Investment Q&A

Q: When determining geographic allocation of a portfolio, is it more appropriate to categorize a company based on where the majority of they business is transacted rather than where they are domiciled?

For example, is New Flyer better classified as US for geographic allocation purposes since 90% of their revenue currently comes from the US, or BAM.A as international since 90.4% of their assets under management are outside of Canada and spread across the world?

Also along these lines, is it worth the (very small) effort to sub-allocate companies that have meaningful exposure to more than one broad geographic area, e.g. classify approx. 1/2 of BNS as Canadian and 1/2 as emerging markets based on their business operations?

I ask this in the context of your previous comments that a 45%/35%/15%/5% CAD/US/INTL/EM allocation is appropriate for an average Canadian investor. Thanks as always for your sapient and perspicuous advice!

Q: I am fairly new at this and of the companies mentioned above I want to set up a Dividend portfolio using 3 to 4 of them. Suggestions would be very much appreciated as I am not well schooled in this area.
Thank you

Q: I have $35,000 total room in our TFSA for my wife and myself, 71 years of age. Together we have 60 equities in our Income portfolios dividend long term investing with a 10 year horizon mostly following the 5i Income portfolio. Not wanting to add new equities should I top to ENB, BCE, UTX. Loblaw, NWC, and SPB to get each up to about 2% weight or follow another venue that you may suggest?
I also have a five year GIC ladder in place, cash resource, and defined pension. I feel that with XGD at 1.82% weight I do not need to add to it.
Thank you
Stanley

Q: Dear 5i
I`m anticipating retiring in a little over a year so as such have a portfolio with 50% fixed income (35% clf , 35%cbo , 15% xhy and 15% cpd )
I'm thinking of following your Outcome Oriented Fixed Income portfolio and thought i would reduce clf and cbo down to 20% then add vsc and zef at 15% each .. I just feel i need a bit more diversification within the fixed portion of my portfolio.
Does this plan seem reasonable or do these changes make the fixed portion too aggressive ?
Thanks
Bill C.

Q: Do you have any comments on RUF.UN?
Can you suggest the best replacement for AAR.UN?
Thanks.

Q: Hi Peter,
What do think about this company?
Vic

Q: I have never held bonds only equities. About a month ago bought xbb and xhy, now 15% of my holdings in my portfolio. I'm down about 2.12 % in XHY and about 0.7% in XBB in a very short time. Please tell me why I'm holding these bonds. When I can typically expect them to gain or lose; What sort of insurance/protection they offer me if that is the right word.

Q: Has WCP been buying back their own shares and if so how much? Thx

Q: Can you provide an etf based portfolio for my son’s TFSA & RRSP accounts ( approx total of $50k). He is 21 years old and probably will not require the money for the next couple of decades. Thank you

Q: What would you add to today in BE, regardless of sector, current holding size, etc.? What looks good? Many thanks.

Q: In financials I own about 2.5% of my overall portfolio in both TD and RY with about 1% in ECN (total of 6%). What would be your recommendation if adding more to the financial sector. Stay with Canadian banks (add to TD or RY or possibly BNS) or add something like SLF OR MFC? Any other suggestions?
Thanks.
Brian

Q: LNR is obtaining $100 mln in grants from federal and provincial govs. What caught my attention was this : "It also said the grants will support a Linamar innovation centre focused on technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and collaborative robotics". Do you have any insights beyond this press release on what LNR is planing to do or what it has done so far in this area? How do they compare to Magna in this area?

Q: Could you shine some light on the proposed transaction involving Oriana (NEX.V), Hut 8 and Bitfury? Once the reverse takeover occurs, would you support opening a small (speculative) position or would you wait and see?

Q: When does toy report earnings next. What are expectations?

Q: Hi,

I have 2 questions:

1) What is your opinion on Apple and Amazon's current stock price? Is it too overvalued (to buy)?

2) What do you think the impact of the new $14 minimum wage in Ontario will be on the food industry, particularly, on Premium Brand Holdings?

Thank you

Q: Can you recommend you top five growth stocks for my TFSA. I would like to take full advantage of tax free growth in this account. Rest of my portfolio is well balanced in my other registered and non-registered accounts. Time frame is 5 to 10 years.

Q: I currently hold a decent position in CJ as part of my Canadian energy exposure.

Last week they announced the CFO is retiring, and for a few days following the announcement I noticed there's been considerable internal selling. This has me a little bit worried.

What are your thoughts?

Q: Would SPY be comparable to ISUG ? Or would ISUG have a higher concentration of tech stocks?

Q: What do you think of PONY? Is this a buying opportunity ? or catching a falling knife?
thank you.

Q: I have a well diversified portfolio, 2/3 Cnd and 1/3 US. In the US I have full positions in BAC, GOOG, DWDP, AAPL and 3/4 positions in MS, PYPL and half positions in FLIR, SWKS and LYB. I am happy with all these and think you have endorsed all of these recently.
I have also held a full position in US biotechs (spread evenly 1/3 each across BIIB, AGN and REGN) for 2 years and they have done nothing. My question is, would you continue to hold these biotechs in the hope/belief that their turn will come and they too will participate in the remarkable US growth, or are there simply better sectors and stocks I should be looking at? I don't want to be stubborn and recklessly hang on. If moving on is the wiser bet, what one or 2 alternate names would you suggest given my current US holdings (or perhaps add to one of the existing positions?)
You have not steered me wrong yet and I welcome your comments,

Many Thanks

Scott