Investment Q&A

Q: I am down 60% on Rubicon, in this environment is there any chance that they would go out of business.
I thank you for your guidance in this panicked time.
Peter

Q: With governments pouring money into businesses, dropping interest rates, Retirees and individual investors getting killed,(mostly by computers and algorithms) everything shutting down why don't they shut down the markets worldwide to stop the insanity and panic? This may seem simplistic but we make rules to protect ourselves in the mortgage market, we need to protect our companies and ourselves from sheer panic.
Mike

Q: Why is TD Waterhouse rejecting my trades? I was trying to buy Royal Bank at the open, and now, even a market trade for 100 SHOP got rejected?

Q: Peter and team
Could you please explain why XEQT was only up 3 percent on Friday's rally, while XGRO was up 6 percent and the TSX DJIA and S and P 500 were up close to 10 percent. Would that be attributable to the XEF holding
Thanks as always

Q: I always thought of Suncor as one of the most stable energy players. It also had a low dividend. With the latest drop the dividend is now at 9%. How risky would this stock be to buy?

Q: China's economy seems to be coming back. Something I ordered in January has finally been shipped. The streets in Beijing are getting busier and of course the Trump administration seems to have finally taken the threat seriously.
If the current shutdown is successful and the incubation period is 14 days would you think it reasonable to see signs of improvement after a month or so?
Your thoughts are appreciated.
Mike

Q: NVU.UN is trading at 31.54 and the takeover price is 36.25. I can find no info that the takeover is off. Can you offer any insight, advice on this situation?

Q: In light of current market actions and the now widely anticipated economic recession, I am looking for your thoughts on stocks you would buy for long term (10 plus years) and/or forever holds -- Canadian and U.S. names please. I am investing for retirement (within 5 years) but also for our heirs. We have built a portfolio of sleep at night holdings over the past 25 years and just looking to tweak the portfolio. Although we do not like to see these kinds of volatile markets, we also do not get freaked out by them. We have ample cash or near cash always in hand to combat such actions -- something you learn through experience! Thanking you in advance for your answer.

Q: Hi 5i,
I am not 100% clear on stock and ETF's allocations for investment plans. Take as many points as needed to answer the questions below. I apologize in advance for the length of the question.

As a Canadian investing through a Canadian site (RBC in this case), split into CDN and US sections (moved CDN funds to USD and paid the exchange), which stocks and ETF's should be allocated to RRSP (CDN or US sections), TFSA, & Non-Registered accounts?

As an example, an RBC RRSP account is split into CAD and USD segments. If I purchase VWO in USD on the US segment instead of VEE on the CDN segment do I retain the 15% withholding tax? If I purchase VWO in CDN funds on the CDN side of the RRSP, what happens to the 15% withholding tax?

Is there a tax difference when filing a CRA 1135 form. e.g if VWO or VEE are 100+k CDN value: VWO on the USD segment or VEE on the CDN segment or VWO on the CDN segment.

If a US stock has a dividend, should this ever be purchased on the CDN side of the RRSP or in a TFSA? .. e.g. CRM with a small dividend or AMGN with a larger dividend

Can you please assign the best allocations (RRSP, TFSA, Non-Registered) to examples a the bottom of the question.
e.g. Non-dividend Growth US stocks (Googl, AMZN): TFSA, RRSP
This tells me that AMZN is best in the TFSA for growth, and in an RRSP purchased in CDN or US funds is the same effect other than currency at the time of purchase.
If a stock or ETF should be in CDN or US sections can you note that as well? e.g. RRSP(CDN or US).
It is a lot to ask so limited examples below will hopefully reduce the effort.

5i recommendations
Non-dividend Growth US stocks (e.g. Googl, AMZN):
US small Dividend Growth (e.g. IWO):
US Foreign ETF (e.g. VWO):
CDN ETF with US stocks and other int'l stocks (e.g. VEE):
CDN High Dividend (e.g. CDN Utilities/Reits/ETF's):
US High Dividend (e.g. US Utilities/Reits/Medical/ETF's)
All World ETF (VT):
All World ETF (XAW):

I very much appreciate your service and time to answer questions.

Jerry

Q: It would be very interesting for you guys to comment on market liquidity, and bid/ask dynamics with this market sell off. Specifically; for every sale, there is a buyer, and the sellers and buyers keep transacting. But, perhaps there simply is less buyers and sellers overall, so it is forcing people who want out specifically, to receive a lower price to do so. Is liquidity of bid/ask shrinking in these panic like events? With this point, who are the general sellers in this market; retail, institutions or hedge funds, etc. Are ETFS triggering this selloff etc. I hold a lot of stock, but simply don't want to be the last holder in the game, when the so called passive investments helped create this melt up in the first place. If they are also the first to leave, that may be bad for smaller folks like me. So.... if you come back and say that we have whipsawed lower 20% plus, but in that time, less and less shares are being sold, that may imply that still large smart money is still here, with the same large market participants having faith. Any comments on these points would be helpful. Bill

Q: Hi, I was thinking of adding to Sun Life with its current low valuation and high dividend. This sounds morbid but a friend of mine suggested if there is a high death rate from COVID-19, then SLF might have to make out higher than normal payouts affecting its profitability. I realize this is not its only business. What say you sage folks?

Thank you, Michael

Q: I know there is crazy volatility right now, but am I missing something one this one. Approaching a 50% dividend that looks sustainable, P/E ratio is closing in on 1. What are your thoughts on this stock?

Q: I am looking to follow the S&P 500. I am not sure what etf is best to use. I have seen you recommend VFV in Q&A but your model etf portfolios hold ZSP. Is there one you would choose over another? Is there another option I should consider? If you can advise if it is best to put in a register or unregistered account. I have room in both my TFSA and RRSP.

Thank you for the great service.

Q: I understand Boardwalk exposure to Alberta is high. At $27, what is the valuation vs the other residential reit? They do also have exposure to ON, QC and SK. Do you see value here? Would you buy ? 5 year + hold. Thank you

Q: For cash destined for a non-registered account can you suggest categories of stocks that, given their current valuations following the recent market meltdown over the past couple of weeks, you would expect to have the best total returns over the next three years or so, listed in order of expected total return?
1) 6-8 Canadian blue-chip dividend-growth stocks with at least 5 years of consecutive dividend growth (ideally 10 years) and a current dividend yield of ≥ 4.0%, good balance sheets, reasonable/minimal debt, etc. Looking for “best in class” amongst a few different sectors - ie only need one (“best”) bank, one telco, one pipeline, etc
2) 2-3 Canadian blue-chips who may not meet the above dividend yield and growth specifications but whose current valuations make them an appealing possibility
3) 2-3 more growth-oriented stocks, do not have to be traditional “blue-chip” - with or without dividends who would be expected to have the best total return possibilities over the next three years.
Would you be buying now or waiting until there are maybe a couple or three consecutive days of positive market returns and/or when the current market volatility seems to be settling down (however you would define or identify that) or buying in over a period of time? If so, over what period of time and buying at what interval/ frequency?
Thanks for your insight.
Bruce

Q: What do you think of this fund? Would you be a buyer today?

Q: I'm interested in the Canadian banks due to the recent drop and the dividend yield which is very attractive. I have remained in cash for most of this crisis and am anxious to buy. However, I'm very concerned that we are in for further shocks to the economy given the fallout of this virus. How much exposure on the downside do you see to the Canadian banks' balance sheets? I know that if the market goes down, everything will move in tandem but what I'm worried about is that we are in for a high number of failed small and large businesses. Also, I've left my money in US dollars for the last number of years because I think it's a better place to have money and will be buying Canadian banks listed on the USA exchange if that makes any difference. Thank you as always for your comments.

Q: What has been proving to be non-correlated to equities in this market? From a quick look, not really the usual suspects such as bonds, gold or even bitcoin. I expect the best answer to this question will come with more hindsight, but appreciate your views. Thanks!

Q: Hi Team,
Two part question, charge me accordingly:

For a US growth tech stock, what are your thoughts on Twilo? I own it, and I am down 32% on it. I realize the markets are in turbulence, but even before that it has been underperforming my other tech holdings since last quarter. Is there something changing with its growth story here, or is it simply a valuation catch up issue combined with last quarters results? When I bought it I was under the impression that they are in long term, secular growth trend here with their sms messaging business and as such. Should I continue to hold or should I be trading it in for a better name in the sector? Suggestions?

Also....what are your thoughts on GSY at the moment? Is it just me or is it one of the most compelling growth stories with dividend on the tsx right now, especially at current valuations? I am thinking its fall has been "unjustified" at this point and cannot see so far how this coronavirus would essentially hurt their business (being this is a virus scare slowdown and not a financial crisis) . If anything, perhaps improve it. We have lowered interest rates which should help boost margins possibly, and fiscal stimulus coming down the pipe. Just wanted your thoughts before adding more to my position here. I added on the way down at 65 (too early), and am thinking of adding more. I am not really worried about weighting at this point. My time frame is for the long term here (20yrs). Thanks,

Shane.

Q: There were a couple of questions today on BMO's ZCS. Both your replies suggested not too much concern holding the short term corporates over a longer period of time. Do you have differing thoughts on ZCM and ZLC? BBB rated bonds in ZCS, ZCM, ZLC are 36%, 58%, and 39% respectively.

Also of note all three seem to have a large discount to NAV. Yesterday between 4.3 to 5.5% (ZLC being the highest). Not sure that is normal, or not, as I don't look that closely and BMO doesn't appear to post the info.

Thanks