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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: Harry asked an interesting question about investing in US Tech stocks and wanted an ETF. I did a 52-week comparison of the performance of the 4 mentioned Tech stocks with the ZQQ ETF. If my rough calculations are correct, one would have almost doubled their money with these 4 stocks compared to the putting the same money in ZQQ over the last 52 weeks. Past performance is no indication of the future, but I would like your thoughts on buying these 4 now versus the ETF. In my situation I would put 5% of my investments in these four and currently well diversified and a good chuck of fixed income (>30%). For me maybe okay (your thoughts please) but in general would this also apply to most investors. Please respond to my situation and the general situation if you can please. Thanks so much. Dan C.
Read Answer Asked by Danny-boy on June 08, 2020
Q: I recently asked a question regarding switching strategy from etf to individual stocks and i appreciate your answer very much. My question was generated by the response that you gave to James regarding investing in a diversified portfolio. At that time you gave him the follwoing names: TEAM, MSFT, GOOG, ROP, PG, BIIB, VZ, SBUX, COST, JPM.

Just a followup clarification on that suggestion. I wonder, because of the tax advantage for Canadian dividends and the predominance in the TSX of Banks and Telecoms, whether one might be better to replace VZ and JPM by Canadian names? I know that the question asked, I think, specifically for US names. But, just wondering if one held both Canadian and US, whether this might be better? Also, do you think that say, ten like this, is enough diversification on the US side?
thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on June 04, 2020
Q: Good morning 5i, I am piggy backing off a recent question by James, but if you can disregard sector diversification and risk is also not an issue and main goal of course is capital appreciation.

"If you were starting a new account with 100k with a portfolio of 10 US equities, with a 10 year time frame, which 10 would you currently choose?"
Read Answer Asked by Michael on June 03, 2020
Q: Can you give me names of 10 companies - CDN and U.S - that you feel have:
* strong balance sheets,
* a strong likelihood to survive or thrive in the current environment
* appear to be of good current value with an eye on a potentially strong rebound given a bit of time.
Your opinion is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by JOHN on June 02, 2020
Q: Hello Peter,
If you were starting a new account with 100k and wanted to build a somewhat balanced portfolio of 10 US equities, with a 10 year timeframe, which 10 would you currently choose, including considering current price?
Read Answer Asked by James on June 01, 2020
Q: Morning 5i,
I'm looking to get my US allocation in my portfolio up to ~40% in the Healthcare, Industrials, and Tech sectors. I have a VERY long time frame, but I'm interested in businesses that have aggressive/high growth in the IMMEDIATE to 2 year timeframe.

Could you please rank the names below in terms of highest short-term growth potential coming out of a COVID world (reopening, new normal).

And if possible, are there any US names that trump these selections instead? Please take as many question credits as required:

Healthcare: VEEV, AMGN, REGN
Tech: TEAM, TWLO, MSFT, NVDA, AYX, AMZN, GOOG, QCOM, PYPL
Industrials: ROP, RTX
Read Answer Asked by Michael on May 26, 2020
Q: I just read the following on CNBC news feed:

A bill that could force Chinese companies to give up their listings on American stock exchanges is now moving at “warp speed” in Congress, one analyst says.
“We believe it is only a matter of time before this bill (or something similar) is signed into law,” Raymond James analyst Ed Mills wrote.
The Senate bill would require companies to certify that “they are not owned or controlled by a foreign government” and allow the Securities and Exchange Commission to delist non-compliant firms.

They claim it is receiving bipartisan support as it would be political suicide to be seen as supporting Chinese interests and such a bill would help prevent issues such as the Luckin Coffee fraud.

I would be interested in your thoughts. I own TCEHY and wondered:
1) even though it is an ADR, I assume it would be effected by this?
2) I have to believe this negative perception of Chinese stocks will not go away anytime soon and will put downward pressure on TCHEY (or at best, mute its upside potential). Am I better to sell the stock and use the proceeds to purchase a high quality US tech company, and if so, what would you recommend - add to one of my existing positions of AAPL, GOOGL, CSU, KXS, NVDA, AYX, OTC, SHOP, SWKS,........or start a new position in one of your other favourites not listed here.

I have held TCEHY for a few years and am basically flat. It keeps teasing me with its potential but I do not want to be in a fight that is MAYBE bigger than than the stock and become emotionally attached to a position when there are so many good companies out there. Your sage adivce is most welcome
Scott
Read Answer Asked by Scott on May 22, 2020
Q: Greetings 5iR Team,
Looking to spice up my portfolio with some tech titles, 1 in CA account and/or 1 in US account.
I currently owned :
CA:GIB.A
CA:KXS
US:GOOG
US:MSFT

Looking for well managed company with good growth potential within the next few years, what do you think might add value to the above list and worth looking at these days ?

Thank you,
Read Answer Asked by Luc on May 21, 2020
Q: I don't hold ,SHOP,CSU,AMZN,GOOG,FB,NVDIA, and perhaps missed the boat.Which one you believe if any still make sense buying now?.
Read Answer Asked by Nizar on May 21, 2020
Q: If a new investor had a $100, 000 to invest in Canadian & US Equities what would be the TOP 10 Stocks to invest today for the next 3 to 5 years.

Thanks Valter
Read Answer Asked by Valter on May 20, 2020
Q: I am about to triple the size of my investment in the portfolio above and give equal weighting to all. Virtually all of this new money will be in non-registered accounts. In total, this self-directed portfolio will represent 20% of my holdings; I also have 40% in a growth-focused pension fund, and 40% in a mix of ETFs through a robo-advisor.
Do you have any suggested changes to the list of names? I am primarily focused on growth, with a 3-5 year horizon.
Do you recommend a different weighting e.g. heavier on some, lighter on others?
What are your thoughts regarding timing? I am tempted to put all of the new money in now, betting on the sustainability of the recent recovery. But I understand that a phased approach will reduce risk.
Thanks for your help.
Read Answer Asked by Ben on May 12, 2020
Q: Which companies you think are leading in quantum computing technology.
Read Answer Asked by Vinod on May 11, 2020
Q: I have these equities in my US Margin Account. I would like to raise some additional cash ... just in case. Which of above would you trim first. Are there any which should be sold for a tax loss if possible such as CRM and ISRG, where I am slightly negativ.
Thanks for your answer
Albert
Read Answer Asked by ALBERT on May 08, 2020
Q: Unfortunately I bought shares in AYX in February, near its all time high and have experienced a significant loss. It is off its deepest low since March but even with a 5% increase today it is presently still below its best recovery since then. What is your view on its prospects for when the economy solidifies to a recovery - is theirs the sort of product line that will attract good business? Is there reasonable prospect for upside? I see an answer to a question today referred to it having high risk; is there more down side than upside? If you were me, would you move on? And if so, what would be something with more potential and less risk (I know, those sometimes are seen to be mutually exclusive, but perhaps there is something)? Thanks for your excellent service.
Read Answer Asked by Leonard on May 05, 2020
Q: The financial people keep on saying they are looking first at the company`s Balance Sheet. Therefore which, Stocks have the strongest and best Balance Sheet? Also, include US stocks as well as Canadian stocks, because I do hold both.
Read Answer Asked by Herbert on April 24, 2020
Q: I own all these as part of my tech sector which has now grown to 26.57% (getting a bit high I think)
CGI-1.5%
SHOP-11.77%
KXS-3.27%
CSU-3.7%
LSPD-2..21%
FB-1.05%
GOOG-1.81%
XLNX-1.25%

SHOP position has grown a bit larger recently, how would you balance this out? If I trim back SHOP a few %, what other names here would you increase right now?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Keith on April 24, 2020
Q: I just tried Portfolio Analytics and have concluded my portfolio needs some work. I need to increase US and international exposure and I need more weighting in Communication Services, Consumer Defense, Healthcare and Technology. Please recommend US/International stocks for me to consider in these categories for a five year hold. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by MATHEW on April 21, 2020