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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: Hi 5i team,

Could you suggest some Canadian precious metals ETF that you like taking into account volatility and MER.?

Many thanks in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Michel L on July 02, 2025
Q: Happy holidays…. Tax loss selling….. proxy for TLT, VDE, EMXC, OXY, PICK, LLY, NXT, ZBH, AMD, -Thanks
Read Answer Asked by James on December 22, 2024
Q: Hi,
I’m trying to help my friend organize her investments. She has minimal understanding of investments securities and had to move her pension to LIRA and RRSP 15 years and told Canada Life mutual funds that she was conservative profile. Fast forward 15 years her mutual funds have made her minimal money with back ended fees. The funds range in MERS from 1.6% to 2.5%. In looking at her holdings the portfolio make up is approximately
Fixed income - 22%, Balanced income %11, Cnd equity 62%, resources/specialty -2%. Retirement is still 10-15 years away. (Her husband has a pension)What ETF’s would match this asset mix to help get her started independently and move away from the high fees? I was thinking VBAL … But it is conservative. Any suggestions would be great to provide choice on where to invest her money. Please take as many credits as you want.
Thanks so much!
Kerri
Read Answer Asked by KERRI on May 23, 2024
Q: It appears that copper price is starting an uptrend. What individual stocks or ETFs would you recommend for taking best advantage? Is a precious metal ETF with more than just copper a good idea?

Ok thanks
Read Answer Asked by Robert on March 28, 2024
Q: Hi Peter and 5iresearch
In my recent question about investing in basic materials I mentioned in my question XBM. In your response your comment was on XLB SPDR fund. Just want to be clear that you meant to recommend XLB SPDR fund and not XBM.

What do you think of XBM?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Ahmed on March 05, 2024
Q: Hi Peter and 5iresearch team
I don't have any exposure to materials. I have XBM and LIT on my list.
1. Is now a good time to start investing in materials?
2. Would you consider other ETFs/stocks (US or CAD) that must be held as a first step investing in materials?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Ahmed on February 21, 2024
Q: Could you tell from which metals (gold, silver, copper, others) these royalties’stocks or ETF are getting their revenues/profits. And in what proportion? If possible, from which countries?
I own OR (gold), SSL (gold only?). Also these stocks: MAG (silver only?), FVI (silver&gold?).
I hope the question is not too complicated. Thanks a lot.
Read Answer Asked by Denise on November 16, 2023
Q: Dear Peter et al:

Thanks for your nice answer to Don's question today. (Friday, the 8th of September) regarding commodities. You gave a nice selection of ETFs. Looking at them they all have high concentration of energy sector and metals. MER in 70 or 80 basis points.

I wondered however if it would be better for me to hold XBM and XEG instead and lessen the fees plus opt for these bigger fund names with much higher market cap.
However I know I will miss sectors like corn, soybean, cotton etc.,

BNN had Mr. Rick Rule yesterday and he is of course a Metals and Mining Guru! This plus your answer to Don's question made me think of taking a small position in commodities . Looking at the most efficient and cost effective way to do his. Any thoughts?

Thank you in advance.

Read Answer Asked by Savalai on September 12, 2023
Q: Are there ETF's that cover Canadian mining in cobalt, copper, graphite, nickel and uranium, possibly also lithium and magnesium?
Read Answer Asked by James on August 29, 2023
Q: If you're looing for exposure to metals & the potential electrication boom wouldnt a more diversified way be to own XBM? Especially given that their can be so much more company specific risks in metal business's. Similar to XGD on the gold side.
Read Answer Asked by Michael on July 30, 2023
Q: I listed in descending order securities that under performed since their 2022 highs. Please rank the securities in order of the best chance to recover their losses when we get back to the risk on mode. Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Richard on July 25, 2023
Q: Hi,
I was bit surprised by your answer to Kevin's question today about your sector preferences. You had chosen the following: XIT/XRE/XFN/XLY/XLV.

I thought given the current possible recession scenario lurking in the background and also from your own answers to others, you would have chosen XLP, soft or hard landing people need Staples to survive, XEG because of all the uncertainties, XBM/GLD as one expects demand to go up when China opens up. Plus as a hedge against the USD going down.

There must be a reason for your choice. I am curious to find what your rationale was/is.
Read Answer Asked by Savalai on January 31, 2023
Q: I believe in copper investments for long term for various reasons.What would be your choice concerning copper mining stocks ETF,I noticed that COPP holds mostly CDN stocks and COPX is quite diversified geographically.Any other copper mining stock ETFs suggested ?
Read Answer Asked by Jean-Yves on January 25, 2023
Q: Do you know of a good Canadian and US mining or metals etf. Thx James
Read Answer Asked by JAMES on November 16, 2022
Q: Dear Peter et al:

I see a lot of chatter about rare metals in the media. Some columnists, especially Technical analysts seem to favor this sector. Your answer to a fellow subscriber few months ago seems to lean towards REMX. However, it's returns seem to lag ZMT/XBM.

Do you think there is a role for rare metals at this time in one's portfolio? If so, what is your favorite ETF and why?

Thanks in advance.
Mano.
Read Answer Asked by Savalai on June 13, 2022