Investment Q&A

Q: BCE has given up much of its post-dividend-cut rally - not to say that the cut was a bad idea, and maybe there's a support level lurking somewhere here. At the same time, I find myself wondering just what BCE's value proposition could be, now, to make it more attractive than T (or, for that matter, BNS or PPL, which offer similar yields)? Put another way: if investors have no reason to buy BCE other than income, and if declining interest rates are the only meaningful catalyst for share price appreciation, then, post-cut, isn't it at least as likely that it will continue to decline?

Q: Whats your current favorite financial in Canada ? 2nd choice ? How does IFC fit in ? Thank you.

Q: Hi, I'm considering adding a Canadian bank. I only hold TD. Which bank would you consider to be the best to add at this time for a longtime core holding? I'm thinking of doing a quarter position at this time and build that position over time. Also I started a quarter position in ATD recently and I'm watching it at the moment. Would you consider ATD to be fairly safe at these levels and an attractive stock to increase that position at the current price or wait to see if it's still in the bottoming process. Thank you as always for your expert advice!

Q: Hi Peter, I would like to get your opinion regarding a TFSA income portfolio with a bit of growth coming from Lumine. Can you give me your thoughts on dividend safety and dividend growth of the following. The objective is to use income in retirement and have a bit of growth. Dividends have been targeted at 4-5% as an average.
thank you in advance

Q: Hit "enter" to fast on my last question. Looking for some ideas with the understanding you can't offer direct recommendations. I have 40 K to add to my non-reg account. I have full positions in all the pipelines, OLY, GWO, BNS, CU, NPI, BIR, PEY, TPZ, CNQ, PRL and BMO. I have no need for any income for at least five years, not opposed to going overweight if necessary, have lots of higher yielders so would perhaps benefit from some choices with capital gain and dividend growth potential versus just high yield.

Q: As a longtime holder of BNS representing 8% of my cash account (4 % total accounts ) with banks representing 30 % of total portfolios, I am getting impatient waiting for the “ new “ President to make his mark. With TFII suffering from tariff malaise and WSP dropping because of a sale of shares by the Caisse , I see this as an opportunity to get into these 2 growthier stocks. I can live with the resulting drop in dividend income. I would have a loss on BNS.

Would you make the trade or hold on to BNS ?
Thanks. Derek

Q: Has there been any indication as to when BNS May next increase their dividend? I believe they did not increase it in 2024. Your best guess on such an increase?

Q: Hello 5i,

Thanks for the detailed and quality answers during these "interesting" times. I know predictions are pretty much "off the table", but ... I wonder if you could ponder the chance over the next few years of a dividend cut at the Banks. (1 = impossible, 10 = possible if things get really bad).
Knowing that such an action would be a very tuff call for the banks to make. All Canadian banks in general, but specifically TD and BNS (which are some of my TSFA holdings and used to generate retirement dividend revenue.

Q: Hi Chris, With today's blood bath, please advise if you think of screaming buy high conviction stocks for growth and dividend. If possible price range too. Thanks

Q: Hi 5i Team,

You have in the past been very positive of BNS. I have held it for dividends (dollar cost averaging) and long term growth. It is also "Canadian". It has fallen in price since late last year, especially compared with TD. I would be interested in your opinion going forward and if you would be OK with adding to my position (new $$$). 3 to 5 year horizon.

Q: I have lots of interest income and I know, although the money is 100% safe, I am paying top tax dollar. Do you have safe dividend alternatives to suggest??

Q: Perhaps am looking for unicorns. I have some money to deploy and I am looking for companies that have the balance sheet to ride out the current situation whether it lasts another two months or >12 months. My basic criteria were those potentially undervalued, dividend over 3%, div growth of at least 5% and a decent payout ratio. Any suggestions appreciated, thanks for your help.

Q: Hi Gang,

If you had 40K CAD to invest in an unregistered account for a short 2 yr old.. given the environment in which we are in....Where would you invest? Sector is irrelevant - CAD stock is a must (I can't stomach the hit on conversion) UNLESS there is a CDR you would recommend although I know you prefer the real deal. Can be one or multiple. Goal is to maximize growth while preserving capital. Thank you!

Q: 18% loss on paper with already .Would you rate this stock as a "sell,buy,or hold" ? please name 3 probably safer cdn dividend stocks, your feedbacks are always very appreciated, JY

Q: I am an 80 year old income investor with some growth. I have $20,000 to employ. The above is a list of my losers out of 50 winners in a portfolio of mostly the Income Portfolio plus 15 yield maximizer ETF's like UMAX. Should I:
1. wait for your monthly advice before acting
2. distribute evenly accross the losers
3. add to the winners
Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Please take as many credits as needed.
Thank you

Q: I believe the current market downturn provides opportunity. I would like your insight into the following two questions; along the lines of "be greedy when others are fearful".

First, recognizing a 2-3 year hold is very, very short term thinking, what are 3 companies with dividend bearing stock that you feel would be in the top 10% of performers as the market recovers.

Second, what 3 companies do you feel provide the biggest stock price recovery and growth opportunity for a 5+ year hold.

Thanks as always,

Dave

Q: Can you please describe how you approach "swaps" in a portfolio? By that I mean swapping out one company for a very similar company in the same industry. You did this somewhat recently in removing Sun Life from the BE portfolio for Intact. (In that case I recall it was due to a better growth profile.)

My general sense is you have liked CNQ better than SU for a while now, for example. And TD better than BNS. Feel free to correct if this is not how you see it.

Appreciate there is a benefit to a certain amount of stability in the portfolio, so you won't bouncing stocks out every time the wind changes. But I'd interested in your thoughts on how you think of this aspect of portfolio construction. For example, in what circumstances might precipitate a swap in these or other cases? When would you hold still even if you like an alternative stock slightly better?

Thanks very much.

Q: Hello,

I hold BNS:CA for dividends. It has been dropping in price recently and I am looking to add to my position. I seem to remember it is a long term favourite within the bank stocks. Given the current Canadian and global "uneasieness", would your opinion change or would shift to TD:CA or XXX:CA (a bank) be in order. I have read the recent Q/A re: BNS:CA in the database,

Q: I hold these large Canadian Companies.. I realize there will be continued volatility in the market but given that these companies have pulled back, some significantly, what order would you buy these names? Are there any you would not buy?

Please deduct appropriately…

Thank you
Tim

Q: With the recent sale of some of it’s South American assets, what percentage of it’s revenue/market cap would be coming from its non North American positions?