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Investment Q&A

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

Q: hello 5i
your analytics say that i need to increase my holdings in basic materials and the utilities sectors. I have avoided these in the past because I wanted to avoid dividends, favouring capital gains instead. but i am wondering whether i should top up a bit here and how to go about it.
can you advise me on whether i would be wiser to buy a handful of individual stocks rather than an etf for conservative| sectors like this/ if so, how many stocks would i need and can you suggest a few of the best
thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on December 02, 2025
Q: Hello,
I am pretty well diversified across sectors, except for Materials, and have missed out on the past year's gains.
I already hold 25 individual positions and am reluctant to add more stocks to follow.
Was thinking of adding iShares Capped Materials XMA as an eventual full long-term position. Thoughts?
How would you approach buying XMA now after the year's gains? All at once? Over 3-6 months? Over the next year?
Thanks as always
Read Answer Asked by Roman on November 28, 2025
Q: I recall asking here why materials stocks, namely gold, were so low. Now with gold prices rocketing I am amusing myself with the opposite worry. I am holding this etf and see that it has had a meteoric rise. Do you think that this is a still a prudent investment or is there a better way to manage my materials exposure? Is gold unnecessarily high right now?
Read Answer Asked by Peter on September 16, 2025
Q: Based on today’s environment is NTR a sell? The materials sector is pretty diverse, are there two or three CDN companies that you would have a high degree of confidence would outperform just holding XMA for materials exposure? Or would you steer clear of Canada altogether, and if so, applying the same criteria suggest two or three U.S companies that could outperform XLB in the near term.
Read Answer Asked by Stephen R. on February 07, 2025
Q: Hi Group can you make me a list of 10 best (sleep at night)ETFs (one for each sector) c/w 5 year dividend % . I want to buy them and forget about trading or sell foe the next 10 yrs. Can be US or Cad ...Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Terence on March 27, 2024
Q: What would be your top ETF picks in the materials sector, either US or Canada?

Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Tony on March 05, 2024
Q: Portfolio Analytics indicates that across all accounts, we are underweight in the Basic Materials sector. The two stocks and CGL.C listed above are the only holdings in this sector. (CGL.C is a small holding. as it can be traded with zero commission)

Please suggest some additional Canadian and U.S. stocks in this sector to improve diversification, include reasonable entry points, and rank them in order of what to purchase first.

For a Canadian ETF, what is your opinion of XMA?

Please deduct as many credits as necessary.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on January 30, 2024
Q: What are a few relatively safe material sector stocks that my daughter, mid 30's, could thinking about holding in her RRSP for the long term???......thanks for the suggestions as me, I tend to shy away from material sector stocks.........Tom
Read Answer Asked by Tom on September 06, 2023
Q: Hello 5i
I have read recently that several US analysts think that the Canadian market will do better than the US this year. T Rowe Price was the most recent one in the National Post, i think. Wondering what you think of this thesis. And if you believe it, how would you organize to profit from it? I imagine the thesis has a lot to do with resources with the possible re opening of China. Is there, for instance, a good etf? Or, what stocks would you choose to create your own etf substitute?
Thanks as always for your excellent advice
Read Answer Asked by joseph on February 06, 2023
Q: Hi Peter,
Further to my question posted previously on investing in basic materials in ETFs, do you have any Canadian ETFs similar to XLB you would recommend?

Many Thanks,
Roger
Read Answer Asked by Roger on November 30, 2022
Q: Which ETFs trading on the TSX would you use for Real Estate, Materials, and Industrials exposure?
Read Answer Asked by Alexander on April 25, 2022
Q: I am looking for Core Growth ETF similar to XGRO but with a higher concentration of exposure to energy & materials than XGRO. any suggestions
Read Answer Asked by darcy on March 15, 2022
Q: Hi,

I have no materials in my portfolio although lots of oil. Can u recommend two US and two CDN ETFs OR companies that you think should do well without too much volatility?
Read Answer Asked by Graeme on March 01, 2022
Q: please recommend an Canadian ETF of resources except energy. Interested in what may do well because of infrastructure needs. Would Teck resources be a proxy and you assessment of TECK.B.
thanks
Yossi
Read Answer Asked by JOSEPH on February 16, 2022
Q: Dear 5i team.

May I please have your recommendation for exposure to Materials and Industrial ETFs please.

Thank you.

Read Answer Asked by Arthur on October 27, 2021
Q: Hi

Can I sell AEM for tax loss in my cash account and buy XMA on the same day?

It is noted that AEM is 4.74%.of XMA.

Would this allow me the tax loss?

Any other suggestions you have are most welcome.

Thank you

Mike
Read Answer Asked by Mike on September 29, 2021
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