Investment Q&A

Q: I am building a diversified portfolio of healthcare stocks. I own JNJ, AMGN, MDT, CVS and MRNA. These are 2.9%, 3.8%, 2.5%, 4% and 0.5% of my portfolio respectively. Is this a high quality portfolio? Would you recommend any changes?

Q: Hi,
I want to buy Healthcare stocks.
Can you please recommend in order of preference a top 10 mix of Canadian and USD names. Can you also add a growth/risk rating 1 to 10 with 10 being highest growth and 10 being highest risk.
Thanks

Q: Could I have three US Healthcare names you recommend today please.
Many thanks!

Q: In your answer to a recent question from Tim about how to prepare for an inevitable market correction, you suggested holding stocks in defensive areas of Consumer Staples, Utilities, and Healthcare, Can you pls provide 5-6 names in each of those areas that you would want to hold. A mix of Cdn and US would be great. Thank you for your excellent service.

Q: I am mostly content with my health care stocks with the exception of MDT. It has been essentially flat since about 2016 except for the dividend. It did peak around 2022 but has fallen down to previous levels.
What do you think of the longer term for MDT?
Would you make any other changes for slow but reliable growth and higher end of dividends.
As always, thank you for the great service.

Q: Thoughts on the current overall market and going forward 1-2 years? I just read Howard Marks latest memo and he is cautious at these levels based on over valuation and many other speculative factors that are often discussed here. I have a very growth weighted portfolio and high embedded gains. I am a long term investor but would like to mitigate any large drawdowns when a correction comes to preserve gains. Currently my more defensive holdings are COST, DOL, ATD, IFC. Currently holding no utilities. I also hold large anchor names such as CSU, LMN, BN, BKNG, AXON, and WSP. What are your top defensive names?

If I trim my tech, I assume adding to DOL, ATD, COST, IFC be more defensive. I know you've mentioned these names as other good defensive names as well, COST, PG, ABBV, L, ATD, FTS, H, ENB, FTS, BEPC, H, SLF, RY, TD, GRT.UN, T, L, BAM.

Or would buying some covered call ETF's that offer some good yield reduce the drawdown.
Which are your top covered call ETF's? Or adding to some of these defensive ETF's would be good too? Defensive US etf'S: VDC, VPU, VHT

Thanks!

Q: I have been reviewing my health care holdings and I am disappointed in the whole sector. Their percentage of my holdings has dropped, and if I rebalance I should be adding another 50% to these holdings. I am unhappy with IHI and UNH, even ISRG is in the doldrums. Your thoughts on adding to the health care sector and these companies/ETFs at this time. Are there other companies much better suited that I am missing. I am tempted to remove the whole sector from my portfolio, as I am comfortable with risk.

Q: I sold a portion of my NVO holdings a while ago, and am not inclined to buy it back just now. What would you see as the best buy in the US healthcare sector these days; possibly as a compliment to NVO, but not necessarily?

Q: Amgen beat on earnings and revenues, quite handily, and yet the stock is down 5% today. Personally, I think Amgen is a best-in-class biotech and will continue to be a long-term holder, but I would like your take on the market reaction.

Q: Given the potential for a market down-turn, do you see any of these as a good buy for a long-term investment?

Q: I currently only own AMGN is the biotech/medical sector. I am considering re-entring NOVO after the hit it is taking. Would you recommend 'catching the falling knife', purchasing LLY which appears to be suffering in sympathy with NOVO or an alternate to these two?
With appreciation,
Ed

Q: Hi there,

Do you think AMGN is a good buy right now for future growth and income? What are the pros and cons?

Ok thank you!

Q: Do you have any suggestions re the Pharma companies which would be a good time to purchase now, either in a partial or full position? Thanks

Q: Hello 5i, I am up quite a bit on MRK, ABBVIE and HHLE. In answer to a question on MRK by Michael on Jan 22 you wrote "We would take a look at AMGN as an alternative to MRK". With the success I have with MRK et al. is MRK a sell to be replaced by AMGN now or is MRK still a keeper for now. Value investor.
Stanley

Q: Hi,

May I please have your take on the Gardasil vaccine lawsuit against Merck. Does this affect the fundamental investment thesis of Merck as a conservative, inexpensive stock with a decent dividend. I note the share price is down about 16% in the last year.

Would you be able to provide a couple of better options in the US healthcare space? I already own ISRG and LLY.

Thank you, Michael

Q: Hi,
Could I please have you take on the stock performance of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals over the last year or so and its future prospects?
Thank you, Michael

Q: Hi, would you continue to hold this stock?

Thanks
Paul

Q: Which drug companies would you suggest if arriving late to the GLP-1 party? For a 5-10 year hold.
Thanks

Q: According to Portfolio Analytics, my current allocation to Health Care sector is too low. Here are the names of 12 major US pharmaceutical companies. How would you rank them? If possible, please provide a short comment on each of them: Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, AbbVie, Amgen, Gilead Sciences, Eli Lilly, Merck, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Abbott, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibbs. Thank you

Q: I own shares in these health care products. I'm down on some of them and OK on others. Please list your order of preference. Best first. Would you sell any of them ?
List any others you would recommend in this field . Thanks.