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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: I have a portfolio of 25 individual stocks (diversified among most sectors) with no ETFs. Within this portfolio I own companies that trade in CAD and the US but have operations and/or varying degrees of revenue in other countries such as CLBT, AXON, TOI, VHI, UBER, BKNG, WSP, TRI, BN and some of the MAG 7 with their worldwide reach such as GOOG. I often wonder if this is adequate international exposure for a healthy portfolio or should I have a specific international ETF?
I have not been a fan of ETFs due to the often wide exposure that can include "the best along with less than the best" (and they are boring, :), haha). But for long term growth and healthy diversification I often consider opening a position in an international ETF such as VIU.
But then I face my conundrum. In the past 5 years the return on VIU has been 41.4% (Yahoo Finance). Perhaps my expectations are out of line, but I would not be happy (and I would be bored, :), ) with the same return from VIU in the next 5 years. Even a conservative Canadian bank with some international operations such as RY has done 90% in the past 5 years (Yahoo Finance). It seems to me that I must give up too much possible growth in order to achieve a healthy level of international diversification through the instrument of an international ETF.
Perhaps this is a conundrum that need not be solved, but do you have any thoughts that may lead to a wiser investment perspective or a needed tempering of my expectations?
As always, thank you for your excellent service.
Cal
Read Answer Asked by Calvin on July 17, 2025
Q: With the run of NVDA over the last few year I now have a HUGE position in the stock and need to trim it.
Can you suggest 5 Canadian or US companies that could be the next NVDA in the next 5+ years and their growth and risk as well as any other details you may have on the companies.

Thanks
Joe
Read Answer Asked by Joe on July 15, 2025
Q: Terravest, Celestica, Lumine, Vitalhub, Hammond power solutions and several other stocks have already been discovered by the market, with their share prices reflecting that momentum over time. In your opinion, could you name 2-3 stocks US and CAN that are still under the radar and have strong potential to surge once they're discovered by the broader market? Thank you for your excellent service and insightful guidance.
Read Answer Asked by jean on July 07, 2025
Q: Good morning ... I have some cash in my TFSA account that I'd like to get working for me.
Between Kneat, Vitalhub and Zedcor which do you see as the best investment for a minimum 5 year hold in terms of providing a combination of capital safety and upside potential.
Thanks, Rick
Read Answer Asked by Richard on July 03, 2025
Q: Hi 5i team
Let me start by thanking you all for you valuable insights into markets and stock valuations through the years. My question is regarding a tfsa portfolio. I am considering reducing amount of stocks to 20. Which 6 stocks would you let go in order of first to sell to last. Secondly, could you give me a brief opinion/ comment on my present holdings in a tfsa and if there's value in keeping status quo.
Thanks as always
Gilles
Read Answer Asked by Gilles on June 27, 2025
Q: Could you please comment on the recent announcement that Vitalhub "filed and obtained a receipt for a preliminary short form base shelf prospectus with the securities regulatory authorities in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario"?

What does that mean for shareholders? Do you view this as a positive or negative? How does this affect your sentiment towards the company and it's near term share price?
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Geoffrey on June 18, 2025
Q: I hold positions in all of these companies and I have some money to put into the market. Could you rate these in terms of which positions you would add to given the potential for total rate of returns given their current stock price, business model tailwinds, risk vs reward etc.

Conversely, if you would rate these as a hold then feel free to mention that as well. Thx.
Read Answer Asked by Cathy on June 17, 2025
Q: Have a small position in VHI, nothing in PNG and MDA. If you were to rank these three based on risk/reward and growth potential, how would you rank them for buying currently and a quick reason why? Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Keith on June 13, 2025
Q: Of which listed names would you be most inclined to start a new position; for growth in TFSA accounts (granted some size difference)?
Read Answer Asked by David C. on June 03, 2025
Q: How would you rate these for holding in the SMID Growth section of a portfolio (A couple may not be SMID, which means they just may not be forever keepers for me) - I hold all except SNPS and NOW, which I've been watching, and I’m thinking of consolidating into 6-8 positions, but could keep more. I'm considering 3-4 for shorter-term growth, 1-3 years, 3-4 for longer-term growth, 5-10 years. Please order from most conviction to least with a preference to Shorter (S) or longer(L) or either (E). Thanks!
SNPS, NOW, GLXY, KSI, FOUR, ROAD, CLBT, CRM, HPS.A, VHI, GENI, SRAD
Read Answer Asked by Kim on June 02, 2025
Q: Hi Peter and 5i Team,

Can a case be made to own both EXE and SIA in a RRIF? If only one could be owned, which one would you keep, and why?

Other holdings in the Healthcare Sector (across other accounts) include WELL, VHI, and XHC. CSH is also owned, but it’s in the Real Estate Sector.

As always, thanks for your valuable insight.

Read Answer Asked by Jerry on May 29, 2025
Q: I'm writing to follow up on your response to Josh's questions regarding beaten-down Canadian stocks.

Would you kindly rank your preferred order of purchases among the names discussed? Are there any that you would consider "table-pounding" buys at current levels?

Please also include your thoughts on CNQ, as well as FOUR, ROAD, and CLBT.

Thank you,
Read Answer Asked by Karim on May 20, 2025
Q: Hi Peter,
Are there overlaps in the services provided by VHI and KSI? Based on their balance sheets and projected future sales growth and revenue growth, which is the better company to buy and hold for 3-5 years hold? What will be a good entry price? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Willie on May 15, 2025
Q: Good Morning,

Do you have more confidence in VHI or WELL for a three-year hold? If purchasing today, in what order would your preference be, including LLY? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Bradley on May 14, 2025