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: Good morning- for a thirty year old looking to build a US ETF portfolio, which ones would you suggest. He already has a full position in VOO and a smaller one in IWO. Also, can you suggest a couple of international ETF's, say for all Asia ( with and without China) and for Europe, to round out a preponderance of US ETF's.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by alex on September 30, 2024
Q: I need to expand my international exposure and would be holding the ETF in a non-registered account.

What are your top 2 international ETFs (ex-north america?).
What do you think of VIU?

Thanks
(Note I tried sending this in previously but not sure it went through so resubmitting)
Read Answer Asked by Simon on September 26, 2024
Q: I need to increase my international exposure. My plan is to accomplish this through ETFs held in a non-registered account.

1) Can you please recommend two ETFs to achieve international exposure.

2) As a member of BMO Investorline I can access commission free ETFs and I am considering vanguard's VI ETF to increase international exposure. What are your thoughts on this ETF and how does it compare versus the ETFs recommended as part 1 of this question?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Simon on September 24, 2024
Q: VI and VEF have been suggested as Canadain dollar alternatives to VXUS. Both VI and VEF are hedged to the Canadian dollar. Is it better to be hedged or unhedged to the Canadian dollar? I was considering VIU which I believe is the unheadged version of VI.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by J Stephen on August 12, 2024
Q: Hi All at 5i!!
I gather VXUS is in USD. Is there a CAD equivalent??

Cheers,
Tamara


Read Answer Asked by Tamara on August 01, 2024
Q: I am a retiree and looking for conservative growth stocks with target of 3 to 5 years hold. Dividend is nice, but, not important. Based on the current market condition and valuations, could you recommend 5 Canadian stocks and 3 global ETFs? Please suggest an entry point with a note for the reason of recommendations. Thanks so much.
Read Answer Asked by Chui Po on July 29, 2024
Q: HI Everyone,

My portfolios (Non-Registered, RRIF, TFSA) consist of only 100% Canadian equities and Cash. I am retired and would finally like to add some excitement and diversity to my holdings. Can you please suggest some Global/International or US ETF's and/or other funds that I could consider.

In my current mish-mash of holdings; I presently own: BCE, T, ENB, AP.un,H&R-un,BN, CSU, TOI, LMN, EDV, K, VET, WSP, LSPD, Anergia, Copperleaf, Softchoice, ATD, and WSP, etc.

Thanks very much,

Dean
Read Answer Asked by Dean on July 10, 2024
Q: Using the Portfolio Analytics, I see I need to increase my international exposure. What strong performing stock and ETFs do you suggest? In Canadian dollars, and US dollars.

Also I'd like to know if CSU, LMN and TOI are Canadian.

TIA,

Brenda
Read Answer Asked by Brenda on July 03, 2024
Q: For a 3-5 year timeframe, for an international ETF, would you recommend VXUS or VIGI? Is there another international ETF which you feel is better?

Thank you for this excellent service.
Read Answer Asked by Dale on June 07, 2024
Q: Good afternoon, Please recommend your 3 favourite international equity ETFs (without US holdings) and your 3 favourite US market ETFs. I already own QQQ which represents approx. 10% of my RRSP (in US dollars). Further, what are your thoughts on investing in the US market in US dollars (converted using Norbert Gambit) vs. Cnd. dollars? Is there an approach which has generated better results? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by bernie on June 07, 2024
Q: Dear 5i
I need to increase my international exposure substantially . What 1-2 ETF's would be your top choices for this . What would your choice be for a basic material ETF ?
Thanks
Bill C
Read Answer Asked by Bill on May 02, 2024
Q: I'm new here and am looking to increase my international exposure. Can you recommend a few international ETFs that don't have US exposure and some that include it as part of their holdings? Should I look to these ETFs to include exposure to both established and emerging markets or strictly more developed countries? I'm looking at investing between 30% of my portfolio as I already own QQQ which represents approximately 12% of my holdings now). Thank you in advance, Elaine.
Read Answer Asked by elaine on April 04, 2024
Q: Hi, I'm thinking of gradually reducing my individual stocks and moving into etfs for an all around set it and forget it roughly $3 million portfolio for someone retiring in the next few months. Can you give me your suggested etfs and percentages to hold to accomplish this balance? A chunk of these funds are not invested yet so I'd also like to know how you would suggest deploying these funds? Would you edge in gradually over a period of time or just get the money working? I'd really appreciate any advice you could give me in this format.
Thank you as always!
Read Answer Asked by Harry on March 14, 2024
Q: I have read the following from Morgan Stanley's CIO:
- S&P 500's forward price-to-earnings ratio is over 20.4, the equivalent for the MSCI ACWI ex U.S. is around 13.5.
- That discount of nearly 35%, a 20-year low, is a two-standard-deviation event.
- Dividend yields for non-US equities are running above 3% - more than double that of the U.S. benchmark.

Do you think there is an out-sized opportunity to invest outside the US, beyond one's normal global diversification strategy? If so, what sectors, stock and/or ETF's do you recommend? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Ben on March 04, 2024
Q: Good Morning 5i,
I have held VEE for a number of years as part of my global exposure in my portfolio. I would like to replace it with another global ETF. Could you suggest 3 other ETF's that would provide more upside over the next 5 years. I also hold XWD so avoiding any overlap is a consideration.
Thanks for all you do for us each day.
Dan
Read Answer Asked by Dan on January 31, 2024
Q: Hi,

I hold VXUS and have decided I'd like to instead concentrate my international holdings on four stocks: ASML, LVMUY, MDLZ and NVS. I was wondering, recognizing you don't cover European companies, are there any obvious red flags with these four companies. I know there is no comparison between and ETF and individual stocks. Sector is not a concern.

Thank you. Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on October 27, 2023
Q: Hi,

What are a couple Canadian listed ETFs to replace VXUS. I'm thinking of selling my VXUS and buying VIG with the USD, and then replacing VXUS in my CAD account.

Thanks
Robert
Read Answer Asked by Robert on February 22, 2023
Q: You have mentioned both VIU and VXUS for International exposure in a portfolio. Can you please explain the difference between them? Would one be better than the other as the only International exposure in an ETF portfolio?
Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by FJ on February 06, 2023
Q: Hi Peter.
Can you suggest a few stocks/ETF's with good long term potential ?
Read Answer Asked by HARRY on January 09, 2023
Q: Happy Holidays!! Two part question - What are your thoughts on index funds, I don’t think I see any in your portfolios.

I read some commentary sometimes how some “professional investors” say they are better than stocks, for as the stock market goes up the index funds will too, but stocks don’t always rise when the market does. I do see the counter argument there too.

And assuming you’re not opposed to them, you which ones would you recommend?

Please take 2-3 credits, as that was a long question.

Thanks,

Cam
Read Answer Asked by Cam on January 06, 2023
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!