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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 your opinion, are Cdn. bank stocks overvalued and is it time to trim. Along with two Cdn insurance companies they currently represent approximately 26% of our portfolio
Read Answer Asked by Donald on September 11, 2025
Q: My son (23) has 9000$ to invest in his first TFSA (he already has a FHSA account that is maxed out). He wants to open a TFSA investing account. Do you have a recommendation for how he breaks up the 9000.00 (ie. 3 stocks)? Are there any sectors that he should focus on at first? Do any particular stocks jump out at you as suitable for this kind or foray into the market?

Thanks in advance
Sue
Read Answer Asked by Susan on September 11, 2025
Q: Your thoughts please on this TFSA used by a retired banker that is very simple but has vastly outpermormed the TSX. I realize only 3 sectors are covered but looks to be all quality companies?

Thx
Read Answer Asked by blake on September 04, 2025
Q: I am overweight in financials. Can you order the noted stocks in terms top to bottom ranking?
Read Answer Asked by Judith on September 04, 2025
Q: BUY. or. HOLD. or SELL for a 3 to 5 year period?
Read Answer Asked by Ray on September 03, 2025
Q: What would your top ~5 recommendations be to build an RESP with an 10-15 year horizon.
Had to sell all positions to live the account and have a good pile of free cash currently to redeploy. Not dissatisfied with prior holdings but creates a moment to consider best options currently
Read Answer Asked by Ryan on August 29, 2025
Q: Would you throw some light on “ provision for credit losses “ ( PCL ) that the banks use in their financial statements. It seems to have a significant impact on earnings. How is it determined ? Analysts take it as a poor contributor to earnings. If a bank lowers its PCL how does this actually increase its profitability ? Is there a formula to determine its PCL and how trustworthy is this ? Seems to me that a bank could alter the PCL number to better their numbers. Thanks. Derek.
Read Answer Asked by Derek on August 29, 2025
Q: I have held BNS in my cash account for several years and the stock has been essentially flat. I am looking to replace it with HCAL. There would be minimal capital gains tax and they have essentially the same yield. HCAL has 1.25 leverage to the big Cdn banks. Thinking of the tendency of individual banks reverting to the mean , am I selling BNS at the wrong time as it does seem to be participating in the industry’s strength of late. What do you think of this move ?
Thanks. Derek.
Read Answer Asked by Derek on August 25, 2025
Q: Hi,
Could you please recommend 10 (5 US / 5 CAN) high-quality defensive companies with strong balance sheets, low debt levels, and robust cash flows that YOU believe they can weather economic stress, inflation, or stagflation and they relatively hold up their stock prices during such times? If their current stock prices are overvalued, please suggest your recommended entry prices.

Also please recommend ETFs that mainly invest in companies with the above criteria?

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Ahmed on August 22, 2025
Q: What are your top highest conviction stocks right now for compound growth over next five years?
Read Answer Asked by Gerry on July 31, 2025
Q: Please rank according to current buy rating. All of these equities are dividend aristocrats with current dividend/distribution higher than 4.5%. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by David on July 28, 2025
Q: Could we have your opinion on the Canadian Banks please? What would be your top 3 picks?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by kim on July 25, 2025
Q: Wondering you thoughts on the Canadian banks. I currently hold TD and CBIL.
Read Answer Asked by Dale on July 08, 2025
Q: I am looking at buying Canadian Dividend payers. What are your highest conviction dividend payers. Can you provide top 10 list. Please keep in mind valuation.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Frank on June 25, 2025
Q: Hi 5i,
In registered accounts I hold these financials: POW, BNS, CM, EQB, PRL; these tech: TXF.B, HTA and the industrial MDA. I've held them for a long time and I'm pleased with all of them.
However, given Trump may be serious about decimating the Canadian economy (witness latest threatened increase in steel and aluminum tariffs) and likely can do a lot of damage even if he doesn't completely succeed, I'm considering cashing in holdings in Canadian names and replacing with US names through purchasing CDR's (I don't have a US account and don't plan on opening one). A few of questions arise:
1. Do you think my reasoning makes sense, or would it be an over-reaction to make the move regarding all or some of my above holdings?
2. If the move is worth considering, can you suggest CDR alternatives for any of the above names you think should be replaced?
3. If I do replace any of the above CDN names with equivalent or nearly so CDR's, what can I expect regarding dividend income compared to that from the CDN holdings (all of which - except MDA - are currently yielding based high, based on long ago purchase prices)?
Please deduct as you see fit.
Thanks 5i,
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on June 05, 2025
Q: Which names in the Growth and Balanced portfolios respectively do feel best about currently for a 3-5 year hold? Any related sector comments?

With thanks.
Read Answer Asked by David C. on June 03, 2025
Q: Looking for some growth and a good dividend. Which two CDN banks would you go with?
Read Answer Asked by Graeme on June 02, 2025