Investment Q&A

Q: Hi,

I’d like to add a bit of nuance to your response to Delbert on May 2 about Canada’s macro circumstances.

In your response, you state that Canada has a debt problem. According to the OECD’s 2022 figures (latest available), Canada’s debt to GDP ratio is better than Japan, Greece, Italy, the United States, Brazil, France, Spain and Portugal. (https://data.oecd.org/gga/general-government-debt.htm)

Again, according to the OECD’s level of GDP per capita and productivity, Canada is essentially tied with the OECD as a whole. (https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=PDB_LV)

In 2023, the OECD reports that Canada’s GDP growth was 1.5%, beating Germany, the UK, the EU as a whole, the Euro Area as a whole, Italy and France, and nearly matching the OECD Area average (1.6%) and the G7 (1.7%). (https://www.oecd.org/newsroom/gdp-growth-fourth-quarter-2023-oecd.htm)

The OECD also reports that Canada’s corporate income tax rate in 2022 was 15%, beating all but 4 countries. Canada’s corporate income tax rate is lower than almost all of Europe (typically around 25%) and the US (21%).

Thank you.

Michael

Q: Can I get your opinion on mortgage backed securities (US) for one’s income portfolio? Do these increase in value as interest rates decrease similar to bonds? Thanks.

Q: Hi, can i get an update/analysis on this stock please. Last inquiry was June 2023.
Does the recent quarter and forecast shed any positive developments?
You last indicated this is not a 'need to own' stock. Are you still of this opinion?
Is there something else in same HCM field that is better suited for an otherwise diversified portfolio?

Cheers,
Steve

Q: Hello! I own LMN.V, but I don’t have CSU or HSP.A. Are these tech companies similar? Should I consider them as a group purchase, or treat each name individually as a tech stock within my portfolio?

Q: Was there any discussion, either in the earnings release or the conference call, about the dividend sustainability, dividend growth, etc?

I own what used to be a full position and with the continued decline, was considering topping it back up...some soon then the rest later in the year. No rush to deploy the cash...it's sitting in RBF2010, earning 4.55%.

Thanks for your help...much appreciated...Steve

Q: I would like your thoughts on CL. I have had it for three years and it has done nothing until recently, with a 2% div. I feel I should take my small gain and move on. If you agree, do you have better consumer stocks I should consider. Or should I just add to my COST and ATD holdings.

Q: Full details on this price rise please on TRI


Sheldon

Q: What are your thoughts on the most recent quarter? It's interesting that you mentioned shareholders being frustrated with a stock in response to an earlier question today. I am certainly frustrated with this stock and I'm sure there are others as well. Based on your stock profile, the future earnings looks better so I intend to hold and I hope that today's release is the catalyst to an improved stock price. Do you foresee any change in expected future earnings?

Q: I am setting up an income RRIF and thanks for all your your answers to my questions. I would like to add one potential growth stock because that is me. It won't be a huge % say 3. Can you suggest a couple CAD and USD each? Thanks again. Dan

Q: Hello 5i,

Are there any other ETF 's similar to HSAV in CAD or US that do not distribute dividends and instead add the dividends to the value of the units?

Thank you!

Q: What are my best options for short term to park cash while gaining interest in a registered account, during BNN market call yesterday there was a discussion on a ETF [starting with P?] where interest is calculated daily until you hold the security.

Q: What is your opinion of North American Construction Group (NOA)? Results out last night indicated they are forecasting adjusted EBITDA of $450 million for the year, at the mid point of their guidance. Trading at only 1.7 times that, which looks quite cheap, although the debt does look a bit higher than you would like to see, at about 2 times the adjusted EBITDA forecast. I'm thinking the acquisition of McKellar should give them some good future growth.

Q: Your thoughts on Mullen please. Would you consider it a buy at current price? Thanks.

Q: Thoughts on Trisura’s quarter?

Is there a chance this company makes its way into your favourite small caps at some point? Especially considering it’s Mawers top holding.

Q: Hello, I bought ZQQ on 25 January 2021 for CDN $96.79/share. Its price on 26 April 24 was $27.73/share which is 28% gain. My understanding is ZQQ owns QQQ and is CDN $ hedged. QQQ had gain of 42% in US$ for the same period. Exchange rate (US$ to CDN$) for the same period had 7.6% gain. I expected ZQQ return to be roughly QQQ gain minus gain due to change in exchange rate (because it is hedged) which would be 42% - 7.6% = 34.4%. Why ZQQ return is 28% and not close to 34%.

My broker statement shows ZQQ declared dividends and shows DRIP for the same amount as dividend. There was no change in Cash balance and no change in ZQQ shares. What happened to the dividend and DRIP? Broker statement shows cost base of ZQQ went up by the same amount as dividend. This is in my TFSA. Can you please explain what is going on here. Thanks.

Q: What is your opinion on LTRX's fiscal 2024 Q3 results and Q4 outlook and the valuation of its current stock price?

Q: Can you tell me what you think of this company? Buy?

Q: Thank you to 5i and your members that responded to my question. I went back to TD and they are now saying they made a mistake - you can indeed hold a USD RRIF in an unlocked account. I would never have guessed there was a difference between a locked and unlocked RRIF and not sure why TD would not have made the distinction for me. 5i and its members are the best. Thank you!

Q: Your thoughts on Lantheus last quarter report. Do you see this as a good investment for the next 3-5 years, and if so why?

Q: Hello,

A few years ago I read that Canada was on it's way to becoming a tax haven similar to what is offered in the traditional Carribean countries. Although my corporate tax rate is ok(12% or so) I am finding equity erosion from currency devaluation/inflation, closing off capital gains benefits, etc is outstripping my ability to grow/preserve my capital.
From seeing some of the upcoming
coercion like changes w.r.t. taxation, private property, etc and an anti-saving/working/investment mindset that seems prevalent in the press makes one think Canada has or is becoming a very unfriendly place for capital preservation and growth.
Is this a new phenomena?

Thank you for your sage counsel.