Investment Q&A

Q: I have the above 3 holdings with losses ranging from -60% to -85%. They each now represent less than 0.5% of my overall holdings so whatever happens they will barely move the needle. I am at a point where I feel I need to do some type of clean-up and would appreciate your advice. I see 3 possible choices:
1. Dump them right away regardless of price in the name of cleaning up my portfolio
2. Given that we might be close to a bottom wait (say between 1 month to a year) to hopefully sell at a better price
3. Top them up to at least a quarter or half position and hang on to them long term
They are all in registered accounts so there are no tax benefits in selling. Furthermore I went into this downturn with 30% cash and have since bought into the drop (other positions) bringing my cash down to 15%, with plans to do additional purchases if the market drops further. So at the moment, I have no immediate need for the little cash that selling these right now would bring. What would you suggest?

Q: Hello Peter and co,
Thank you for your voice of reason in these crazy times! My 18-year old granddaughter has been talking about investments, and recently announced that she has decided she wants to invest in a cruise line company, since they are probably way down. Her thinking makes some sense to me, as the cruise industry will survive, and the strongest players may benefit from assimilation of weaker players assets. Similar thinking regarding airlines. In both cases, bankruptcy may be a risk. Is it safe to assume that buying these sectors is a good long term strategy, and if so, which companies would you suggest? Presumably strong balance sheet is a must. I think I read that Warren Buffett bought some Delta Airlines shares recently. Considering all that, what would you suggest for a young 18-year old?
Thanks.

Q: I get most of my income from dividends. Please name 4 sectors where dividends might be relatively Less likely to be suspended and 5 companies that will do best with the criteria mentioned. I understand that at this time it is hard to project but I ask for relative possibilities with the current situation that may change. 
thanks 
Yossi

Q: While our politicians and others say this is unprecedented, the truth is it has happened before. The 1918 Spanish Flu killed 33 million world wide because they didn't know much about prevention and soldiers were returning from war. Some areas did close borders and practice self-isolation. Even the word quarantine comes from the 40 day isolation period in the middle ages. What happened after 1918?
Markets improved, then there was the 1920-21 depression (maybe war related) followed by one of the biggest bull markets ending in the 1929 Great Depression.

We haven't used the word depression yet but a depression is a fall in GDP of 10% or more or a Recession lasting more than 2 years. I think it is likely that we will have a technical "Depression" and using the word may send markets lower. Either way we are not finished and we need to test the lows and see some real light at the end of the tunnel. But it will end and return to normal and higher prices. My thoughts as I sit in self isolation. Stay safe everyone.

Q: Assuming markets will tank again, which would you suggest be purchased for a long-term hold at that time: BAM.A, SLF or TRI? Retired investor looking for dividends with some growth.

Many thanks to the entire 5i team for your collective efforts to provide us with timely, thoughtful information and a much-needed balanced perspective during this most challenging of times.

Q: Thank you for Portfolio Analytics. I have found it a quite helpful. Last year it was a very timely wake up call for me to make adjustments to the portfolio and allow for higher fixed income exposure and better geographical exposure. Thanks again in your guidelines

Q: 3 days up in a row. Should we be buying?

Q: The above TFSA holdings have not performed well and of course, are not eligible as tax loss harvesting. This is one of the potential downsides of TFSA investments. Please give me your thoughts on which ones you would move on from and without worrying about sectors, some replacements you think will recover well. Thanks again for your guidance.

Q: Hi there,

Can you please tell me what your top 5 bullish ideas are from your Growth Portfolio in order from first to fifth?

Thank you!

Q: Hi Guys, any comments on the Investor update from SPB released this morning. Market responded well today. Would you consider this a buy, sell or hold?
Thanks
Rob

Q: Hello 5i Team

Could you please provide an update on the mortgage investment corporation.
Are they a reasonable source of higher yield interest income?
The four MIC and First National have suffered the declines similar to the market.
These investments would be held in my RRSP for long term interest income and not for capital gains. These would be a small portion of my high yield fixed income portfolio which includes corporate bonds and convertible debentures.
How did MIC fare in the low interest rate environment after the 2008 crash / recession as most stock charts only go back 10 years.
Thanks for the excellent advice in the last four weeks with all the market changes.

Q: If my aim is to raise some liquidity for more prudent re-investments in the coming weeks, which companies in your balanced portfolio would you consider as best choices to sell. Not seeing the road ahead with any clarity, I'm interested in keeping those companies with strong balance sheets, and selling those that may suffer the most in these unforseen times.
Thanks,

Q: I hold RECP in a registered account, receive a 1.5% dividend & am underwater by 50%. Is it worth keeping & hope for future growth or should I sell & except the loss? Do you think the dividend is safe? Thanks … Cal

Q: Does Ballard have manageable debt going forward?

Q: Luckily, I went to cash on most of my US holdings in Feb, but kept some VIG, thinking it would survive better than others. That has not really been true and I notice that it does not bounce as much on an up day as one like VIS, which also pays a higher yield. As I start picking away at re-building my US portfolio, what 3 ETF's would you recommend?

Q: Hello 5IResearch
Are there any canadian ETF that tracks the travel industries such as the air lines and or the cruise lines that you can recommend ? If not what would you recommend to participate in the travel industries recover .Thanks for all the recommendation that are posted each day.

Q: Good morning,
Is there an ETF of big cap Canadian dividend stocks equivalent to PDC but without the large energy component? On the other hand, have the pipelines in PDC suffered enough that I shouldn't worry about the energy component going forward.

Q: would you agree with the expectation of lower rates for longer and if so, what about selling Pref shares which have been killed and switching to a high yield
bond etf or fund? Does this make sense given the current sell off in credit?
Any recommendations for a purchase ? thanks

Q: Hi,
I hope everyone is well. I am doing some tax management. We have a sizeable loss in Great Canadian. I’d like to sell it for a capital loss. What similar company would you recommend to replace for the 30 period should there be a bounce in the sector or should just set sit on the cash for 30 days?
Thanks,
Kerri

Q: Hello All,
Why would stocks raise just because of the stimulus.
The Streets are empty and companies are laying off people or are closed. No production, no income, only stimulus money from governments which is not backed. There will no quarterly earnings now and for the second and perhaps 3rd quarter!
Why is the market bull crazy, doesn't make sense.
Thank you, Frank