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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: What do you advise about investing in banks given current market environment. What are the tipping points - pro and con? Which 2 or 3 banks [Canada or US} would you put on a watchlist?
Read Answer Asked by sam on March 12, 2020
Q: Are you aware of any research that provides detailed analysis regarding oil patch exposure of the big 5 banks?
Read Answer Asked by Tom on March 11, 2020
Q: What would be the top 3 Canadian banks have the best/quickest rebound potential ? thanks
Read Answer Asked by Marco on March 11, 2020
Q: Retired, conservative dividend-income investor with a "buy-and-hold & trim-add around a core position" strategy. At times like these, I take a fresh look at my holdings and ask two key questions. #1 = are there any of my equity holdings that have alarm bells going off? #2 = how safe are the dividends (knowing that no dividend is 100% secure)? The portfolio capital may rise or fall, but it is the continuation of the dividend that is more important.

For asset allocation purposes related to individual stocks (as opposed to sector allocations), I use the following:
5% targets = AQN, BCE, BNS, PBH, RY, TRP, WSP
4% targets = AD, AW, CSH, NWC
2% targets = LNF, MG, NTR
ETF targets = roughly 3-7%

Q#1 = are there any of these equities that you hear alarm bells?
Q#2 = are there any of these equities where you foresee dividend risk?
Q#3 = any thoughts on how I have my asset allocations set up (knowing it is a very personal decision?

Take a bunch of credits. Thanks for your help...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on March 06, 2020
Q: I currently own BNS, BAM and GSY in my Canadian equity portfolio for a total weight in the financial space of about 12%. I am wondering if you would currently favour a switch to SLF from BNS, especially if I could crystallize a taxable loss?

Also a comment about the questions on market timing that you have recently received. If you are reacting to volatile markets it may simply be that you are not as risk tolerant as you believe!
Read Answer Asked by Paul on March 06, 2020
Q: Thoughts on the CN banks? Low rate environment; Cdn economy hampered economically due to low oil and lacklustre mtg/productivity . How does this factor for growth in our banking oligopoly? I would think the 4-5% dividend yield is relatively safe but I cannot see where the stock price growth would come from other than wealth management divisions and perhaps trading which is somewhat risky. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Richard on March 06, 2020
Q: Top 5 picks for a Smith Maneuver portfolio of dividend paying stocks for someone in their late 30's?
Read Answer Asked by Jamie on March 06, 2020
Q: I know you really like BNS but with TD at a 52 weeks low, would you pick it over BNS for a long term holding. (Building a position for dividend income)

Also, can you explain me if there is an advantage to own 2 full positions of banks vs 1 of bank and 1 of SLF (knowing that its your top insurance company pick)
Read Answer Asked by Olivier on March 06, 2020
Q: Assuming we get a rate cut of 0.5% by Poloz tomorrow, or, over the next few months, how bad will that impact CIBC's NIM and can we estimate the hit on their earnings? Is one bank more exposed to NIM than others? Regional banks are not reacting well right now. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Matt on March 04, 2020
Q: Hi...just read your March 1 email....very timely. I have been evaluating some of my current equity holdings from the point of view of topping up some or all of them over time...to reach my asset allocation targets. I do a monthly review of all of my holdings using metrics like P/E, P/BV, P/CF, ROE, Beta, Analyst targets, charting vs 200 mda and higher highs-lows. Mid-Feb I raised roughly 5% cash (basically trimming oversized positions that also appeared to be stretched) and could direct it to the above list. I am a retired, dividend income investor.

The 4 BNN Market Call guests on Thursday-Friday indicated that legging in to this buying opportunity should be considered, as, in their opinion, the market is extremely oversold. In your past life as a Fund Manager, what metrics did you use to guide your process on whether to buy or sit on your hands? For example, "when the VIX is high, it is time to buy"...the VIX is now at 40.

If this is a fair question, could you rank the above 9 equities for topping up to existing positions? My process, for example, has identified LNF as one of the priorities.

Take as many credits as you think appropriate. Thanks...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on March 03, 2020
Q: Appears this is a good time to prune stocks for tax loss to then buy best in class. Would you pls. offer your best choices in various or obvious.
Read Answer Asked by Joseph on March 02, 2020
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