Investment Q&A

Q: PPI , Producer Price Index in the US, reported this morning (September 10) , show a surprising drop of 0.1% vs. an expected increase of 0.03%. It’s unclear where tariffs, which is essentially a consumption tax, is being absorbed. Logically it should show up in consumer prices before long. It’s either that, or margins at retail companies will adjust down. Over the next year , how will this affect the share prices of Costco and Walmart? In your opinion are such retailers likely to drift down, or trade sideways at best, for the next year or so? Or do you believe things are too uncertain to make portfolio changes based just on tariff impacts?

Q: Hi I currently hold these US companies. Can you please suggest your top 10 US companies that would compliment these the best for a long term hold? In order ideally. A growth rating 1-10 (10 being the best) and a risk rating 1-10(10 being the riskiest)

Thanks so much

Q: After making significant gains over the last several years, Costco seems to have lost steam. Up only 9% in the past year. I know you have mentioned it's become overvalued. What would have to happen for the stock to regain momentum and over what timeframe do you see this occurring? Thank you.

Q: Do you know what % of the companies sales come from Costco? I understand they are finished a $1B capital spend having expanded production facilities in the US. I know they are on the cusp of large anticipated cash flow increases from the expansion. Will producing there largely shield them from tariffs? Would you buy it now? What are the risks? Debt? Thank you.

Q: Good Day 5i team... thank you for your very valuable time, answers to questions and guidance. My question is, can you list out your top 10 ETF and or Equities you see as insulation/defensible should the over bought North American equity markets begin to slide. Thank you

Q: For a 5-10 year hold within a TFSA could you please provide your top 10 Canadian stocks or CDR’s ranked by total return/compounding potential? For a non-registered account with a 3-5 year timeframe could you also do a top 10 list including both Canadian or US equities (no CDR’s), again ranked by total return/compounding potential? Thanks.

Q: Hi,
Could you please recommend 10 (5 US / 5 CAN) high-quality defensive companies with strong balance sheets, low debt levels, and robust cash flows that YOU believe they can weather economic stress, inflation, or stagflation and they relatively hold up their stock prices during such times? If their current stock prices are overvalued, please suggest your recommended entry prices.

Also please recommend ETFs that mainly invest in companies with the above criteria?

Thank you

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: Hello 5i research
Please recommend 5 stocks Canadian or US , that can be considered a sleep a night stock .I already own Csu, Lmn , BRK, Nvda, Ry among other.
Thanks

Q: Which would be your first choice between COST and DOL for initiating a full position today with a long term (multi year) horizon, and can you provide a bit of comparison between the two.

Q: hi group what's going on with following stocks and are they buy sells or holds and why? also suggested buy /sell targets

Cost
FFH
AC
TFII
NVDA
LLY
TOI
MDA

Q: hi
there is a recent pull back
is there any fundamental reasons?
looking for an entry price for a half/or a quarter position
thanks
Michael

Q: Hello, can I have your top ten list of consumer stocks, Canadian or CDRs, based on projected total return (share price plus dividends, if applicable), for a 5+ years holding period? Thanks!

Q: COST has fallen about 10% in the last 6 weeks or so. This seems to be more than what I would expect from volatility in the course of things. Has there been any news to lead to this? Do you think it is a tariff story? In questions over time, even recently, you have given it a favourable endorsement; do you still have that view, and if so, why? Thanks for your excellent service.

Q: why are consumer staple stock like these ones not doing well.are these cheap to buy at current levels.... can you pls rank these in your preference order many thanks

Q: Hello, I have been thinking about initiating a long-term position (6-10yrs) in Costco for a while now.

My long-held view of the US dollar remaining strong and stable has changed; I have resolved to continue holding my US dollar securities through whatever this is but not buy more US currency at this time.

The issue is whether to initiate a new position in:
1)COST using existing $US or
2)the Costco CDR in Canadian $

Which option, in your opinion, represents the best risk-adjusted return over the next:
A)6-10 years?
B)1-5 years?

Does your response for A) change for beyond 10 years?

I know there are way too many variables here for any ‘correct’ answers but it is still interesting to have 5i’s perspective.
Thank you. This is an awesome service!
-Trevor

Q: I have 6 years before I must draw from my RRSP. I have no consumer staples or consumer defensive stocks in any of my accounts. Can you recommend 3 US stocks that you like in each of these sector.
Thanks

Q: Hi Peter and the 5i Team,

John Heinzl on June 20 rated EMP.A as a “star” in his Stars and Dogs column in the Globe & Mail. We recently purchased a smallish amount in Empire EMP.A to round out our Consumer Defensive holdings which include COST, DOL, XST, and L.

As far as Metro MRU is concerned, it’s held in XST which also contains some of the other smaller firms in the sector.

Do you believe that the troubled takeover of Safeway by Empire several years ago is now a ‘thing of the past’, making Empire a reasonable investment, given its successful takeover of Farm Boy as well as its 51% share of Longos? Both Farm Boy and Longos are quite busy in our Oakville location.

Thanks as always for your insight. Happy Canada Day to all at 5i as well as my fellow 5i members!

Q: Would you please (crystal ball required) provide me with 5 Canadian 5 USA stocks , any sector, to hold for the next 30 years, comes to mind stocks like MSFT JPM AMZN COST TSLA , the stocks I'm looking has potential for sustained growth, innovation, and resilience in the face of economic changes. Of course 30 years is a long time and anything can happen.
thank you

Q: Subject: Investment Advice Request for US RRSP Holdings

Good afternoon,

I have some US dollars available for investment, and I currently hold the following four stocks in my US RRSP.

Could you please advise which of these you would consider the most attractive investment opportunity at this time?

I'm also open to any other recommendations you believe are worth considering.

Thank you in advance for your insights,

Martin