Investment Q&A

Q: Hello 5i team,
In several recent reports you recommended selling the full position in CPD, noting “better opportunities.” I also noticed that CVD and MFT were removed from your model portfolios earlier.
Given this shift away from preferred-share ETFs, do you think a combination of ZWU, ENCC, ZWB, and HTA would serve as a reasonably balanced substitute for a moderate‑risk, slightly income‑oriented allocation? Or would you suggest broader diversification?
Thank you for your insights!

Q: Hi, Now that Agent Orange (Trump) has passed the new bill, what do you see being the impact on dividends from US companies? Would payments from HTA be affected?
I currently enjoy some healthy dividends from holdings within an rrsp, how might these be affected? Thanks for your insight, as usual!

Q: Non-resident tax, I'm considering to reduce my percentage of U.S. contents gradually, since nobody knows what to expect from donald...
Hopefully, this eventual new tariff policy wouldn't affect RSSP .
As you notice, some of the ETF posted are all U.S, companies in the case of XHY and NHYB, they both are mainly Bonds or gvt.Bonds,how tariff could affect the two.?

Thanks again to the team

Dan

Q: Hi 5i,
In registered accounts I hold these financials: POW, BNS, CM, EQB, PRL; these tech: TXF.B, HTA and the industrial MDA. I've held them for a long time and I'm pleased with all of them.
However, given Trump may be serious about decimating the Canadian economy (witness latest threatened increase in steel and aluminum tariffs) and likely can do a lot of damage even if he doesn't completely succeed, I'm considering cashing in holdings in Canadian names and replacing with US names through purchasing CDR's (I don't have a US account and don't plan on opening one). A few of questions arise:
1. Do you think my reasoning makes sense, or would it be an over-reaction to make the move regarding all or some of my above holdings?
2. If the move is worth considering, can you suggest CDR alternatives for any of the above names you think should be replaced?
3. If I do replace any of the above CDN names with equivalent or nearly so CDR's, what can I expect regarding dividend income compared to that from the CDN holdings (all of which - except MDA - are currently yielding based high, based on long ago purchase prices)?
Please deduct as you see fit.
Thanks 5i,
Peter

Q: I hold WELL, LMN, GLXY , EIF in roughly equal amounts in my TFSA and they are approximately 5% of my total cash and RRIF portfolios. My initial TFSA set up was for small cap growth stocks as other portfolios are full of banks , utilities, pipelines etc. Am retired and have enjoyed playing the “ riskier “ side of my portfolios , but haven’t made much money at it ! Am looking at selling it all and buying HTA for its
10 % distribution while keeping me in a growth sector. I like the idea of getting some money NOW instead of waiting till I sell. What do you think of this approach ? Possibly split the portfolio with HTA and EIF ? If I sold in stages in what order would you sell ? Thanks Derek.

Q: With the substantial recent decline in technology stocks, do you think that now a good time to enter the sector, or do you think we have more downside ahead? I have been looking at 3 ETF's to gain technology exposure, TXF, HTA & QMAX. I know that there are similarities between them, but could you compare and contrast them re: holdings, risk, stability of payouts, tax treatment, etc. and rank them most favoured to least favoured with your reasons? Also, are there any other ETF's in this area that you prefer? I realize that there is more than one question here, so would you please deduct the number of credits that you require, Thank you.

Q: My long term etf, HTA has just announced a distribution increase of approximately 7.7 %. How do they manage this as the underlying stocks have not increased their dividends anywhere near this % ?

HTAE holds HTA and uses leverage for enhanced performance ( up and down .) It borrows 25 % of the portfolio value to do this. What are the typical terms regarding such borrowing ? Is this liability reflected in unit price ? Is a liability of the etf provider or the unit holder ?
Any light you can throw on these questions would be appreciated. Thanks. Derek.

Q: Which one do you prefer and which one has the better long term return?

Q: My TFSA is roughly equal parts EIF, LMN, and WELL. MY TFSA is roughly 5 % of total reg. and non registered accounts. I am retired and have used my TFSA for more growth orientated stocks; with limited success. I am looking to replace these stocks ( which I also hold in other accounts ) , with HTA. I hold HTA in other accounts as well. HTA gives me access to 20 of the largest tech stocks and an 8% return which I receive every month ( important to a retiree ). Am looking at doing this in stages with EIF first and then the other two depending on fundamentals, relative value, etc.

Would you do this in stages or in one shot recognizing that I own these in other accounts ?
Your thoughts of HTA as a single holding in a TFSA to be representing 8 % of total portfolios ?

Thanks. Derek

Q: Hi 5i In a registered account
I've held TXF, TXF.B and HTA for quite a while, all at roughly the same cost base. In terms of total return HTA at 52% has outperformed TXF (10.3%) and TXF.B (38%) substantially, although I've got no real complaints about TXF.B's performance.
TXF and TXF.B have the same portfolio holdings, so I assume the vast difference in total return between them is solely due to hedging.
My questions;
Based on your view of the foreseeable future, do you think TXF.B will continue to substantially outperform TXF based on US vs. CDN currency differences? and
Would you endorse selling TXF and putting the proceeds 50/50 into HTA and TXF.B or in some other proportion? (TXF.B and HTA have quite different holdings so I was thinking that splitting TXF proceeds between them rather than all into HTA might be sensible ...).
Thanks - I look forward to your thoughts.
Peter

Q: I'm looking to add some tech exposure and am considering one of the following three ETFs: QMAX, HTA, TXF.
They're all pretty similar but which one do you feel is the best for long term growth and income and why?
I know QMAX's strategy is a little bit different than the other two in that they use "at the money" calls ... is this a positive or a negative?

Thanks, Rick

Q: Pls. compare and contrast TXF and HTA and secondly what straight equity ETF's would have a similar tech leaders approach to their holdings?
Thank you, Hugh

Q: hi 5i, if picking one (today) which one would you choose , for my RRSP.
thanks

Q: A final (?) adjustment to my RRIF. I would like to add some Tech with a dividend component. I would appreciate your thoughts on HTA as an option. If you have other comments or suggestions they would be most welcome. Thanks Dan.

Q: Setting up a simple-to-manage, taxable account, with the goal of reasonable stability/safety of capital and the generation of tax efficient income of 4-5% (ideally dividends so Canadian Div tax credit can be used) . Could I please get your comments or alternate suggestions on the following:
25% in VDY, ZUT, HTA and the final 25% split between EIF and BAM. I believe all of these distribute eligible dividends, other than HTA which seems to be Return of Capital / Capital gains.
Registered accounts are held in diversified equities.
Many thanks.

Q: My TFSA is comprised of EIF (up), WELL ( down) and LMN ( up ) in equal amounts and is 4 % of my total ( cash and RRIF ) portfolios. I am not afraid of risk in my TFSA. I am looking at replacing EIF with HTA with the eventual goal of having HTA as my sole RRIF holding. I hold HTA
(5%) and EIF (2%) in my other portfolios. I like HTA for the combination of tech with high income. EIF has been good to me over the years but has been in decline for quite some time. Has something fundamental changed with this company ? HTA would be my only tech holding amongst my portfolios being almost 10% of value. Does this approach make sense?
Thanks. Derek

Q: So a lot of people think that interest rates have peaked and are set to go down, thus the market reacts positively. I believe that interest rates have peaked BUT will remain higher for longer. I anticipate that the market will initially react negatively to this but eventually will settle down to the new reality and continue to react to such metrics as earnings growth etc..
Recognizing that no one really knows the future, what would be the likely scenario ( short and long term ) for each of the sector ETF’s I am invested in : Canadian banks , American tech, American healthcare, Canadian large cap industrials/ utilities. Thanks. Derek.

Q: I have incorporated these ETF’s into my RRIF with the goal of deferring taking capital from my principal ( mandatory and rising % withdrawal requirements ). They now represent 33% of total portfolio. My TFSA and cash accounts equal my
RRIF and are more growth oriented. The ETF’s give me a high yield, diversified portfolio of solid large cap, primarily low growth companies in Canada and the US. So I ask myself “ Why don’t I have my RRIF be 100% of these 5 ETF’s ? What say you ?

Thanks Derek.

Q: ETF to invest in AI in Canada .

Q: I would like to dip my toe into the AI waters using an ETF several of which you have mentioned. Unfortunately they are all on the NYSE.Am I wrong, as a Canadian, in avoiding the NYSE for fear of endless red tape and possible US taxes? I assume that there are no AI ETFs on the TSX or you would have mentioned them, I may have missed them.Thanks in advance and for all your great work.Rick