Investment Q&A

Q: How would you recommend adding a small/prudent amount of exposure to bonds in the current market environment?

Q: What is your current opinion of high yield US corporate bond ETFs, such as XHY and ZHY. Specifically, do you recommend them in the current economic environment for a relatively conservative income portfolio?
Many Thanks.

Q: Is this ETF still worth holding or could my money be better invested?

Q: Hello, still seeing these bond etfs drifting downwards, these 4 are the fixed income portion of a well balanced portfolio, with investment savings offering just over 4% is it worth considering a move, these are in sheltered accounts. Thanks.

Q: I am looking at adding a 15 to 20 percent bond component to my portfolio. From the mix of laddered, aggregate, short/long term and high yield ETF’s listed. Which would you recommend and why? Please let me know if you have other possible suggestions? Thank you

Q: Hi Guys
will the default level not go through the roof on all these Corporate Bonds in the next few years when they have to re issue debt at much higher levels ? and wont a recession really contribute to high bankruptcies.
What kind of a correction in this ETF can we expect, something along the lines of 30 %, Algonquin Power was sure hit hard with higher floating rates.
Thanks Gord

Q: I’m looking to diversify a small portfolio in a TFSA by purchasing ‘some’ ETF’s with reasonable distributions and not too much risk to capital, the idea being that this is a growing ‘rainy day fund’. The most attractive ones, to me, involve at least some U.S. investments. I’m sure that the first thing you would say is that you are not tax experts. With that said, do you think that XHY’s income would be subject to the U.S. Witholding tax? And following that do you know of any online sources that list the tax implications of specific ETF’s re. Withholding tax? The most that ETF providers might say on their sites is that an ETF is TFSA/RSP eligible
.
I recognize that the tax does not rule out the utility of an investment. When would you ignore its’ presence for an investment? A long-winded question.

Q: hello 5i:
can you compare XHY and USHY? USHY looks to have a much higher yield, particularly as its in US dollars. Is there a large risk difference in these ETFs?
thanks
Paul L

Q: Hello 5i,
It was mentioned that XHY should be kept in a registered account as it is foreign income. The dividend is shown to be paid in Canadian funds and the exchange is TSX.Where are the foreign income consequences related to holding XHY?
Thank you for your service
Stanley

Q: Over the last couple months I have increased the fixed income portion of my RSP, and would like to finish with a smallish position in a a high-yield bond ETF. Been looking at PDI and ZHY/XHY (they seem about the same). Some questions:

1) is the current PDI premium normal for this fund on a historical basis
2) the PDI dividend seems consistent, but how do they manage to maintain that level
3) PDI is more international than the others - do you see this as a positive or negative for high-yield corporate holdings
4) do you think it is too early to get into high-yield if interest rates keep going up or if we get into a "significant" recession
5) who do you consider to be the best manager of these 3 ETFs, and if you would buy , which is your pick and why
Thank-you Grant

Q: Hi,

Based on the questions pertaining to taxable dividends, and managing an income portfolio for my elderly parents, is there a substantial difference in tax treatment, if the above funds are held in a cash account? I was fortunate enough to get DIR.UN into a TFSA and am slowly moving AW into a TFSA as well. Do I take out the growthier names in the TFSA’s and move in the ETF’s or just let them go in a cash account?

Q: I am looking for ETFs that trade on the TSX with a yield of at least 4-5%. From the income portfolio, I see CPD (preferreds) / CVD (convertible) / XHY (US HY) / ZRE (REITs), and I am also aware of ZWU (Utilities) / ZWB (Banks).

Are there any others that don't have much overlap with the above that you would recommend?

Q: In these times where the financial health of companies are being put to the test, are bond funds like XHY, which hold 60% BB grade bonds and 30% B grade bonds, something that a wise investor should be pulling out of?

Q: What are your favourite Canadian bond ETFs given the current circumstances and looking ahead a couple of years.
Thank you!

Q: I noted and likely your strategy to add to XHY for income and possible capital gains. However, when I looked at high yield corp. bond ETFs, ZJK looked better overall. There is also the matter of CAD hedging. I'm looking to park cash for my 2023 RIF withdrawal this December and I've been using the BMO HISA for this. Can I have your opinion on using ZJK or XHY instead for about 2% higher income?

Q: I have 20 Thousand US Cash in My US RRIF acc't. I am looking at deploying it into 5 stocks for income. I don't have any oil sector stocks or ETF, Reits or banks.Looking for idea's which could bring dividends and growth over time.Tks 5i take as many credits as required. 79 year old.Do not need any money to pay my RRIF monthly payment as I have Can account with ample cash for 18 months

Q: I'm looking at my legacy pile of preferred shares of which I have never been fond and wondering if this isn't a good time to sell and invest in a bond ETF such as XHY. I know you have expressed ambivalence about prefs but have also said in better times the class can do better. However, yields are roughly comparable, I can use the loses and invest the proceeds in XHY or a different bond fund which you might suggest, keeping the investment on the fixed income side of the page, Many thanks. al

Q: Hello,
Many experts are predicting a downturn in the market for at least the first half of 2023 and possible even longer. With that in mind, and if the Feds and Bank of Canada pause in Q1,... the market will stabilize and GIC rates may pull back. In fact RBC GIC's short term rates are about the same as longer term. Therefore, is this a good time to start buying Bonds ETFs with the hope that as rates start coming down the stock price will start moving higher? Am I correct in this assumption? And, which ones would you suggest? short, mid, or long term.? As well, what are you thoughts on Prime Linked Cashable GIC's ( offered by RBC)? Finally, would you buy a 1 year GIC currently at 4.65% ( by RBC) ?
Thanks
CR

Q: I am looking to add some bond exposure. I had a look at TLT and XHY.

Here is my own personal view on the economy:

- Interest rates could eventually flatline or even fall later in 2023.

- The economy has a somewhat elevated risk of going into a recession.

- The interest rate hikes have a risk of causing "something to break", possibly triggering a black swan event.

Under the above scenarios I am guessing XHY is not a good option considering the individual ratings of the bonds within this ETF, correct?

I don't necessarily want to invest in preparation for a black swan event that may or may not happen, however I want to prepare a bit for that possibility. If that were to happen I would guess that investors would tend to migrate towards the USD. Would that be beneficial for TLT?

Are there better options?

Q: I completed the Portfolio Analytics Tool and uploaded my own holdings. It suggested I should invest in 30 percent fixed income - I’ve spent my investment years in the equity market - any suggestions for this asset class such as which bonds, what terms, etc… ?