Investment Q&A

Q: Hi 5i Team,
I bought Merck a few days ago aiming to balance my portfolio, yesterday the reaction of the market was negative , a 5% drop, after they reported earning combined with announcement of spinning off three divisions,.

Was the spin off is that negative?

What is your outlook of this company.

Thank you for your professional and helpful advice as always.

Q: Hi. I'm continuing to transition from overweight CAD stocks to US equities. Could I have your preference (and rationale) for ONE each from the following four dyads:
US Telecom: VZ or T (i.e.,AT&T)
US Healthcare: ABT or MRK
US Real Estate: CCI or AMT
US Industrial: HON or UTX.
Thanks much!

Q: Hi, I am looking for a large cap healthcare stock that has a long runway for dividend growth and capital appreciation. Thanks Rick

Q: Based on my portfolio review, I need to increase my pharmaceutical weighing. Although you do not follow US companies closely, could you give me your best recommendations for 3 US pharmaceutical Companies. My only holding at the moment is Pfizer. Could you give me your opinion on this company please?

Q: I should increase both our health care and U.S. investments.I have been looking at the investments above.These would be in our TFSA so not too interested in dividends.
I would appreciate your thoughts.
Thanks in advance.

Q: Hello everyone,
I have some cash in the RRSP so I would like to buy some stock that are growth and income : BX; MCD; MRK and SGTPY. Which you would recommend me that are not overvalued?
Thanks a lot!

Q: Hello 5i: I have sold my JNJ and looking for another healthcare and would like your suggestions. I already hold PFE Thank you Barb

Q: With the stock up 45% in the last year, would you still consider Merck a buy for a long term hold?

Q: Merry Xmas to all
thank you for all the good service you provide us all
What s your opinion on MRK at this price and would you consider it one of the best choices in this field

Q: Hello. Can you point me in the direction of a few solid health sector, dividend paying stock options that would be suitable to hold within an RRSP? I’m looking at a five to eight year horizon and consider myself as a ‘low to moderate’ risk investor.
PS found recent ‘ How to Pick a Stock in 2018’ very helpful. Thanks!

Q: Greetings. Merck seems to be having a great run and has gotten really expensive. Is this a case of letting your winners run or is it time to switch into something like ABBVIE that is significantly cheaper and has good growth expectations for the next couple of years?

Q: Hi,
What are your thoughts on Merck as an investment, the company’s potential growth and risk? My interest started in Merck because of their immunotherapy drug... Keytruda. Keytruda has eliminated some of my mom’s melanoma tumors and shrinking cancer in two other areas of her body. Other melanoma patients are seeing positive results. Melanoma cannot be treated with chemo. This drug is now being tried on some liver cancers and was initially developed for some types of lung cancer. I really don’t know a lot about this company and would like your opinion.
Thanks,
Kerri

Q: All things being equal, which company would you choose for a long-term hold, MRK or PFE (and reasons why)?
Thanks!

Q: Hello Folks:
Could you please give me your view on Merck and Company (which along with Smith- Kline) has had problems executing new drugs (eg. lung cancer medications) in their pipelines. I also have previously owned Gilead, whose new HIV drug was reduced in value because of government pricing restrictions. My other health care equities are Johnson and Johnson and Knight Therapeutics. Do you think there are better health industry options (with decent dividends and growth potential) in the U.S. other than companies such as Merck, Gilead etc. or should one look to another sector.
Thanks for everything
brian

Q: Hello 5i team,
Any thought on why Merck is going down?
also is the 3.5% position of GS concerning only the equity portfolio or equity plus fixed + ETF's and cash.
thanx,
stanley

Q: Even after incorporating political risks, many health care stocks seem to have been punished more than seems justifiable. On Friday; minutes after the FBI said it is re-opening that email investigation , the health care sector sank even lower. The sudden stock price drop was in near-perfect correlation (McKesson, Novo Nordisk, Gild, CVS, Allergan and others were already down significantly year to date, yet all dropped sharply on the FBI news).

Granted, the damage to bio tech and pharma companies was self-inflicted. No one with a moral compass can dispute the fact that drug pricing abuses did happen (and perhaps still do). At current depressed stock prices, however, does it not now seem that many health care companies are being water-boarded indiscriminately? Is available info so nebulous that even traders or investing professionals don't feel confident. Are the unknown factors significant enough to depress stocks this much, though? Even after the already steep drops year to date? ( Sorry, I don't mean this preamble to turn this into a leading question).

QUESTION: Would you buy any Health Care stocks at current valuations (many show low PEG, high ROE)? This sector has been sliding down since 2015. Specifically, would you add to a position in Amgen or Merck , OR in the alternate, would you rather initiate a new position in a medical equipment maker? If the latter, which one please and why? Thank you.

Q: Of course, most all have dropped but - would appreciate your financial & expertize on these 3 US healthcare related stocks. Thank you.