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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: A class action has been authorized against National Bank Financial Inc., RBC Direct Investing Inc., TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., Desjardins Securities Inc., CIBC Investors Services Inc. and Questrade Inc. seeking the reimbursement of currency conversion fees collected from clients

What would be in your opinion the expected gains for your average retail investor and the cost/benefit of the claim? It looks like marginal but I do not have a lot of experience in those class action suit.
Read Answer Asked by Jean on July 17, 2025
Q: Hi, could you please explain the thought process for why you aren't big on average down?
Read Answer Asked by B on July 17, 2025
Q: Hi 5i,
Dominari Holdings (DOMH) , other than the two sons of Trump association with this Co. Is there something here worth keeping an eye on??
thank you
Read Answer Asked by Fernando on July 17, 2025
Q: Good morning,

BCE seems to have broken up out of a wyckoff base lately. Do you happen to have any news of improvement in the company to support this price movement? I read that there’s been a little rotation into defensive stocks recently, but who knows.

Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Sandra on July 17, 2025
Q: Could you please share your top 10 US names for long-term total return (10+ year horizon)? Can be a mix of dividend yield and capital appreciation, but I'm indifferent as to whether the company has a dividend or not. Also, no need to hit all sectors. Much appreciated!
Read Answer Asked by Stefan on July 17, 2025
Q: I hate to ask this but I have to because I keep adding little bites of CLBT as it comes down and it won't stop coming down which means I want to keep adding more little bites.

What would you view as the floor for this share price? As much as you like it, can you see any reason for its continuing steady decline? Is there a worst case scenario that investors are exiting based on or is it just a lack of excitement/news? Lastly, are fundamentals improving or declining and what do you expect from their upcoming earnings?
Read Answer Asked by Tim on July 17, 2025
Q: Hello,

You've replied to questions regarding Valeura Energy's financials earlier in the year. It seemed at the time, you used Bloomberg's numbers which differ greatly from that of the company's. Wondering if you can take another look and comment on whether you feel the current share price still represents good value. Their revenue and cash position over the past few years seems decent for a smaller oil play. Just wondering if I should continue hanging on to my position for a little more potential upside?
Thank you,
Tom
Read Answer Asked by Tom on July 17, 2025
Q: I am currently taking CSC and in the textbook they talk about negative interest rates happening during Covid in the US and that they have happened in Japan or in Europe. I don't understand why firms would choose to buy bonds that guarantee them a loss of money when in theory they could choose to just hold cash. Could you please provide some clarification on why firms or people would buy (nominal) negative interest rate bonds?
Read Answer Asked by Aidan on July 17, 2025
Q: Hi Team:
I have some cash sitting in RIF acct. Presently in RBF2010 paying 2.3% interest, with unlimited charge for buy or sells..
Would I be better to spent the $9.95 and buy into something like CASH or PSA? Then I would also have to pay $9.95 to get out.
As a follow-up to that question how about if this was in an 'open account' , Where the interest is taxed at 100% income whereas CASH or PSA would act like a dividend income and therefore taxed at roughly 66% income.
OR do you have a better suggestion for larger amounts of $$
Thank you. :-)
Read Answer Asked by Ken on July 16, 2025
Q: Hello Team,
Could you rank these three pipelines for total return over the next couple of years. and why?
Thank You,
Barry
Read Answer Asked by Barry on July 16, 2025
Q: Given the current Political/Fiscal/Demographic environment, I want to deploy funds to services that cater to seniors. The caveats are: 1) Taxable Account; 2) Cdn. $s; 3) To hold for 5+ years; and 4) Dividends of both seem reasonable, but are future prospects comparable, given relative financial strength and current governance? Thank you for your support and the questions from my fellow subscribers with your responses. Bill
Read Answer Asked by Bill on July 16, 2025