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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: Hi, I am the sole owner of a rental property that amounts to 25% of my
total assets. My existing equity portfolio consists of another 25% of
my total assets. The other 50% consists of my principal residence and
cash. I am about to turn 65 (widowed), and am thinking of selling the rental property and using the balance to buy REITs for income. I'd
like to get your thoughts on:

1) The financial tradeoff between owning a physical rental property
and owning REIT shares. Over the past few months in Toronto, property
prices have gone up as much as 15% but REIT prices have decreased
drastically on the TSX. Does it make sense to keep physical real
estate when REITs are discounted (or maybe they're actually priced
appropriately for the future?) Being a landlord requires a fair bit of
work and I'd like to take it easy in retirement.

2) The optimal percentage of total assets in the stock market during
retirement. If I sell the rental property and invest those proceeds
for a total of 50% of total assets invested in the stock market, do
you think this makes sense, or is that too risky? I have very low/no
exposure to bonds.

Thanks in advance.
Esther
Read Answer Asked by Esther on September 04, 2020
Q: Hello 5i team,
Let’s say the S&P500 decreases by -15% from its high earlier this week over the next few days or weeks for no specific reason other than stretch valuations, COVID, elections and fiscale stimulus uncertainties. By how much would you expect each of the following stocks (DND, DCBO, LSPD, REAL, DSG, WELL, XBC, VEEV, BYD) to go down (a guesstimate for each)? Among other of your favorites, what other stocks could see an even worst correction?
Thank you for your collaboration, Eric
Read Answer Asked by Eric on September 04, 2020
Q: What five income stocks do you see as undervalued at this time. How much upside potential in each do you calculate. What is the time frame involved before you believe each reaches its price expectation. Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Ric on September 03, 2020
Q: Hello 5i Team
I am comparing two ETF from Vanguard Canada and from Vanguard USA.
Vanguard Canada – US Total Market ETF (CA:VUN), trades in Canadian dollars on Canadian exchange, tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index. The MER is equal to 0.16 %. The 2019 distribution was composed of $0.99538 foreign income, $0.00076 ROC and $0.1593 foreign withholding tax (approximately 16 % of the total distribution, applied by Vanguard).
Vanguard USA – Total Stock Market ETF (US:VTI), trades in US dollar on US exchange, tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index. The MER is equal to 0.03 %. The 2019 distribution was US$2.8747 with no withholding tax applied by Vanguard.
Questions are:
1 – Are these two ETF essentially the same (one trades in C$ on Canadian Market, the other trades in US$ on the US Market) as they both appear to track the CRSP US Total Market Index?
2 – If I hold CA:VUN in a non-registered account, will there be withholding tax applied by my broker to the distribution?
3 – If I hold US:VTI in a non-registered account, will there be withholding tax applied by my broker to the distribution?
4 – Is the difference in the MER (0.16 % vs 0.03 %) essentially the 15 % withholding tax applied to US dividends?
5 – Which is the better ETF to hold in a non-registered account, ignoring the cost of currency conversion to purchase US dollars in order to buy US:VTI?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on September 03, 2020
Q: Both NAVI and COOP look oddly undervalued even after one factors in known problems in their business models. NAVI pays a good dividend (too good?). COOP pays none. Is NAVI’s dividend well covered? COOP appears to trade at below book or is that incorrect? What do you calculate are the PEG ratios for each of theses companies? Financial sites give differing ratios.
What do you see as vulnerabilities that are perhaps not discernible to a non-finance professional? Interest rates are likely to remain low for several years; it appears the US economy will continue to be bolstered by at least some stimulus, however modest, through to at least end of year 2021. Would either company be a probable target by a new US Admin? I would be thankful for your looking under the hood. I am concerned there might be dangers of the type that are sometimes skipped even by premium finance sites.
Would you buy either company, and if yes, your preference (if any?)
Read Answer Asked by Adam on September 03, 2020
Q: I have no exposure to gold in my portfolio. I must reduce my exposure to one of my four largest holdings (ATD.B, GIL, HCG, SJ) to make this purchase. I was planning on buying FNV and/or AEM. If I only purchased one gold company which one would you pick? Which 2 companies would you sell to make this purchase?
Read Answer Asked by Robert on September 03, 2020
Q: Hi Group can you comment on the latest news release on PYR stock is highly volatile but appears to have some momentum. Its hit another high this am( $6:43) then backed of again. Do you think the big boys are day trading this stock or is it based on their new technology Thanks for you views on this
Read Answer Asked by Terence on September 03, 2020
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