Investment Q&A

Q: Long term holder of XIT. It is my proxy for the Tech sector. While using your "total return" charting, I am noticing a recent divergence when comparing XIT to QQQ. Over many different timeframes you could lay one chart over the other and they compared very very well.

Recently the XIT showed a decline, which I believe is due to the potential impact of AI on the software subsector. Lately there appears to be a bit of a software-related recovery. Please correct me if you believe there is another explanation.

If I am correct, this leads me to consider adding a Tech ETF that is heavier into AI. I'm looking at trimming some of XIT and adding a new ETF to my relatively concentrated portfolio of 20-ish ETFs and stocks.

The "AI" ETF I am considering is CIAI. Would you agree with my thought process and the ETF that I have selected?

If so, do you have a suggestion on the relative weighting between XIT vs CIAI? Both would be held in my TFSA. I know you can't comment on individual asset allocations....I'm just looking for ballpark numbers 50-50, 60-40 or 75-25-ish.

Thanks.....Steve

Q: I've been burnt in the past by not trimming gains and having stocks crash and burn so I'm trying to diversify out of individual stocks when I get huge gains and let only a portion of it run. Can you recommend some ETFs to diversify into (CAD and USD), I'm 30s so long horizon and risk tolerance. I currently use XEQT, XSU, VIU, VFV for cad, VT, VTI for us. Let me know if there's any other good options, or if I should just stick to a specific one and why- take more credits if need

Q: Hello, the question is for listings only on the TSX

1: For a TFSA what would be your top 5 stocks to buy in order right now.

2: For a TFSA what would be your top 2 ETFs for growth and top 2 ETFs for dividends.

3: For a RRSP what would be your top 2 ETFs for growth and top 2 ETFs for dividends.

Thank you

Q: I have a fairly diversified portfolio, except for tech/AI. Can you recommend four or five ETFs for that sector? Thanks

Q: I seem to recall a question quite a while ago (years?) about the maximum % of your portfolio should be by fund company. If I remember correctly, your suggestion was to cap each fund company exposure to 15%. Am I correct and do you still feel the same?

My BMO ETFs are just over 16%.
My iShares ETFs are just over 15%.
I have smaller exposures to the fund companies holding HMAX, HHL, NNRG (around 5% each).

Please remind me again what the dangers are of exceeding your suggested threshold? For the larger fund companies, is the threshold higher?

Thanks for your help....much appreciated....Steve

Q: Greetings 5i team,
I see that CSU, SHOP, CLS and GIB.A account for about 83% of XIT but neither TOI nor LMN are held directly in XIT. Bit of a math question: if we were to break LMN and TOI out of CSU, what % break down of XIT would LMN, TOI and CSU (thus reduced) represent?
Thank you
SP

Q: In diversified registered portfolios I am underwater (16%-35%) for these 4 holdings. Are any of these likely to enter positive territory in the next 12 months? In what order would I sell these? Many thanks for a great service.

Q: I own no Tech. What would be your 5 best company and/or ETF choices listed in Canada. Thanks, great service.

Q: What option would you suggest to pursue to gain additional exposure to technology within a portfolio? I currently only own QQQ in USD registered account.

1) just add more to QQQ at the current exchange rate
2) diversify and add XIT
3) diversify and add both XIT and CSU at 50/50 (understanding XIT owns approximately 23% of CSU already)
4) none of the above, try an alternative (e.g. QQQM)

Q: I've owned XIT for a very long time and it has performed extremely well. Using your charting system, I have tracked it against QQQ and it is amazing how you can virtually lay one on top of the other over multiple time frames (especially 3 years and 10 years).

It is only in the last month that there is an obvious change. XIT has plummeted since the start of 2026, while QQQ has roughly held it's own.


XIT is comprised of 10 stocks, with SHOP at 25%, CLS at 24%, CSU at 23%, GIB.A at 12%....totalling roughly 85% of XIT.

Reading up on these four, I think I can paraphrase the 5iR answers as: SHOP-no major concerns, CLS-no concerns at all, CSU-should be ok in the long terms (unless AI is indeed a major disruptor to the software subset of technology, GIB.A-should be ok, but not exciting. My apologies if I got this wrong.

For asset allocation purposes, I added funds to XIT in late December and early Jan around the $80 level (this is after trimming at $86). So if I liked XIT at $80, I should really like it in the $60's. I have more funds available to add to XIT, but I am very proud of my latest action this week or so....just sit on my hands and do nothing.

I like buying when the proverbial "blood is running down the street" and could easily top up now. However, we may now be looking at some capitulation...not sure? I also look at the old expression that after a parabolic rise, the stock could easily settle by 1/3 to 1/2.

Do you have any advice as to when to deploy new funds into XIT? Should we wait until CSU reports in late-Feb? Are there other factors to consider.

Thanks.....Steve

Q: Hi, many investors DCA into index funds. If you were to choose five CDN and US quality long term compounders to DCA into that are going to beat the market over the next 5,10,15 years, what would they be? Thank you!

Q: I was planning on adding some or all of these to an RRSP and /or an RESP.
Any issues or better ideas. I am thinking ETF's and one or two blue chip.Thanks,Paul

Q: Are there any listed international ETF like QQQ.us and XIT. Canadian ?

Q: Any suggestions for a technology EFT that covers United States, Canada and Global

Q: My current plan is to add to my XIT holdings in my TFSA with this year's contribution.

By the way, XIT tracks very well when compared with QQQ...using multiple timeframes on your charting system. They overlay each other very closely....surprises me.

This is actually a "timing" question. Usually I just contribute the money and then buy according to a well laid out plan weeks in the making. However, with the big run up last year and the slide in stock prices lately, I can't help but ponder whether I should just sit on my hands for a bit?

My full plan was actually to buy the first $7k tranche sooner (early Jan), then create some cash from the other holdings in my TFSA and buy a 2nd tranche later...Feb?

Your thoughts?

Thanks for your help throughout the years....been with you from virtually the beginning....love the service!!! Steve

Q: Retired, dividend-income investor with a well diversified portfolio (in my opinion anyway). My proxy for the technology sector is XIT and it has performed very well over the long time period I have held it. I like using your charting ability to compare XIT to QQQ or other related tech companies or ETFs....great feature!


Question #1 = With all of the "AI" interest right now, I wonder how much exposure does XIT have to the AI theme? Which of the embedded companies within XIT have AI exposure?

Question # 2 = Is there is an ETF that focuses on AI-related companies or is there an ETF that focuses on AI-generated stock picks (in any sector) and what your thoughts are?

Thanks....Steve

Q: Can you recommend five CAD-denominated, growth-oriented ETF’s trading on the TSX for a three-year hold? This could include sector-specific (eg cybersecurity, AI, dividend-growth, etc), theme-based (eg momentum) and/or general/broad index suggestions (eg TSX, S&P500, NASDAQ100, etc). Thanks.

Q: I like OTEX as a long-term holding, but am in a loss situation; for tax reasons, it would be worthwhile to realize this loss, and rebuy the security in >30 days. In the meantime, I am thinking of investing the proceeds temporarily in CGI Group (GIBa). I note that today OTEX "popped" by ~10% because of a good earnings report. Here are my questions:
1. Is this a good time to sell OTEX (with plan to rebuy a few weeks from now) or should I wait a bit, since the stock could be in a bit of an uptrend over the next few weeks?
2. Is CGI Group a good proxy for holding the proceeds of OTEX disposition for the next several weeks (or would you suggest another proxy)?
3. In general, what do you think of these two holdings-- CGI Group and OTEX-- as long-term holds? If YOUR portfolio included both companies, would you favor one over the other (i.e., greater weighting within the portfolio), and if so which one (based on long-term prospects and current valuations)?

Ted

Q: Hi Gang
What are your top 4 tech ETFs

Thanks Mike B

Q: Seeking 5i advice regarding investing approx. $600,000 into Canadian ETFS for income and balanced approach. Considering TD Canadian Equity Index, for perhaps $100,000..
Could I please have your recommendation for the remaining amount.
Thanks in advance for your help
Rick