Investment Q&A

Q: I invested in the 4 railroads, based on the thesis that dividends , finances ,and future were safe,the objective being here: capital preservation + "some growth". .Considering the valuations on a significant downtrend, should each of those stocks be kept ( or sold) accordingly to this vue ?

Q: Hi, I was made aware of a gap (The "Korea Gap") in my international ETF strategy based on your ETF Update model portfolios that I believe is worth sharing.

The "Korea Gap" occurs when an investor mixes ETF providers that use different index benchmarks (specifically MSCI and FTSE). Because these two providers categorize South Korea differently, an investor can inadvertently end up with 0% exposure to the world's 10th-largest economy.

MSCI (Used by iShares XEF): Classifies South Korea as an Emerging Market. Therefore, it is excluded from XEF (Developed Markets).

FTSE (Used by Vanguard VEE): Classifies South Korea as a Developed Market. Therefore, it is excluded from VEE (Emerging Markets).

The result is if you hold only XEF and VEE, South Korea effectively disappears from your portfolio!

In 2025, this meant missing out on the massive "HBM (High-Bandwidth Memory) Craze" led by Samsung and SK Hynix, which drove the KOSPI to record highs.

Portfolio Combo | Provider | Where is Korea? | Avg. MER
XEF + VEE | Mixed | Missing (0%) | 0.24%
XEF + XEC | MSCI | XEC (Emerging) | 0.25%
VIU + VEE | FTSE | VIU (Developed) | 0.24%

I'll personally be replacing my VEE with XEC to hold the MSCI Blackrock combination.

In the XEF + XEC combo, South Korea makes up about 12-13% of the Emerging Markets (XEC) slice. In the VIU + VEE combo, it makes up about 5-6% of the Developed (VIU) slice. This means the iShares combo actually gives you a "heavier" bet on Korea.

Q: You've discussed declines in the CSU family as a potential opportunity... Many software companies are in a similar position. NOW and INTU come to mind. What would be 1 or 2 each of your fav. Large and Smid companies suffering from a similar fate and why and do you think it's time to invest or not. We've been discussing this scenario for some time now with ADBE and waiting has proven the best course.

thx, M

Q: I just received a letter from CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization saying that their system was breeched on August 11, 2025 and my personal data was compromised. They suggest 1) I call Equifax and TransUnion (although the phone numbers they provide don't match the company's contact information online) and 2) access a website to register for 2 years of free online credit monitoring and identity restoration services.

Before I take the recommended action I thought I would check with you to see if you heard of this and if it is legitimate.

Thanks

Scott

Q: I have rgld shares from the SSL sale. I would like to sell and buy reinvest the funds into a Canadian listed gold royalty co. Franco, Nevada or or Wheaton precious metals which would you suggest? Or do you have another alternative? Thank you.

Q: Anything to worry about with APP. What is driving the price down over the last month? Is this still one of your top picks?

Q: Celestica is down significantly in the last few days since the Digitimes report regarding the fact that Google's tensor processing unit servers may be assembled by another supplier. Please comment. Is this an opportunity to pick up additional shares?
Thanks..Glenn

Q: Have you had any change of sentiment since October?

Q: Can you please give me your thoughts on ISRG, for a continued hold. I am a longer term hold investor but do wonder if this position wouldn't be best elsewhere in the health care sector. I have ABBV already, thanks to a 5i suggestion a couple of years back. Many thanks

Q: Peter; Gold up - VMET down- would you add some here ? Thanks.
Rod

Q: Do these still have some room?

Q: I am wanting to sell most of our equity exposure in spouse's RSP and my RRIF (a lot of equity exposure in TFSAs and cash accts). Looking at various fixed income/less risky options. Have perused your past income questions. For various reasons I like HUTL, ZWU and XEI for CAD, and ZMI.U for USD. Would prefer another one or two USD options. Could I get your assessment of the options I have indicated, and if you folks have other options (particularly for USD) I would welcome those. TIA.

Q: Hoping you can provide some comments around what the bond markets might be telling us right now and what it might mean for equities? Lots of rumblings with respect to Japan and rates/spreads in general lately. Is it worth a report/blog? If not, any insights you can provide here in answer would be gratefully appreciated.

Q: Good morning,

AC has not performed well since August , is it a buy at this time.

Thanks,

George

Q: Hello, I know 5i like the above and they have some good momentum lately, can you rate these going out for the next 3 years. Thanks as always,

Q: Could you provide the top (and rank) 3 or 4 stocks from each of the Income, Balanced and Growth portfolios to buy today.
Thank you

Q: Hi Team,
Is it worth holding onto SRAD and Geni much longer? I am taking a bath on both of them for quite a while now. I had thought the gambling sector was "hot" when I bought these, but it seems I had bought at peak and sentiment has fallen off a cliff for the sector ever since. I understand patience may be required, but am also looking at lost opportunity. If you recommend selling them today, what opportunity would you look at deploying the cash into tomorrow?

Thanks,
Shane.

Q: Hello Team 5i & Everyone,

With regard to the A.I. theme: If you had to pick 9 American stocks to watch that have been already running since 2023 because of A.I., which stocks would they be?

Nividia & Microsoft seem obvious. Maybe VST, AVGO… Gemini provided a list, but I’d like to know what you think please.

I find that the MAGS etf is a simple way to track the big tech stocks, but I’m not sure if the SMH etf would be too specific to track the A.I. stocks/theme?

Thank you for your help!

Sandra

Q: I want to add an additional utility sector stock to my TFSA. I currently own FTS and I am considering buying either H or BIP.UN. Which one would be better. Also open to suggestion of another utility stock.

Q: Will the dividend be eligible for tax purposes.
Thank you