Investment Q&A

Q: Hi 5i team,

With the Fed now ending quantitative tightening (QT) and possibly cutting rates, I'm wondering what the combination means for the market from your perspective.

1. How do you think the end of QT might affect U.S. and Canadian stocks in the short term and long term? Are there certain sectors or styles (growth vs value, cyclicals vs defensives) that you’d expect to benefit more? How about Crypto?

2. Some people are saying that stopping QT is almost like getting an extra rate cut in terms of liquidity. Do you agree, or is that overstated?


Thanks,
Matt

Q: May I please have your opinion on Frontline as a profitable oil shipping company? Does the low PE ratio indicate potential problems?
With appreciation,
Ed

Q: Thank you for answering my last question - and for answering it so quickly. I sold and took the 35% loss (a big one). Win some; lose some. I wish you and the 5i team the best this holiday season,

Jason

Q: Why would FTS be out performing ENB for the last 1 yr.
Thanks Again

Q: Can you recommend 3 oil companies in Canada that don't have crazy dept, pay a dividend, good mover in share appreciation under higher oil price.

Q: In your response to my earlier question on Canadian ETFs, you offered to expand your answer to include other Canadian traded asset categories. I would appreciate if you could please do so.

Q: Good morning,

Could I please ask for your general thoughts on this company. Earnings seemed (?) strong but it plunged. Smaller-cap, but might it be a buy/hold? All your comments necessary!

Have a good day, and thanks!

Q: Hello,

You have been a champion of DSG and less so of ENGH.

ENGH provides 5.94% dividend, might be a dividend trap??
Both are down 30% +/- 1 yr.

I would have punted DSG 6 months ago, but didn't, due to your endorsement.

Credibility is important - maybe I'm missing a subtle distinction.

And I made the decision to keep it.

Thank you
Feel free to modify my question re: DSG /ENGH to put you less on the spot. I think it was Buffett who said "if can't handle your equities dropping 50% you shouldn't be in the stock market". I can handle it, but still don't like it.
All the best

Q: EPS growth seems to be unpredictable due to the lumpiness of investment returns, and weather catastrophes. In the 2024 annual report Watsa uses Book Value per share compounding at 18.7% per year for the past 39 years and common stock price compounding at 19.2% (including dividends) as the main performance measure. Buffet suggests predictability of earnings as essential when buying a stock. Yahoo finance used to predict EPS growth 5 years out. While predicting EPS 5 years out is perhaps doable with confidence for KO, for FFH not so much. Clearly over 39 years FFH has done fabulous regardless of EPS lumpiness, but I have held this stock for over 10 years and all of the appreciation has come in the last 5 years or less. I want to buy more FFH, however I am concerned over another flat 5 years. Do you think the focus of the companies investing and underwriting strategy has changed enough to avoid 5 years of dead money? If you had to predict EPS growth for FFH over the next 5 years, what would that % growth be? Would you be comfortable buying at current prices for a 3-5 year hold? Thank you. John

Q: I have owned all the Canadian banks at one time or another, and currently own shares in Royal Bank.
All of the banks seem to have done quite well just recently, but the dividend on the Royal Bank is not as high as the TD for example.
Is it time to change? Which do you think looks best going forward for a total ROI?

Q: Can you suggest a couple of low risk Cdn. ETF's with good dividend rates and with a low MER?

Q: Our portfolio manager is recommending the PIMCO Monthly Income Fund Series F (PMO205) mutual fund, as part of our fixed income investments. Is this mutual fund worth the high MER of 0.86? Morningstar gives it a 4-star rating and returns appear to be considerably higher than other comparable funds. In the event of a deep world-wide recession, is this fund vulnerable to losses? As a senior, capital preservation is my highest priority.
Thanks!

Q: I have the following in the industrial sector of my total portfolio.:
AXON = 1.1%, CAE = 0.9%, HPS.A = 1.9%, ZDC = 0.4%, VRT = 3.4%, WSP = 5.2%, CWW (etf) = 3.1%
Am ok with the VRT, WSP, CWW levels. I have new money to add to some or all of the smaller % holdings. Can you weigh in on what your approach would be, including selling any or buying something else . Thanks as always for your knowledgeable, experienced and measured assessment.

Q: Axp is currently outperforming V. What do you think of switching from V to Axp for a 3 year hold? Is the extra risk with Axp worth the higher return? Thank you

Q: I currently own a small position in GSY in my TFSA. Tired on the volatility of this stock and considering changing for HPS.A. Sector change is ok.
Which of the two would you consider to have better growth prospects for a 5 year hold? Why?

Thanks,

Jim

Q: Can you please rank the quality of these U.S. Consumer Staple stocks with regards to the increasing of their respective dividends going forward as well as the rebounding of their business when sentiment turns favourable towards this sector?

Q: I’ve recently subscribed to 5i, and appreciate all the good information that you have on your website.

A question: how do you choose which stocks to research and which to not research? In your model portfolios, you have included a number of big-name stocks (BCE, L, TD, BN, amongst others) that aren’t rated. I understand they are included in your model portfolios to provide sector diversification, but would I be correct to infer that if you rated them they wouldn’t likely be “A” stocks?

A somewhat related question: your Income Model Portfolio includes BCE, CNQ, FTS, H and TD (amongst others), all non-rated, but your Balanced Equity Model Portfolio does not. Does this mean that although you view these stocks as being good dividend-payers, you also think they have limited upside?

Thanks

Q: I am a 70 year-old value investor that is reluctant to invest further in what I believe is an over-valued market. Our new portfolio manager is recommending "Index deposit notes" offered by major Canadian banks. Can you please tell me more about these market-linked term deposits? I would prefer to wait for a market correction and then invest in equities, but the portfolio manager feels the market could continue to rise over the next few years. I am of the opinion we are looking at a significant recession in 2026.
Thanks!

Q: Our new portfolio manager is recommending the KKR Infrastructure Fund (“KIF”) as an alternative investment. Can you please tell me more about this private equity fund and the KKR investment company? I am a 70 year-old value investor and can't find any metrics for the fund. Do you know how the price is set for KIF? I am concerned that KKR could close the gate for redemptions at anytime.
Thanks for for comments!

Q: I am 70 year-old value investor who is reluctant to invest further in the current overvalued equity market. Our new portfolio manager is recommending the AQR Apex Strategy Fund as an alternative investment. I am reluctant to invest in something I don't understand. Can you please tell me more about the AQR Apex Strategy Fund?
Thanks!