Investment Q&A

Q: Hello:

It seems b/c DGRC is not heavy on Energy and Financials, it has done better than ZDV/VDY.
Going forward, should one add to one's DGRC position or VDY/ZDV. Out look for energy is still bleak, isn't it?

My main aim is to enhance Dividends, get tax credits in our non RRSP portfolio. Safety is always a concern and I presume all of them offer some safety though not 100% as they are all based on stocks after all.

Also how do these ETFS compare with VCIP which I presume will be safer but less tax efficient and less growth?

Thanks for your service.

Q: Hi 5i
Hope you can help me. I've managed my and my wife's registered and unregistered accounts for a number of years and I'm satisfied with the results. Those accounts primarily hold equities and I spend quite a bit of time overseeing them and tweaking as I think necessary.
I've now been put in the position of acting as trustee of funds for two minors. The time frames the two trusts will run are 7 and 9 years respectively and the principal amount of each is approx 75K. I want to invest the funds but I don't want to put them in individual equities and manage them as actively as I do our personal accounts. I would prefer to put them into ETF's that I can keep an eye on monthly or quarterly and not worry too much about tweaking.
Being optimistic by nature I'm hoping to arrange to get it all for these two trusts - capital appreciation, income, sensible degree of risk, Canadian, US and international exposure, favourable tax treatment, etc.
There are an awful lot of ETF's out there and I really don't know how best to evaluate them to shake out a reasonable number to look into further - especially considering how difficult it can be to identify individual holdings to effectively avoid overlap and provide diversification.
With all that in mind, could I ask you to list 5 (or so) equity based ETF's for each of CDA, the US and internationally that you think might accomplish the goals I've listed, so that I can then look into those ones further and make some decisions about where to put these funds I'm charged with managing.
Also, if you do have any general or specific advice that you think might be useful to me in the situation I've described, I would certainly appreciate your including it in your answer.
Thanks very much and please deduct credits as you feel appropriate.
Peter

Q: Can you please recommend what you believe is currently the best Canadian dividend ETF for monthly income and relative stability in this unstable market. You have recommended XEI in the past, but it has about about 11% more Energy stocks compared to ZDV, although XEI does have 5% less financials. I am looking for a long term hold for income in retirement. Thanks, Grant

Q: I recently sold CDZ, XEI and ZDV for a tax loss and would like to re-purchased equivalent ETF's. Can you recommend appropriate replacements?

Q: Please rank the above ETFs in order of preference for income and safety. Thanks.

Q: I have the following ETF's in the noted ratios and dividend yields %: HDV (3x) 3.32%, ZDV (2x) 5.37%, XTR (1.8x)5.88%, ZWU (1.7x) 6.60%, and CDZ (1x) 4.66%. I'm a dividend investor and good for 3-5 years. If we hit some hard times which of these would be hit the hardest? Any duplication? Should I drop one or more and add to others?

Q: Hello 5i, I currently own the BMO Monthly Income Fund (25% of porfolio) and some xtr(2%). I wish to liquidate the fund and get another etf or 2 to replace it and am considering the above dividend etfs. I would like the best of both worlds high yield/low fees and some growth with low volatility Which of the 4 would you consider adding to my xtr etf and why? Should I also increase my xtr holding. I have some GIC and am trying to be on the conservative side with this account but do hold some reits and utility etfs.
Thanks

Q: Hello i5 crew...I am repositioning my cash account for retirement dividends to supplement my RIF account withdrawals. I like the tax favoured Canadian dividends and have blended ZLB, ZWC and ZDV for that purpose. There is a lot out there and would like your suggestions for long term long term dividend generation. Thank you in advance...

Q: Good Day 5i,
Which Canadian Dividend ETF's do you recommend, The main choices I have been looking at are CDZ, XDV, XEI, VDY, ZDV. I Currently hold CDZ and XDV.

Thanks,
Dan

Q: I'm wondering if (part of) my investment philosophy is wrong? I have some income stocks & ETFs in my RSP (and about to RIF), not because I necessarily need or needed the income on a current basis, but on the basis that the dividends get reinvested in a DRIP for an eventual payoff. Yet even after 5+ years, these two "safe" (?) stocks in particular are down 15 - 20% even after all reinvested dividends?! I'd hate to calculate how much they'd be down if I had taken the dividends and spent them. While they didn't suffer as much in 2018Q4 as some others, they have been a disappointment. Do I need a rethink of my philosophy? Should I continue to hold these two/three? Thanks.

Q: With the tide running out and lowering almost all "boats", the yields on the examples listed above are becoming compelling for a retired, income oriented investor.

Part of the thought process here is that inflation at least at this point appears to be muted. The yields on the above range from 4.2% to 6.8%. I see these as income producers with a good risk return profile given the size of the share price drops.

1. Do you agree with my reasoning?
2. Would these types of ETF's make sense?

Thanks for your help here.

Q: Hello I hold the BMO monthly Income A mutual fund. I am trying to find a replacement in the etf world that can reduce my fees and give me approx the same income and somewhat stability. Current yield is approx 3.5%. Do you have a few suggestions? Thanks

Q: As between the two Canadian Dividend Equity ETFs - XDV and ZDV - which one would be your choice? Or would it make sense to have exposure to both?

Q: I am retired and living entirely off dividend income. Would you recommend CDZ or ZDV for a dividend ETF.

Q: I currently hold the above etf's, which totals 25% of portfolio. Equities held are US and Canadian and am invested in all sectors with financials@17%,Tech 10% and Utilities 8%. Remaining 40% equally allocated to the other sectors. Am looking at reducing ETF's and would appreciate your thoughts on which ones are good holds and which could be sold due to over diversification! Thanks for your valuable input!

Q: I am slowly building the BE portfolio in my RRSP as funds become available. For instant diversification, would it make sense to own 20-30% ZDV for access to bigger names like BNS, ENB, MG, T, MX, CGX and SLF? Basically Financials, Energy and Utilities would be covered. I could then concentrate on adding the smaller names like SIS, PBH, GUD, ENGH, TOY for the remainder of the portfolio? Would it defeat the essence of the BE portfolio? Any other ETF would be better? Thanks!

Q: Hello 5i,

I would like to hear your suggestions on what the 2 best choices are for Dividend paying ETF's from the list above or any others I didn't mention. One for CAD and one for USA (on the TSX). I would want to keep these for 10-15 years or even into my retirement if returns continue to make it worth it.

Thank you kindly,

Paul

Q: Is there a etf with the major communication stocks in it,Bce,Rogers etc ?

Q: 5i team what would be your thoughts on adding some leveraged funds to my taxable account. The lending rate would be locked in at 2.99% for a year and then if no other promotional offers next year maybe in the 4% range after that. I would be investing the entire amount into ZDV with a dividend of 4.4%.

I can re invest the distributions monthly at no cost with Questrade. And the interest on the loan would be a tax write off.

How much of my portfolio would be the max to leverage (5%-20%) how long term should I be thinking to hold ZDV. Or any other candidates for ETFs?

Thank you!

Q: Can you provide some data points around dividend "growers" companies and if not available dividend companies in general. Current P/E forward looking vs. historic average and ranges. Just wanting to get an idea on how much higher than the average these stocks are currently compared to historic levels, how overvalued they "may" be to help assess downside risk. Thanks!