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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: In RRSP account I sold BEPC to decrease exposure to BEP (10%) and purchased ENPH to diversify. Plan was to hold long term. I see you like NEE and it is more diversified over renewables and pays a dividend. Does it make sense to sell ENPH to buy NEE since I don't really need an additional stock?
Read Answer Asked by J on February 19, 2021
Q: Retired, dividend-income investor. I have two legacy mutual funds...RBC Canadian Equity Income Fund...series D, with a MER of 1.04% and Sentry Canadian Income Fund with a MER of 2.35%. I have owed each for just over 9 years. My original thesis was to have some professional management look after some of my portfolio with the goal of consistent dividend income and some growth of capital. I have just over 5% of the equity portion of my portfolio in each of them.

Periodically I review their performance....the thinking being that as long as they are meeting my investment goals, then the higher MER may appear worthwhile. Here is my methodology, albeit very simplified...does it make sense to you?

I took my unrealized capital gains directly from RBC Direct Investing and divided it by the holding period to create the average annual return of the capital. Then I took the dividend yield and netted out the average ROC to create a "net dividend yield". Add the two together to create the Total Return.

Example: Sentry = 42.14% unrealized CG divided by 9.17 years = 4.6%/yr. Gross dividend of 5.1% netted down by 24% average ROC creates a net dividend of 3.9%. Total Return = 8.5%/year.

For RBC = 7.4%/year (3.6% + 3.8%).

When I look at the posted RBC-5 yr (8.3%) and 10 yr (7.9%) averages, my calculation looks low, but within reason. When I look at the Sentry-5 yr (5.6%) and 10 yr (7.2%) averages, my calculation looks high. Since the original purchases, there were no additional funds added. I have trimmed each position once.

Question #1 = I know you can shoot holes through this, but from a "very ballpark" laymen's point of view, does my methodology make sense? I understand I only used "simple" averages, not "time-weighted" averages.

Q#2 = I had to create my own average for ROC. I went back through my income tax receipts which showed how the distributions were broken down into CG, Dividend, Interest income, ROC. It was actually pretty easy to do. Then I simply averaged them. For the RBC fund, the simple average since 2013 = 6% ROC. For Sentry = 24% ROC. Does your data base show any better data on a longer term average ROC...long shot, but I thought I'd ask. My data only goes back to 2013.

Q#3 = should I have ignored the ROC issue? In real simple terms I wanted to compare the capital invested versus dividends received + capital received (if I was to sell out).

Thanks for your help...much appreciated...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on February 19, 2021
Q: Could I have your opinion on a switch from CNR to BAM.A with the intention of holding long term. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Wayne on February 19, 2021
Q: We know of dividend increases when a company reports earning but is there a site that shows recent dividend increases buy all companies? Not sure if anyone / site tracks that.
Please advise.
Read Answer Asked by Michael on February 19, 2021
Q: Hi group sent question in last week about how to play commodities (recommendations) also do you agree the sector is in an upward trend and will it last. - still no answer
New question lumber stocks seem to be acting funny lumber prices are at record highs ($1,000 fbm) but lumber stocks are down 3 days in a row is it time to take profits on the sector or hold appreciate your views
Read Answer Asked by Terence on February 19, 2021
Q: I have decided to sell most of my SNC shares, which is a large holding in my portfolio.  The stock is in a strong uptrend with 9 bullish and 1 bearish technical 'events' in just the past 6 weeks.  Are there any other catalysts on the horizon that will influence the stock?  What would be your advice re divesting this particular stock?  I can see 3 options - sell in one shot and move on, put in a trailing stop limit order at say 10% below the current price to try and ride it higher, or stagger the sales over a 2-3 month period?  Or is there another approach that you would recommend? I appreciate your guidance.  Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Glenn on February 19, 2021
Q: Score has completed their consolidation and is trading up today. In addition they have announced "Private Members Bill C-218 and Bill C-13, to legalize single event sports betting in Canada. Today, Private Members Bill C-218 was voted on and passed overwhelmingly at second reading in the House of Commons. Similar legislation in Bill C-13, which was previously introduced by the federal government, would legalize single event sports betting at the federal level in Canada and is anticipated to be taken up by the House of Commons in the near future." Am I correct in assuming that with shareholder acceptance of the share consolidation and todays announcement, the stock should continue to be well positioned for growth.
Thanks
John
Read Answer Asked by John on February 19, 2021
Q: Hi there,

What are your current favourite 15 US growth stocks, regardless of section concentration risks?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Michael on February 19, 2021
Q: I've been working with your Portfolio Tracking tool, which is absolutely great, and it's telling me I should hold more bonds. Okay, that's clear enough, but what I'm unclear about is the number of Bonds (ETFs) I should hold. I know it's not really your thing, but is there a recommended bond portfolio you would recommend (for someone about to retire)? Also how important is it to hold international bonds VS only Canadian ETFs? Any advice is truly appreciated. Thanks as always for all your great work!
Read Answer Asked by Michael on February 19, 2021
Q: In his question, Rajiv mentioned that QBTC was at a 6% premium to NAV. While QBTC has sold at a premium (up to 20% in early Jan) on Feb. 18 at end of day, per the 3iQ website, NAV was $74.47 and closing price was $70.49. This is a discount of 5.34%, not a premium. Intraday, the discount appeared to be even higher, perhaps due to selling pressure as people transferred to the Purpose ETF.
Read Answer Asked by David on February 19, 2021
Q: Hello 5i,

The reality today is that the little guy was ripped off for years with MERS and fees. Now that this correction is unfolding with personal management of investments the next area of concern is Hedge Fund and Large Corporate consortium manipulation of the market in a "war" or to collaborate on stock pricing. It was fun to watch the little guy get some revenge but there seems to be an underlying criminal element to the "establishment" or "old boys" club when it comes to investing in the stock market.

What "IF" any investor (personal, hedge fund, or other large organizations) could "ONLY" buy and and sell a stock. . no shorts, calls, puts, etc. What would happen to the stock market?

Thank you again for helping the little guy navigate the stock market. 5i is the best value of any service out there.

Cheers,
Debbie and Jerry





Read Answer Asked by Jerry on February 19, 2021
Q: Which stock has the most upside over the next two years and which one do you think has the least downside from where we are today? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Richard on February 19, 2021
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