skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

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

Q: I think the US tax cut has the potential to be inflationary. Investors will have more money in their pockets as the US indices go up and at the same time US government debt will go up since tax income declines but spending does not. The government will be borrowing more to fund their operations. Inflation will help the government as they can use depreciated dollars to pay off their debt. I don’t really buy the argument that increasing economic activity/wealth will somehow flow into back into government coffers replacing the revenues lost to the tax cuts. That being said are gold mining companies a good hedge against inflation? Inflation seems to lead to higher interest rates which is bad for gold. We own some AEM but our weighting is a bit light. Any recommendations?
Thanks
Jim
Read Answer Asked by James on January 05, 2018
Q: My materials and precious metals exposure is limited to the above two stocks, and both are very small positions. With recent talk about positive prospects for materials going forward, what etf would you recommend if I decided to put some more money into this sector?
Read Answer Asked by Donald on January 02, 2018
Q: I am planning to sell ABX to take a tax loss. However, I like to stay invest in the gold/gold miner sector. I can get my wife to buy back ABX or any of the above companies. I would like your opinion on your preferred investment vehicle in gold/gold miner at this time > any of the above 5 companies? or do you have any other favorite company in this sector ? BTW, can you let me know if I buy ABX in the NYSE, will its dividend qualified for Canadian dividend tax credit ? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on November 27, 2017
Q: Hi team, I have a spec position in a junior miner that has done very well while we wait for them to release drill results. In your experience, is it better to sell before the results or wait it out? The first drill result was very promising. I ask this question in the context of investing in the junior market. What has been your experience in investing in junior miners? Any strategies?
Cheers
Read Answer Asked by Seamus on September 15, 2017
Q: Given all the world events and the fact we are at the end of a prolonged bull market could you give me your thoughts on a gold hedge play. I have a small position in DGC(.75%). Would you suggest adding here or selling this for another or just staying put?
Would you suggest a stock or the bullion and could you give me suggestions on both?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by JEFF on September 11, 2017
Q: Have over 20 years until retirement. VVL has been a disappointment , seems to be holding too many stocks that underperform and has substantially low dividend yield compared to VCN/VUN.

RRSP Account
ZUH 10%
VVL 7%
ZGI 8%
COW 10%
XWD 6%
ZLU 7%
ZLB 7%
VXC 5%
ZID 2%
VUN 7%
CWW 9%
XGD 6%
XIT 8%
Cash 8%

What would be your top 5 etfs for a long term hold?
Read Answer Asked by Thomas on August 18, 2017
Q: Do I really need gold (XGD)?

I know 5i regards gold as an insurance/flight-to-safety hedge, but over ~ 10 years of investing, gold (XGD) has only lost me money. So, based on:

(a) http://money.cnn.com/2017/04/19/retirement/retirement-savings-gold/index.html and
(b) May 08, 2017 - Asked by Harry 'you can use TIPS securities under ticker TIP',

I'm considering replacing all my XGD (2.2% of portfolio; keeping RTM and ZCL in Basic Materials sector) with TIP ETF (10-year returns: TIP: +13.2%, XGD: -30%).

Would very much value you thoughts on this. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by J Carl on August 01, 2017
Q: Without regard for sector diversification and/or weight - If I needed to raise some cash in my portfolio, and wanted to sell some of my losers...which of these names would you sell in order of priority. Could you kindly provide rationale for why you might sell vs. hold. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Jeff on July 21, 2017
Q: Good Afternoon: I am thinking of increasing my exposure to the materials sector (principally North America but am open to international) and would like to do so through an etf. I already have an approx. 7% exposure to energy (mostly Cdn.) and less than 1% each to gold and materials. Would you please recommend an etf that you believe to be a good option for me here. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on July 12, 2017
Q: In my portfolio I am overweight in Canadian Financial (Banks) and the US tech stocks, but I have no exposure to the Materials sector (except gold.) Can you please recommend me a few materials and mining stocks (in the order or your preference) or do you suggest an ETF.
Based on the recent weakness of the sector is this the right time to get in this sector? or do you suggest that you should stay away
Read Answer Asked by Jacob on June 16, 2017
Q: My average annual return based on 5i guidance is 13.3% over 8 years. Can't argue with that. Thank you.

Question: XWD, for example, is a global ETF which invests in 5000 companies around the planet, which has returned a very steady (almost a straight line) 13.09% since inception.

So why not sell my 40 stocks and simply buy a combination of:
- XWD (growth)
- CBO (fixed income + security)
- XGD (security)
and call it a day? This would have returned say 11% - 12%.
Pretty close...

Maybe this should be addressed on your ETF site, but I thought it was worth asking here.

As usual, thank you for your sound advice.
Read Answer Asked by J Carl on May 01, 2017
Looking for more? Sign up for a FREE 14 day trial! No credit card required

We invite you to sign up for a 14 day free trial of 5i Research!
Experience all the benefits and tools we have to offer; stock research, model portfolios, Q&A with our experts, and so much more. Join a community of like-minded investors today!