Investment Q&A

Q: hi. assuming rates stay the same, or begin to fall next year, do you like these ETF's? are they still your top picks for pref.s and bond ETF's in Canada? cheers, Chris

Q: Is TGAF a long/short etf you favour? Are there any that might be considered worth 5-10% of a retiree portfolio?

Q: Peter & Team; what are good aggressive picks now for 21 yr old's new FHSA with a home purchase timeline in 5-6 years ? LMN ? NXE ? A combo ? Any other aggressive picks you like given the timeline ? What would be a 1 stock more conservative pick for the same account ? Thank you.

Q: Which of these would you invest in now? Thanks!

Q: Good morning. Could you comment on Evertz earnings, please?

Q: Looking to add S&P 500 exposure in my portfolio through one of 3 ETF's;
VFV or EQL hedged or not hedged. Normally would prefer unhedged but with our low dollar may be some merit in selecting a hedged version of EQL.

What would you recommend and could you please provide some rationale for your recommendation. Thanks.

Q: Hello, could you comment on EQB bank results?

I wonder what the end game is for EQB. Grow to become a mid to large cap bank in Canada or be taken out by one of the majors. I guess either can be good for investors.

Best regards
Stephane

Q: Please comment on EQB's latest Q especially to Provision to credit losses(PCL) as to amount and comparison with those of the big 6 Can.Banks. Market's initial reaction was strong--H$82.25, L$80, C$80.31+.71 Txs forU usual great services & views

Q: Am sitting on a substantial loss on this one. Any insight if there is any hope of a recovery or should one just suffer the loss and perhaps try to recover loss in another stock with more potential. And if one should switch, any recommendations? Perhaps LMN or some other recommendations.

Q: I hold both BX and BN at almost full positions. I am considering selling BX to purchase WPC to increase my dividend income and hopefully benefit from rising property prices. Are BX and BN similar enough that this strategy makes sense or would I be just as well off staying the course?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: My question is in regard of the new financing that GSY just took:
(-- goeasy Ltd. (TSX: GSY) (“goeasy” or the “Company”), one of Canada’s leading non-prime consumer lenders, is pleased to announce that it closed its previously announced offering of US$550 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2028 (the “Notes”). As announced on November 14, 2023, in connection with the offering of the Notes, goeasy also entered into a currency swap agreement (the “Currency Swap”) to reduce the Canadian dollar equivalent cost of borrowing on the Notes to 8.79% per annum. Before giving effect to the Currency Swap, the coupon on the Notes is 9.25% per annum. goeasy will use the proceeds from the sale of the Notes to fund the redemption of all of its outstanding 5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes”).)

It seems to me that the cost of borrowing almost doubles that of the notes due for redemption. The amount is also considerable. Is it material to the forecast estimated EPS for 2024?

GoEasy is on a tear these days and I wonder if I just add to an already 4% position size or wait and let go. Buy more on weakness or buy now or stay put?

Thanks in advance and I know position size is personnal but GoEasy will continue to grow hence position size is still very reasonnable.

Q: Hi All at 5i!!!
I see that you have mentioned SMCI as a growth company. Is it profitable?? and does it have a moat or are there multiple competitors ???
Thank You,
Tamara

Q: I am looking at starting some new positions (3) in an unregistered portfolio – and doing so without regard to diversification or taxation – simply the best combination of a trio of stocks that based on current evaluation and their prospect for the greatest total return over the next 2-3 years.
I have reviewed your current answers over the last few weeks to a variety of similar questions and from your answers have identified a list of the stocks from those answers that I currently do not hold:
BN, DOL, DSG, EQB, DCBO, TFII, HEI, ODFL, SAIA, BKNG, ISRG. AXON, BRK.B, LLY, X, CPRT, ULTA, URI, DIR.UN, AW.UN., HPS.A, FIVE, PM, EIF, ENB, NEE, ABBV, TSLA, TOU, CELH, VRT, GLXY
Which trio (or Quartet, if you prefer!) of stocks would have your strongest conviction.

Thanks,
Terry

Q: Many analyst reports on SHOP after investor day. A mixed bag with maybe a leaning to the downside. What do you make of all this? Stock popped a couple of days ago and then gave it back and more Wednesday. From your take on investor day, what were your impressions? Still a top pick?

Q: Do these products match the yields they advertise ? What would the expected result to the etf price and yield in the environment of rate cuts in the new year.
Thx

Q: Are preferred shares treated the same as stocks,in that you still get the interest or dividend if you sell it on the ex dividend/interest payment date??

Q: I was just about to give up on Sylogist because of its downward trend over the past 5 weeks in a strong market. Then I discovered that CFRA rates it a Strong Buy!! I know that their report is algorithm-generated, but still! I checked out other CFRA algorithm-generated reports for other small-cap Canadian tech stocks and couldn’t find another Strong Buy (lots of sells). I originally signed up for 5i Research because you cover small Canadian companies. SYZ never issues stock, so there's no analyst coverage. Only algorithms. So how much credence would you put on CFRA's algorithm? What is causing it to generate a Strong Buy for SYZ?

Q: If you were to invest in the gene editing space, how would you rank these two?

Q: Today on CBC an investment person said he expected interest rate cuts to start earlier next year than later. But he then said the stock market historically seels off during interest rate cuts. This was a surprise to me. Is this just his opinion or is it historically fact? Additionally, once cuts start (and I do not expect to get to the past lows in a long time) what parts of the market do you believe will sell off and which will be a benefit.

Q: What percentage of a RRIF must a person who is 76 in 2023 withdraw?
Thanks
Dave