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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: Hello 5i,
Interesting times. Thank you for the backup.

I am trying to help my sister rebalance her portfolio and to get it retirement ready. She does not want to watch the portfolio but is open to rebalancing a couple of times a year. She is in the 40:60 to 50:50 bond:equity range for comfort (although this market is a great test about that assertion). She will live 3 - 4 months in the us during retirement.

I’ve been playing with the above mentioned etfs, keeping in mind that USD are already held (25% of portfolio), to find the proper mix of etfs to get to a 40:60 mix of bond to equity, with an equity exposure 25:50:25 Canada, US, International.

Please feel free to suggest other etfs as necessary if the above are not appropriate. Can you suggest an appropriate etf composition/ collection to satisfy the above criteria?

Tia
Read Answer Asked by Kat on April 01, 2020
Q: With all the money printing and endless QE, what do you think will happen to inflation and the price of gold?

With QE last time it resulted only in asset price inflation... but this time it is so much bigger and in america giving money directly to the people.

What are your thoughts? Would you buy gold to hedge against it?
Read Answer Asked by Max on April 01, 2020
Q: It seems that if a company had a backlog of orders, it was an asset....however in the current mkt these backlogs are now a major liability as orders begin to evaporate, the future earnings and valuations of these types of companies gets hammered until a new batch of orders reappears which with today's environment is pushing far beyond the horizon. CAE and NFI come to mind. your thoughts please..
Read Answer Asked by adam on April 01, 2020
Q: Hello friends,

Is it possible to run a screen on all 4 major NA markets TSX, S&P 500, DOW and NASDAQ for the top 10 companies of which stock prices have appreciated in the past (dreadful) month? Perhaps make this another blog subject? It should be interesting.

All the best.

PS Kudos to Peter for his astounding patience with everyone! It's something I'm trying hard to achieve every day, but Peter leaves me in the dust. Much to learn from his example.
Read Answer Asked by Iulian on April 01, 2020
Q: With today’s PR, do you think the dividend is safer. If they were going to cut they would have done so today. I know they can still change their their mind, but what are the odds.?
Also, do you think methanol prices recover faster than oil in the next say 1 year.
Lastly would you average down ?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Luc on April 01, 2020
Q: RE: Asked by Terence on March 30, 2020 - $1.3 million in stocks presently sitting with $800K (90 % cash).

Hi. I'm (60 & retired) in similar situation; understand everyone's different. Planning a similar strategy to what 5i suggested, but starting with a more conservative ETF (i.e. VCNS or even VCIP) for a period (i.e. 3 months), transitioning (on a strict schedule or market declines %) to VBAL once market volatility declines. I used to be a VGRO-type investor, but after -15% YTD, I've seen the light & am now a converted VBAL-type.
>> What is 5i's opinion of this transition strategy? <<

Also plan to add some Gold [PHYS] soon, and carefully/slowly add a few choice solid stocks (i.e. CSU, BAM.A, MSFT),
maintaining asset mix, over next 6 months.
>> What to do you thing of this Hybrid (ETFs + Stocks) approach? <<
>> My schedule was over 6 months; 5i is suggesting 12 months; can you explain rational of 5i's 'extend' period? <<

As always, thank you for your sound advice.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on April 01, 2020
Q: What are your growth favourite companies with no debt and/or strong balance sheets that have low PEG ratios in CAD and USD? I understand there is minimal earnings visibility going forward so best guess is appreciated using companies that you expect to survive and eventually thrive. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Angus on April 01, 2020
Q: For those of us who still have Covalon shares, should we hold on to see if their product does have some promise? Or should we sell into strength. At one point, back pre-Saudi problems, you seemed to be very positive on the company: I had assumed you had a feeling for management and financial strength. Now, reading between the lines, you seem to be implying it is somewhat akin to a VSE mining stock promotion. (Maybe that's not a fair statement.) When I look at the product Covalon originally had regarding anti-infection of wounds, it makes some sense that they could pivot to something that might kill a virus. I understand that it would include sufficient alcohol to do the job, so is comparable to Purell. But they claim to have made something that would last longer than a simple alcohol wipe. I hear you say it is interesting, but I'm not quite sure how to take the fact that they were asked to re-write a somewhat promotional news release. Should we sell and then return when the product is more developed, or just hold for now?
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on April 01, 2020
Q: There are several more junior gold royalty streaming companies. Can you provide me with a list and suggest two or three that are worthy of some research?
Read Answer Asked by George on April 01, 2020
Q: Thinking about investment implications of this crisis. In a recent investigation by Assoiated Press it was reported that " The critical shortage of medical supplies across the U.S. (Canada?), including testing swabs, protective masks,surgical gowns and hand sanitizer, can be tied to a sudden drop in imports, mostly from China". Do you think there will now be a new emphasis on domestic manufacture and if so where might one find the companies that would benefit?
Thanks
Mike
Read Answer Asked by michael on April 01, 2020
Q: Thank you ALL 5i staff for your continuing, excellent service in these most unusual times. Hopefully, everyone will be able to"deleverage" some of the virus related stress sooner than later.
As for deleveraging, do you think enough of that was done in the past few weeks to alleviate that uncertainty from the markets currently?
Cheers, Joe
Read Answer Asked by Joe on April 01, 2020
Q: HI, thank you for replying "yes" to all. Can you kindly address the second part of the question and rank your favorites to buy today on valuation for long term holds 1 - 4? Thanks.

Q: 1) would you take a half position in PLC today?
2) would you take a half position in SIA today?
3) would you take a half position in WELL today?
4) Would you take a half position in ENGH today?
Read Answer Asked by Jordan on April 01, 2020
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