Investment Q&A

Q: With interest rates rising, companies with heavy debt loads may suffer somewhat.
Can you please offer 5-10 top picks with large cash balances and low debt w/best bets in each Cda and US? also which big cap sectors would you stay away from due to large debt holdings? many thanks...

Q: Globe and Mail reported that between Jan 6-11, three board members of ECN paid an average $5.36 per share and invested about $6.25M. What is the outlook for this company going forward; I don't understand what is left of the company after the sale in December and how profitable it will be going forward. Seems strange that ECN hired ex-Toronto Police Association head Mike McCormack as chief risk officer -apparently he is a friend of the CEO - sounds like nepotism to me and not reassuring to stock holders. Thanks for your comments!

Q: When does it report and what's expected? What does it need to report to start to turn the ship around, and conversely, what type of results will put it down for good?

Q: I am buying KEG shares here is Canada and I am wondering if you have any recommendations for dine-in restaurants in the US that will benefit from re-opening. Thanks.

Q: Hello, as a Canadian, does it make sense to buy SHOP:US using US funds that exist in a TFSA investment account VS buying the equivalent SHOP.CA from a CDN TFSA account ?

Q: On Wednesday this week I bought a 1/2 position in Netflix. My intention was to view it as a trade rather than a long term investment. I've done this before when the high flying techs crashed and I caught a bounce. Nortel being one example. In reality I'm mainly a value investor that's in the typical stocks that you don't even read the news releases on. Like, who cares that TD bank is handing out bags of candy to the Panda bears in China.

I have a problem now. I think my trade, in less than a day, may have gone long term due to Pershing Square having stepped in and picked up 3.1 m shares of NFLX.

My question isn't about NXLX, it's about Pershing Square. What's your read on their intentions? I'm guessing you have a pretty good handle on their Modis operandi and can give me some insite into what might happen.

I appreciate your opinion and will give it full consideration but realize the final decision and responsibility is mine.

Q: Hello 5I,
If i own a stock on the us investment side of my portfolio in US dollars and transfer it to the Canadian side (because the stock trades on both exchanges IE: TD) does that transfer it to CDN dollars and show as a canadian stock or will it show as a US stock still becasue i initially bought in US dollars on us side? Thanks

Q: Dear 5i
Which of TVE or PXT has the highest earnings growth rate over the next 2 years ? Would either one be suitable in a TFSA ?
Thanks
Bill C

Q: Cameco is down 30% since November highs, is there a reason, such as uranium prices or company issues. Would it be a buy at this level

Q: I actually bought Square (Block) at 65.00 but it has dramatically dropped in price. My question is do it hold or sell and buy perhaps a more secure stock like Googlewhich had been dependable over the last 5 years for me. It may recover faster.

Q: Hello,

My portfolio is currently underweight in healthcare and I am looking to add either ZUH or XHC. My goal is long-term growth rather than income, so I think either of these would be a better fit than HHL or LIFE. Looking through past questions, it seems that your preference has been for XHC due to its greater diversification, global exposure, and better valuations of its underlying holdings.

I was wondering if you would still prefer XHC over ZUH? Or has the current pullback done anything to alter your view on these ETFs?

Thank you for thoughts and for the excellent service.

Q: Hello Team,
Which would you prefer going forward, Google or Microsoft and why.
Thanks,
Barry

Q: I have held IBM in my RRIF for several years. With dividends, I am about break-even on my purchase price. After the KD spinoff, I thought that IBM would move higher on P/E expansion to reflect higher earnings growth. This seemed to happen after the last quarterly earnings report, but now seems to be stalled. IBM popped up as good value on a P/CF screen you did in response to another client's question, so I am reluctant to sell it. However, you have also suggested in your recent answers to questions that GOOGL is very good value right now, and that the 20% discount from the offer price also makes ATVI good value. So would you wait for a turnaround in IBM and, if so, how long would you wait? Or would you move on and, if so, would you switch into GOOGL for a long term hold or ATVI for a short term profit? If the acquisition of ATVI closes within a year, a 20% return in a year, tax free in a RRIF, seems pretty attractive. The other company I have been considering as an IBM substitute is ROP. But your comments about the attractiveness of GOOGL and ATVI at current prices got me thinking. As always, I would appreciate your insights into the relative merits of these alternatives.

Q: Hello 5I
After the last couple weeks of the sell off are the any higher risk stocks you really like that you could see being home runs over the next 3 years? Thanks

Q: Please rank these telemedicine stocks as likely (1) survivor and consolidator, (2) acquiree, (3) flash in the pan and eventually bankrupt. Please include any other Canadian telemedicine stocks that I missed in this list.

Q: Can you recommend a Canadian ETF that holds only Canadian banks but does not write covered calls?
With appreciation,
Ed

Q: Hello, I was wondering what your team's initial thoughts on these two companies are? I am already invested in blue chip stocks and I am interested in some exposure to riskier small cap stocks and subsequently came across these two in my research.

Q: Hi 5i Team - Could you provide an update on the fundamentals of Questor including cash on hand, level of debt, revenue, etc. Also do you think they have a management team that could take this company to the next level. Are there still decent growth prospects for this company. Thanks.

Q: Looking for a few ideas of beaten up 3% or more dividend payers? I already own SLF, WCP, and ZEB. Current portfolio holdings are made up 19% energy, 35% tech, 15% financial services, 20% consumer cyclicals, less than 5% in the rest. Not too worried about divirsification, I sleep well even when blood is running in the streets.

Q: I have positions in APPS and CRWD which have seen significant declines recently. Would you shift into a large cap name like FB now?
Which ones of these would bounce the most in a recovery?