Investment Q&A

Q: I am looking to take on some technology exposure in my RRSP, and leaning toward ETF rather than individual stocks. Would appreciate a couple ideas for core holdings in this sector. Thanks

Q: To boost Technology exposure by 2% of equity portfolio for a 70 year old retiree, pleae rank your choices. Thanks

Q: What do you think about XIT in a cash account? It looks like 75% of the holdings are Shopify, CGI Group, and Constellation Software. With a MER of .60 for this ETF would you just buy the 3 stocks in equal weighting or buy the ETF to have the small holdings as well?

Thanks

Q: i am curious about this,i know shopify and constellation software are 2 of your favorite companies, i also know you like open text and cgi, so these 4 companies represent 82% of the xit with shop and csu representing 51%, why not just recommend the xit to your investor, still lots of risk but less so and you get them all plus smaller amount of kxs and some others.dave

Q: Hi Peter, Ryan, and Team,

In our combined portfolio (RRIF, RRSP, TFSAs, and non-registered account), we are underweight in Information Technology. 5i's latest recommendation for this sector's weighting is 15%, but we are at 13.4%.

We hold these stocks/ETF followed by their weighting:
CSU: 5.67%
ENGH: 2.38%
KXS: 1.09%
OTEX: 2.50%
SYZ: 0.92%
XIT: 0.91% (We use it to park cash as it's a commission-free ETF for us)

My wife has a preference for holding dividend payers (even a small dividend) in her RRSP. In her RRSP, she holds a 1.51 % position in CSU, and the full 2.38% of ENGH. In order to increase the IT weighting to 15%, she needs to invest $19,500. There is sufficient cash in her RRSP for this purchase. What course of action would you suggest? Should she top up her position in ENGH? Or should she start a new position in ET or OTEX?

Please deduct sufficient credits for this rather convoluted question. Your guidance is very valuable to us.

Q: Hi
Based on the Portfolio Analytics program I am now above or below a regional exposure (Canada, USA & International within 1%. I was low on tech suggested percentage big time.
I sold my less than 1% holdings, would XIT be a good holding this would cover my Canadian holdings and increase my Tech holdings.
Based on my age I do not want to own stocks any longer and have several under 1% holdings.
You thoughts please

Mike

Q: On February 14th, you suggested that Derek buy the top 5 tech stocks in XIT. With XIT up almost 30% YTD I suspect the top 5 did very well indeed. Would it still be a good investment (top 5) given the large run-up? I looked at the top 5 and spidey sense says yes, but I value your thoughts much more. Thoughts please?

Q: I have the above securities, as well as RBC Cdn Equity Inc, Sentry Cdn Inc, Sentry Global REIT, and fixed income via Fisgard Capital, Annuities, a company pension, CPP and soon-to-be OAS.

I really focus on asset allocation and am a little light on Consumer stocks, holding CGX, PBH and TCL (although some consider TCL to be in the Industrial sector). I am normally a buy-and-hold investor who trims-adds around core positions.

Question 1 = I am looking to add 1 more consumer stock and am looking for a dividend ideally > 3%. Based on my stock-ETF-MF mix, are there a few stocks you could suggest that would fit in my above set of securities.

Q2 = if I was to consider ideas from the Income Portfolio, is there an issue with having multiple food stocks....like PBH and A&W and NWC. Why have more than one food stock?

Q# = because A&W is a ".UN" company, how are their dividends treated for tax purposes? Are they eligible for the dividend tax credit?

Deduct as many credits as you deem appropriate....got loads and will never use them all up.

Thanks as always...Steve

Q: Are there any ETF ‘s that track the Canadian tech sector and what is your opinion of them? Thanks.
Derek

Q: Hi Peter and Team,

The Info Tech component of equities in all our accounts is 16.2%. The following stocks and ETFs are held, followed by their weightings:

CSU 7.1%
ENGH 1.4%
KXS 2.2%
OTEX 2.3%
SYZ 1.0 %
TXF 1.9%
XIT 0.3% (used to put small amounts of cash since there's no commission with iTrade)

Would it be prudent to trim CSU, and if so, to what level?
What is your opinion of the other holdings, and are their weightings appropriate?
Are the Info Tech holdings too high a percentage of the overall portfolio?

Thanks in advance for your valuable guidance. Please deduct as many credits as you deem necessary.

Q: I have the above securities as well as RBC Cdn Equity Inc-D shares, Sentry Cdn Income, Sentry Global REIT. I am a retired conservative dividend income investor with a company pension, CPP, annuities and Fisgard Capital for fixed income.

I currently own ECI and will sell and look for a Consumer stock to replace it (not interested in BIP...I have a full slate of Utilities). I filtered several candidates using fundamental metrics (P/E, beta, P/BV, P/CF, P/S) and technical metrics (200 dma, etc), as well as yield and price targets (for what they are worth).

I will keep my CGX and PBH. I'm looking for a long term hold (conservative, liquid stock with a good and growing dividend). My short list of candidates include CLIQ, CTC.a, PLC, TCL.A. I already flushed ADW.A, KBL, RSI and since I already have 1 food stock, I flushed L and NWC.

Please provide your insights into the appropriateness of these Consumer stocks (CLIQ, CTC.A, PLC, TCL.A) for my portfolio, given my circumstances and existing stock positions.

Are there other securities I should consider, even those that I have flushed?

Thanks for your help...Steve

Q: God morning,

Is it better to own ETF XIT or own only one tech stock OTEX?

Thanks

Q: Please advise your opinion regarding the best growth etf's in Canada

Q: It seems XIT "Don't get no respect" from analysts, yet it has performed well over the past few years and smooths out the volatility in the sector. Oddly, XIT seems to do just as well as ZQQ. Where does 5i stand on this ETF?

Q: Hi,

My web brokerage rates XIT as hi risk and lo reward. When I look at its performance over the short or long term it has underperformed its peers. What do you think it as a long term hold? Is there another tech ETF you'd prefer as I'm not good at high volatility?

Q: In our grand-daughters' trust accounts, they each have exposure to banks, insurance, pipeline, energy E&P, utility, and REITs. There is available cash in the accts to open a new position. Would you add to a present sector or start a new one (i.e. materials,industrial, health care, etc) If starting a new sector, which looks the most promising at present and could you recommend 2 or 3 dividend paying ETFs in the sector ( ideally over 3%). Looking at a 5-7 years time frame. Thanks so much for a great website and much valued advice. don

Q: I am a retired, conservative dividend-income investor with a company pension, CPP, annuities, Fisgard Capital and the following equities:
1. 17% Mutual funds (RBC Cdn Equity Income, Sentry Cdn Income, Sentry REIT)
2. 10% ETFs (ZLB, XIT, ZWE)
3. 41% stocks (listed above)
4. 32% fixed income (annuities, Fisgard, but not including my pension nor CPP).

I plan to reduce my Sentry Cdn Income holding from 9% to 5% and purchase ZWC. The benefits would be a) saving $1k in hidden MER fees, b) receiving an extra $1k in dividends and c) a better asset allocation. I like the covered call strategy that ZWC provides, as well as the 30 companies inside the ETF.

Question = is this the right ETF product? Are there other Canadian Covered Call ETF choices that offer this diversified asset mix that I should consider? Are their other ETFs that have slightly less financials, less utilities, and more industrials that would result in a better asset allocation for me?

Thanks for your help...Steve

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?

Q: My daughter would like to invest in something Robotics related in her RRSP...thinking long term. Would ATA be a good offering even though it is near a high?
Any other ideas? Would XIT be too broad?
Much appreciated, Paul

Q: Hi Peter, I have 2 of your tech companies, but was thinking of adding some XIT to bring my IT up to 10% to 15%. Is there a better ETF?