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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: Paypal looks to be making some very strategic moves from getting access to the Chinese Market, worldwide partnership with Unionpay and a strategic investment in Mercadolibre. I have not really felt a need to add them as a holding but with these moves they are shaping up to be a play on international markets such as LATAM and China without owing companies solely focused on those markets. How does it looking for a long term hold alongside MasterCard, Visa and Square. I like the payment space.
Read Answer Asked by Sal on February 18, 2020
Q: I currently hold the listed equities in my TFSA, advised by a newsletter that will be winding down in a year. When this happens, I will likely liquidate my current TFSA holdings. Understanding that you cannot give personal advice, which of the following strategies do you think would be most likely to generate a longterm annualized return of 10+%?

1) Allocate the proceeds to 30% ZSP, 30% VGG, 20% XEF, 20% VEE, and hold these longterm, rebalancing annually to maintain original allocations
2) Allocate the proceeds in the 5i Growth Portfolio - I am already overweight Canada in general, so I don't really like this option
3) Allocate the proceeds into 5i's favourite growth/total return potential 8-10 US equities at the time, and then periodically ask 5i say, every three months, if there has been any change in this roster of 'favourites', (if you select this, I will ask for specific names in a followup question)

Parenthetically, I would absolutely love it if 5i would add a US-based portfolio to go along with the current three Canadian-focused portfolios, and would be willing to pay significantly more for my annual subscription to access this (reviewing the QandA, one already has a good idea what the 5i ' US favourites' are, it would just be nice to have this presented as a regular growth-oriented portfolio). I reviewed the Investor Suite and don't feel I would make good use of many of the tools, reports, and features offered in that comprehensive suite.

Thank you, and please deduct as many credits as deemed appropriate.
Read Answer Asked by Walter on February 18, 2020
Q: Can you explain how GPN was better than the newer fintech plays like SQ + PYPL last year?

Is this a trend that will continue?

What's going on in this space?

Thanks as always.
Read Answer Asked by Mark on January 22, 2020
Q: Hi team,

It’s been a while since a question on PYPL. I have held SQ for a long time, but I am starting to warm up to PYPL’s outlook. I have read a number of positive comments on PYPL’s Venmo app, that competes directly with SQ’s payment app. Venmo seems to be growing nicely and closing the gap behind SQ in monthly transactions in a very competitive payments space. PYPL seems to have better momentum as well. SQ has always been one of your favourites and mine as well but to me PYPL looks attractive here. I am thinking about shifting some SQ funds to PYPL. It would help tone down my beta as well. What is your outlook these days for PYPL in comparison to SQ?

Thanks again.
Dave
Read Answer Asked by Dave on May 17, 2019
Q: I'm in China for a few weeks, and I am astounded at the payment system. The only place I've been able to use my Visa card is Starbucks. For me, everything else is cash, because I am not set up for the point-of-sale system here. Aside from the few foreigners paying cash, this is truly a cashless society. Each vendor has a scan code sticker - Purchasers use their phone, scan the code, and pay the bill in one easy step. Do you know which companies are behind this system?
Read Answer Asked by Kim on December 31, 2018
Q: wondering which companies have the largest runway for growth out of these? I have a very very long time horizon
Read Answer Asked by mary on November 29, 2018
Q: I currently own Visa and have done well. I like all of the payment processors. Should I stick with Visa, or take some profits and diversify into another processor? I am considering Mastercard, Square or Paypal.
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on August 30, 2018
Q: Last year an airline in Europe gave us a Wirecard for taking a later flight . We used it for shopping and restaurants and then cashed in the balance for Euros at an ATM . Great concept that has grown incredibly according to Handelsblatt . Is there an ADR or even an OTC listing for this ? Is there a similar card in North America ?
Thanks



Read Answer Asked by Thomas on August 20, 2018
Q: Hi group I am taking a bath on tech stock both in US and Canada . Looking like market is going to value on these stock as opposed to growth. I also am losing a lot on financials like Visa + PayPal. What strategy should I use going fwd . Preserve capitol or wait out what happening or? . I know that this info is scattered info but generally what is your thoughts going fwd Thanks for your guidance
Read Answer Asked by Terence on July 31, 2018
Q: Group - Several weeks ago I asked a question about both Canadian + us banks +Pay pal +Score and so on. The question was that I was watching my profits slowly but surely disappearing in the sector ( I have been heavy into Financials for the last 2 yrs so have done very well) . I wanted to cash out but was advised that with strong quarterly results expected to hold on and everything would work out (I hold 20 % total portfolio exposure). I want to revisit the question now all the companies have reported earning and they continue to drop especially US holdings. Please give me your present thoughts on the sector (both Cad + US Financials+ the overall market its getting ugly and strong earnings are not helping the overall trend downwards. Thanks for your valued opinion . There are several questions here so deduct as you see fit
Read Answer Asked by Terence on May 04, 2018