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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: CSCO reported miserable earnings on February 15 and guidance was also poor. I understand the company will also raise more debt. I am not clear on the company’s reasoning for yet more debt. CSCO was added to AAII’s “stock super stars” list in February 2016 under its “good values” strategy. I was thinking of selling CSCO last year but held off when I saw the business was added to Morgan Stanley’s global dividend portfolio in June 2023. I continued to on to CSCO, especially as hardly any of my other holdings pay dividends. Given CSCO’s latest report and guidance, is it worth holding on to CSCO for investors whose folio is all US, and who are getting concerned that their folio generates little dividend.

If its worth holding on to CSCO, please comment on the company’s business model, the strength or not of its suite of security products. Please also comment on CSCO’s PEG ratio, its debt to equity in addition to its competitive position and moat referenced above. Many thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Adam on February 27, 2024
Q: Hello,
I recently mentioned taking a position in MDLZ for part of my international holdings, not realizing MDLZ is actually US-based. Knowing you don't follow international stocks, are you generally aware of other internationally-based consumer defensive companies listed on a major US stock exchange? I looked at Nestle, but it seems to be only buyable OTC, and I am not too keen on that market. Another thought was DEO, do you see any red flags with it?
Thanks again, Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on November 03, 2023
Q: Good morning,

I know there are risks with owning Verizon right now, but with another recent dividend increase (now 17 consecutive years of increases), forward PE ~ 7.0, and a dividend yield approaching ~ 8%, do you think there is merit in buying for an income investor?
Read Answer Asked by Trevor on September 13, 2023
Q: Hello 5i,

GIC's are about 15% of our portfolio with BTI and EPD each at 1.5%. GIC's (laddered strategy) roll over between October and March. Would you recommend 1 or 2 year GIC's (@5.5%), 5-year GIC @5%, add to EPD or BTI , or do you recommend a bond or mix of bonds? We are in our mid 60's, retired, risk tolerance is medium.

Thank you for your Service
D&J
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on September 05, 2023
Q: Hello,

I'm hoping you might be able to steer me towards several suitable, longer term, investments.

If you were assembling a portfolio of equity investments today, from which you REQUIRED an overall average yield of at least 4%, with a further need for that yield to either keep pace with or to outpace the rate of inflation in coming years; which 5 Canadian and which 5 USA equities would you select to include within your portfolio?

1) Independent of any consideration of a desire for diversity of sector?

2) If diversity were to be considered to be of importance?

Please deduct as many question credits as you feel may be appropriate.

Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Richard on August 14, 2023
Q: when you look at 3M on fundamental, and valuation score high, and the dividend look very attractive at 6.36%, how do i need to be worry about lawsuits again 3M for the used of PFAS?
Read Answer Asked by OSCAR on June 05, 2023
Q: I am looking for a couple of US dividend-paying companies that provide decent yields for retirement income. Several of the companies that you have suggested are providing growing dividends and some equity growth but the yields are low. I am currently looking at AMGN, BX and EXR. I am leaning towards BX as I think property could be poised for growth but I am concerned that the dividend seems to jump around. Were special dividends paid in the past few years or has the payout been negatively affected by declining rental income?

Which of the three would you prefer given the desire for increased income, stability of income, future dividend growth and some equity growth? (or are there other suggestion you may have)

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on June 01, 2023
Q: Good Morning 5i

We have EPD and GIC's in our income side of RRSP's. We have room for a another stock at a 1/2 position. What are your thoughts on BTI with an 8.52% dividend? Do you have another stock as a preference?

Thank you
D&J
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on May 24, 2023
Q: Would like to create a 10-15 stock portfolio out the securities listed above, to meet my retirement income and growth needs, for a long term hold.
CPD is my current, imperfect proxy for the fixed income portion of my portfolio.
CVE, CNQ, SU would be the only opportunistic (and highly correlated) purchases, to take advantage of the current low valuations for the petroleum industry. These would be sold if the oil & gas market's prospects change.
Please rank all the securities on the basis of return potential over 2-3 years as the primary criteria,
Please eliminate any stock which does not have adequate balance sheet strength, from the lineup.
Please add to the lineup all securites that would facilitate the creation of a defensible, well-diversified, long term portfolio - especially if it is in a sector that I have overlooked.

Thank you for your expertise, and willingness to help me sleep a bit more soundly.
Read Answer Asked by Pradeep on August 13, 2021
Q: With more and more US states moving to legalize marijuana I feel it is just a matter of time before that is done at the federal level. I have a large position in these 3 names. I assume they will shift from big tobacco to big marijuana once it is legalized. I think there is big growth potential here. Would you agree with that assessment? Would there be something that could stop this from happening ie government not allowing these big players to dominate that industry?
Read Answer Asked by Edward on April 19, 2021
Q: Hi 5i,

Thanks for the great. What are your thoughts on the tobacco stocks (Imperial Brands, Philip Morris, Altria, British American)?

These stocks seem cheap with amazing yields—but just keep getting cheaper. Is it time for me to take losses and move on?

Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Greg on November 09, 2020