less than positive on the process. This does not surprise me, but it raises the question about analyst predictions for a company's quarterly reports. The market seems to place great stock in the consensus estimates (and this seems to be getting worse in the last couple years), instantly slamming a company that misses on EPS or whatever metric. Are the analysts that make up "the consensus" the same analysts you were talking about? Why does the market think they should correct, particularly when (I assume) they don't have all the information available to the Board members; and, as you mention there are usually some ulterior motives? Just curious.

Thank-you

Q: Is it good for the shareholder to have institutional ownership in a stock? if so up to what percentage is good and at what point may it be risky for the retail investor?

Q: It is always interesting how numerous analysts will give a stock a "buy" rating or , in the worst case, a "hold " rating. Seldom do you see one step up to the plate with a "sell" rating. As you have stated repeatedly, for every buy there must be a sale on a stock. Is there a behavioral bias with these analysts in favour of buying vs selling? Are they afraid
to recommend a sell in case a stock suddenly rises in their clients' accounts? Do they
feel their credibilty will be on the line? Joe

Q: DOES VANGUARD HAS ANY ETF RELATE TO HOUSING?
ANY OPINION RE PKB-N OR OTHER RELATED ETF FOR HOUSING?
THANK YOU . EBRAHIM

Q: Re your company report metrics
The metrics include %'s for 5 yr periods. Are those %'s total for the period or av. annual?

Q: Looking for your analysis of broader Canadian market and how US policies will shift our businesses in next couple years. I've only invested in Canadian companies in the past 2 years and have done very well. I'm looking to shift into US equity .... And transferring funds to be able to trade in US. What's your take with currency fluctuations...is it worth it?
Also looking for some 2018 picks.
You can deduct however many credits.

Q: Just wandering if there is an easy way of locating a blog that 5i wrote quite awhile ago about the low volatility etf ZLB. Is there a way that a member can search your database to locate such older blogs? Many tnx.