Investment Q&A

Q: Can you give me your opinion on mrk - it's current valuation and room to grow? Can you recommend five large cap us growth stock with room to grow?

Q: Thank you for your earlier response to my question on DocuSign.

As a timely follow-up, there's now news of a partnership between Microsoft and Citrix, whom you described as DocuSign's main competitor. Can you comment on this partnership and how you think this may affect DocuSign? Thanks again.

Q: I currently hold MSFT and AAPL in all of my portfolios - I am thinking about adding GOOG to each as well - would you suggest I top up MSFT and AAPL or add a new position with GOOG - your opinion is greatly appreciated.

thanks

Q: Just wondering what you think of WORK after this welcome move. I own a partial share and want to buy more. What do you think?

TIA

Q: I have these 7 stocks, they comprise about 30% of the equities I own, in part because the their stellar performance in recent months. Two parts to my question: first, though they are all categorized as "tech" ( well, maybe not Goog), I am trying to get a sense of how different they might be from each other so that 30% is better diversified than the label they fall under might suggest? Can you briefly describe the underlying businesses of the 3 Cdn ones and indicate if you see all 7 as diversified. Second, if the stock market should hit another significant pull back (like March or otherwise), would these 7 be resilient enough to avoid major losses, and are some better than others in this regard? Thank you for your excellent service.

Q: I have these three in my TFSA. I just read that holding QCOM in it is a potential problem due to the withholding tax. Is that also the case for MSFT and V. Can you explain the problem further and if it is an issue should I be transferring these stocks out of the TFSA and into a registered or open account? Thnks.

Q: I have a massive,massive gain in MSFT after buying this in the low $20 range over 10 years ago. Would you sell off a portion and invest the proceeds in IWO or just hold on to MSFT? Thanks Ron

Q: To reduce my Tech Sector allocation I am planning on selling Microsoft(3% of my equity portfolio). Initially I was thinking of purchasing additional shares in VIG but have been also thinking about a US Healthcare ETF such as XLV. Comparing returns and fees for a long term hold which of these two ETFs would you recommend? Thank you for your input.

Q: Hello - I have some capital that i am looking to deploy and wondering if now is a good time or should i hold on to it.... in anticipation of another reset with news of a second wave, etc.

Also what are your top 10 -15 names right now regardless of portfolio balancing needs - open to American or CAD names - preferably limited small caps.

Lastly, i am kicking myself for not buying SHOP on the pullback.. is it still a buy right now in your opinion? or wait...

thanks so much.

Q: I am thinking of putting a substantial portion of my portfolio in the MAGA stocks Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Apple + Facebook. I understand that this will not be diversified as probably most would like to be but these stocks have performed incredibly over the past 10-20 years and I don't see much changing in the future. Any thoughts on this strategy other than lack of diversification.

Q: I own IBM but not the others. Do you think the Red Hat acquisition will result in IBM significantly narrowing the performance gap between itself and the others. Respective dividend yields are not an issue.

Q: I have over 60% of my portfolio in cash waiting for a significant pull back . Regardless of sectors what is the top 5 stocks both In Canada + US you would buy when and if we have a downturn, Do you think we will see a significant downturn or do you recommend nibbling away on swings. I am a moderate risk investor Thanks in advance for your guidance

Q: Kim Bolton on Market Call had 2 charts one for Cloud Consumer and Cloud Producer.
Cloud Consumer Stocks
TWTR, SPOT, SNAP, SHOP, NFLX, JD, Googl, FB, EA, DIS, BABA, AMZN, AAPL, ZS, ATVI.
Cloud Producer Stocks
ZM, WORK, WIX, WDAY, SPLK, RNG, ORCL, NOW, MSFT, INTU, DOCU, DDOG, DBX, CSCO, CRM, ADBE.

Can you please suggest 5 top picks from Consumer and producer in order which one would you suggest has Little or No DEBT and good management.

Thanks for the great service

Q: I have 8 below US stocks and would like your expert opinion on which stocks are best to hold, sell, or buy more. Does anyone has big DEBTS and how is their management. If you have to sell in which order I should sell. MSFT is about 4% and all others are only 2% of my portfolio.

CRWD, ECL, BYND, FSLY, SONO, NET, SQ. MSFT.

Thanks for the great service.

Q: These are the US holdings in my RSP. All have done well except for SYK down about 8% with a limited outlook for the rest of 2020 based on the Covid pandemic. Regardless of sector weighting, what are your favorite 2 or 3 US equities for growth over the next 5 years? I'm okay with a moderate risk.
Thanks in advance,
Greg.

Q: In a recent response to a portfolio question you said you couldn't comment on over 40 stocks in the portfolio but could comment on a few of them. Of IBM you said: "IBM we consider 'meh' and there are better ideas."

My question is this: Couldn't IBM have a place in a diversified RRIF portfolio from the perspective that it provides a reliable income stream to help meet mandatory minimum withdrawals? If you have to withdraw say a minimum of 4% a year, then IBM's 5% dividend certainly helps. If you still don't like IBM in this context, what else would you suggest for a 20 year hold?

Q: I have the following sector stocks and would like your expert opinion on which stocks I should keep, sell, buy more OR please suggest new stocks I should buy. Please take into account the survivability of the company if economy takes a 1-2 yrs to get back to "normal".
Financial - BNS,ECN,FSZ,MFC,TD,ZBK
Technology - FB,GOOG,IBM,KXS,LSPD,PHO,QTRH
Industrials - AFN,FDX,QST,RUS,SFL,SIS,STN
Energy - FRU,HWO,RDS.SU,VET
Materials - LIF,MX,NEXT,NTR,SJ,TECK,TV
Consumer Discretionary - BOS,BPF,CCL,CGX,DIS,GC,MG,NFI,PDYPY,TCL

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.

Q: My tech exposure consists of MSFT,ENGH and ET. All have been held for many years and have become multi-baggers as well as producing growing divys. Do you see any holes in my tech coverage? Would you trim and add a new position or leave as is? Thanks Ron

Q: SOME Stocks fluctuate lot daily such as BYD,CSU,SHOP,PKI makes me feel better to trade in this market,what is your opinion.
For safer long term low risk hold which stocks you would recommend in US &CAD,
low growth is OK.