skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

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

Q: As per my portfolio analysis I have reduced my position in tech and industrial. One area Where I don’t have an investment I.e. communication services I’ve taken A partial position in BCE. I need to add health care. What is your opinion of the above? What would be your top pick in this area.
Read Answer Asked by Roy on September 15, 2020
Q: Retired dividend-income investor. Sitting on 6% cash. Looking to add to healthcare exposure in my portfolio. Do you still prefer LIFE over HHL? Would you buy now or would you wait until after the USA election? Thanks...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on August 25, 2020
Q: I have positions in several ETFs trading on the TSE. I like to keep up to date on major holding changes and weightings within each ETF. Is there a good (one stop shop) source of updated information, other than going on to the separate ETF company websites?
Read Answer Asked by Edward on August 05, 2020
Q: Hello,

Thank you for your very prompt response to my question concerning how this ETF is able to pay such a high distribution. I now however have a few follow-on questions.

Since you indicated that a vast percentage of the distribution the ETF paid in the past year was simply a return of investors capital, wouldn't that make the likelihood of the ETF being able to continue payment of the current high yield very suspect over a rather short period of time? If investors are predominantly receiving a return of their own capital back to them, over time, then at a rate of 9% plus per year, won't the fund simply run out of funds to make these payments with over a period of 10 or so years? How would this differ from putting one's money under the mattress and simply withdrawing 10% of it each year?

Does the Evolve Global Healthcare (LIFE) ETF also engage in this practice, in order to support its roughly 6.75% yield?

If ETFs are supporting high yields by returning investor's capital to them and if that practice is inherently unsustainable, then I imagine that including information of that nature in the answer to any and all inquiries about such ETFs, would be very beneficial to all your members.

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Richard on July 30, 2020
Q: Hi,

I'm wondering if you might be able to provide me with some insight as to how you believe the Harvest Healthcare Leaders ETF appears to be able to sustain a yield of over 9%, when the vast majority of the investments it holds don't pay a dividend of anything close to that level of return and in fact in some cases pay no dividend at all?

I understand that they write covered calls on up to 33% of the portfolio but the difference between the return being paid by this ETF and the investments it holds seems too vast for those premiums to be able to make up all the difference. Am I perhaps mistaken in that belief or might this ETF being sustaining its current payout on "borrowed time"? I cannot afford any more investments like CPG or VET or any other examples of times I've reached for yield only to end up losing a massive percentage of my very hard earned money.

Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Richard on July 27, 2020
Q: I am considering buying LIFE, or maybe HHL. I understand the "withholding tax" issue is best handled by having these ETFs being held within ones RRSP.

A clarification question = If the foreign country withholds income taxes, is this reconciled at the time of filing ones income tax? I thought there was a tax agreement or tax treaty that ensured there was no double taxation. So if one paid taxes to the USA on a certain investment, then you didn't have to pay taxes also in Canada...in other words...no double jeopardy. Or...is my understanding incorrect?

The reason I ask is I like the way my portfolio is constructed and have the funds available to purchase either of these ETFs from within my Cash account.

Thanks for your help...much appreciated...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on July 21, 2020
Q: Retired dividend-income investor with minimal healthcare exposure (2% of equities). If I wanted to increase my health care exposure via an ETF and receive a dividend, which ETF would you chose? Which type of account would you buy them in...RRSP, TFSA or Cash (I'm thinking about income tax implications and USA withholding issues)? In a previous comparison, you indicated you preferred LIFE over HHL, although in another question you preferred XHC overall. I am sitting on roughly 8% cash and currently think I may wait for 2nd Qtr earnings to unfold, or possibly wait until the USA election...I know this is market timing, but I just don't trust where we are at right now. Once Q2 earnings are in, I might invest the $/month over the next 6 months strategy.

So, which ETF would you choose and would you wait for Q2 earnings to be done?

Thanks...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on July 14, 2020
Q: Hi 5i team
What are your top picks for Global/US health care sector ETFs that are listed on TSX , for non hedged and for hedged? Are these better to be in non registered account?
Many thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Willie on April 21, 2020
Q: Hope everyone at 5i is doing well in these times!

I have been sitting on mostly cash in my RRSP/LIRA and would like your recommendations on the best ETFs to consider for my full US and International exposure. All of these would need to be listed on the TSX as I am purchasing in CAD $. While I know you prefer non-hedged, I’d greatly appreciate if you could explain benefits/workings of hedged vs. non-hedged considering the current environment. And provide ETF recommendations for each.

I am looking to achieve a balance of diversification, reasonable MER, minimizing any withholding tax while optimizing the potential in market recovery. For US, I would like to have a technology ETF, health care ETF and a broader spectrum ETF – but also open to ideas. Also, looking for recommendations on International – one broad ETF or perhaps that and a mix of ETFs. I recognize there can be overlap (e.g. between a tech and broad sector fund), so if you can give me a sense of the degree of duplication that may be present in your recommendations. Perhaps going heavier on tech right now could be a good thing.

While I started off thinking ETF selections would be relatively simple, in reading various Q&A there seem to be many important considerations - your assistance is appreciated. Again, all of these are being purchased in RRSP/LIRA accounts with the goal of optimizing my returns over a 10 year window.
Read Answer Asked by Loretta on March 30, 2020
Q: Hi Everyone at 5i! You have mentioned that HHL is not your favorite ETF in the health care sector. What would you consider to be a more favourable alternative that exhibits better growth and some income as well ? Cheers, Tamara
Read Answer Asked by Tamara on July 15, 2019
Q: Could I get your thoughts on how HHL might behave in a recession. I understand Healthcare as a sector would be a Defensive sector however I also understand 5i is not to crazy about the cover call aspect, believing it would not protect again the down side. So how would HHL behave? Would the price fall greater than the average defensive share price, or would investors still consider it a defensive play and hold steady the price. Or would the cover call aspect cease to work and the dividends reduce? If it's more an impact on the dividends, is there a way of telling how much the
cover calling is adding to the dividends and therefore what dividends could be expected in times of a recession. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Phil on March 19, 2019
Looking for more? Sign up for a FREE 14 day trial! No credit card required

We invite you to sign up for a 14 day free trial of 5i Research!
Experience all the benefits and tools we have to offer; stock research, model portfolios, Q&A with our experts, and so much more. Join a community of like-minded investors today!