Investment Q&A

Q: Hi Guys,

Delighted to be a member of this community. Your advice and thinking has been invaluable.

I've been on a long search with what to do with the conservative part of my (and my elderly mother's) portfolio.

The prevailing sentiment seems to be that cash and bonds are safe, and anything touching on equities are higher risk.

I question the bonds though. They go up and down quite a bit during normal times and went down quite a lot during the crash.

Meanwhile, big low volatility companies like Microsoft, CNR and many of the stocks you've recommend as defensive stocks seems to steadily grow during normal times and, when there is a shock, recover quickly.

In short, the defensive stocks seem less risky than the bonds and seem a better option for the conservative money. Am I mistaken in my thinking? Is the industry just stuck in a paradigm of thinking that bonds are the safest thing next to cash?

In that frame, I'd also like to ask where low volatility, dividend and preferred share ETFs sit on that spectrum of safety.

Thanks, as always, for your wisdom.

Kevin

Q: Hi Group thing of moving from 8% exposure in gold and silver to 20%- is this low medium or high risk considering the mess the word is presently in?

Second question I presently own following
- AEM - Up 19%
- GLD - Up 10%
- GDXJ - up 40%
- WDO- Up 7% (jut bought last week on your recommendation)
- FNV - Up 10%

Thinking of selling GLD and replacing with AGI + KL also want to buy some silver stock leaning towards FVI + PAAS + USA. Your comments please

Deduct credits as you see fit Thanks

Q: Can you tell me your outlook on TFII over the next 3-5 years. Do you see this as a good entry point. How would you rank in terms of risk?

Q: Hello, with $75000 to invest could you please give me a list of 10 stocks us or cdn for a tfsa.

Thanks, Mike

Q: I am looking at buying some ETF 's from the balanced ETF portfolio as and just wanted to know if starting at a 2% position is good for now and increase later or should I buy up to 3% as I do have the funds to buy up to a 3% weight.

Thanks

Q: Hey Team,
If you were going to swing trade some high volatility stocks (15%+ swings like MTY.to) in the current economy, what would be your top 7 CAD stocks with fundamentals that will surely take it to the other side of COVID?

Q: Hi folks
I own all 3 in my RRIF. I'm confused with the split for BEP.UN coming on the 26th. Should I switch BEP.UN to BEPC now? Or do nothing. should I switch my BIP TO BIPC? are the Cs better?
Much thanks as always

Q: Is DND similar to REAL or DOCU . Is it OK to have in portfolio DND together with REAL and DOCU.
Andrew

Q: Peter and crew; I hold shares in both Lightspeed and shopify, the former plods along at a snails pace and the later is on fire. Is it just the difference between the Canadian and US markets or are there other fundamentals I should be aware of. I currently hold US funds that could be used if a better choice could be made in the US markets.
I have been more than pleased with your past suggestions and look forward to your comments..

Q: I'm short out of the money covered calls for August expiry for some of my shares in BEP.UN. Given the BEPC shares dividend, I expect the BEP.UN shares to drop after the July 24th expiry date but I'm a bit confused as to whether the BEPC shares will follow the option or remain with me after July 24th. In other words, will the option be priced for just the BEP.UN shares or the BEP.UN + BEPC shares after that date.
Thanks
Peter

Q: I have had these 3 utilities companies in my portfolio for some time .Their share value resilience and ongoing share price increases have been very beneficial for my portfolio. I am reluctant to trim them for adjustment of the portfolio utilities sector. These are also mostly " green energy " producers which have been in demand.In your view in what order would you trim these companies for portfolio sector adjustment ? Thanks for your opinion.

Q: i have owned Magna for some years. i know 5I likes it. it is slowly moving up from the lows it felll for no good reason
Do you believe it will move up and not down in the coming months

Q: Hi 5i,
Are there any current or future tax disqualifications if I sold for example QSR at a small loss in a RRSP account (no loss tax benefit) to purchase @ the same price within a Non-Registered account exact same time? The reason is to take greater advantage of the div tax credit outside of the RRSP and reallocate the funds within the RRSP to more forced securities such as KXS or even some bond ETF’s. Basically, setting up for retirement & preserve RRSP funds. My concern on the future tax is if worst case scenario played out and the Non-Registered security (QSR) lost further ground a tax loss would be disqualified somehow.

Q: I’m interested in purchasing a silver stock to add to my three gold stocks. I would be interested in your top three choices if you could list them in order of preference and why they would be good company to own.
Thanks John

Q: How would you compare Altus vs Real? Is any one preferable over the other or better to hold both? How would you compare their respective risk profile, valuation, etc ?
Many thanks

Q: Our new BOC governor said he was expecting to buy 5 billion of bonds every week .First of all where are these bonds coming from and who is dumping them or are they being created out of thin air? I was looking at bond etf's but am a little concerned that the governments seem to be the main buyers lately.An article I read said the US govt was going to lose money on WM bonds that it purchased .Why would a recession proof business need to be supported by the US govt. shouldn't they be able to support themselves on their own cash flow?

Q: Hello 5I:
With the big push in the USA for a vaccine for Covid-19 and supporting some companies with funding for research, which would you purchase and why for a speculative purchase....Moderna, Novavax or both. Thanks for your great advice.

Q: Good morning, I hold ASR, AEM and BTO. I am looking to add one more gold name. Also, would you keep ASR as it transitions into SSR? Please provide me your top two mid-cap gold names.
Rob

Q: Hi Guys
In regard to IPL's new Heartland Petrochemical Complex I understand at a approximately $4.0 billion cost it is a fairly big bet on the future and some of these things have cost overruns but this one, this far, seems to be on budget and will provide a new stream of income for IPL going forward, yet everyone seems to be negative on this project and the stock. And it seems given the cost of gas locally it should be successful at producing polypropylene at a profit. Could I get your thoughts on the project and stock in terms how risky it is going forward and if you think when the project is finished this could create a bit more interest with investors? Do you know whether they have contracts in place yet for the finished polypropylene? And finally do you think they have a solid Management team in place at IPL?

Thanks

Stuart

Q: This pharma. comp. recently had studies, showing positive results when linking a base drug to its hydrogen sulfide releasing molecule . so that the drug would be easier on the body when taken. Yet the stock went down from its high of $0.80 ( plus ) to the now price $ 0.42. Appreciate any comments you may have on this company and what the future might hold for the technique they are developing . Thanks