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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: I am investing the 52000 plus whatever the amount is for 2018 in my wife's TFSA. With a 10-15 year time-frame might I be considering a couple of quality ETF's or would you advise the purchase of 5 or 6 quality stocks? What might you suggest to consider? She does like the Dollarama idea which you recently recommended. Also would you recommend holding off until the new year to get the ball rolling or invest now? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on December 19, 2017
Q: Can you recommend 5 stocks which have high growth potential, but currently undervalued or not over-valued for 3 - 5 years hold ? These stocks can be in any sector and can be Canadian or US .
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Lai Kuen on December 08, 2017
Q: Hello Peter,
I hold a balanced total portfolio across my TFSA, RRSP and non-registered accounts. I keep my highest dividend payers in my non-registered and currently have them on DRIPs. Are there any of theese that you don't think should be on DRIP because they are too risky?

ALA, KWH.UN, FTS, BNS, SLF, GS, NWH.UN, ECI, EIF, BCE
Read Answer Asked by Pamela on December 07, 2017
Q: WE HOLD THE ABOVE STOCKS IN OUR CHILDS RESP AND HAVE A FEW THOUSAND TO ADD, WE WONDER SHOULD WE ADD TO ONE OF THE ABOVE OR ADD AN ADDITIONAL STOCK. SHE HOLDS ABOUT 10% OF EACH
Read Answer Asked by Susan and Philip on December 04, 2017
Q: On Nov 28,BNS reported EPS of $1.65 vs $1.66 expected(e) plus offer to buy BBVA for $2.2b.For comparison purposes,CM(2.81 vs 2.59e),TD(1.36 vs 1.39e),RY(1.92 vs 1.87e) & NA(1.40 vs 1.38e).BMO reports on Dec 5.Reportedly,these banks are spending heavily on technology,& at the same time cutting costs.Heard through the grapevine that CM is revamping its system in order to increase both top & bottom line. Please comment on aforementioned offer by BNS.Is BNS still your top pick of the Canadian banks?Thanks for u usual great services & views.
Read Answer Asked by Peter on December 04, 2017
Q: Hi 5i,
We (senior investors and drawing from portfolios) have $173,000 in 2 TFSA accounts. We have $32,000 cash available in these accounts. Accounts currently hold AC, KXS, NFI, PHO, SIS, SHOP, and fixed income XBB and XHY. What would you suggest I look at to add to this mix at this time for long term holds. No cash is drawn from either TFSA .
Best Regards,
Ted
Read Answer Asked by Ted on November 30, 2017
Q: I am trying to decide which of these financial companies to invest in. Which has the best growth outlook for the next one to two years? Or would recommend another company.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on November 30, 2017
Q: Two questions: I’ve recently intiated a half position in GSY and hold full positions in TD and BNS. I’m wondering what your take is on the implications for these companies as the new rules for mortgages takes effect Jan 1. Would it be prudent to scale back my bank holdings somewhat and increase my position in alternative lenders? Would you recommend a full position in GSY at this point as some borrowers may have to make a move away from the big banks? I accept GSY is riskier and the government could impact the alternative lending space with regulations.
A second related question, Cannacord is forcasting an 8% decline in mortgage lending for 2018. Your take on the impact for TD and BNS please.
Read Answer Asked by Warren on November 27, 2017
Q: You recently answered another question in the following words.
you may be best served by a well-diversified conservative (or even balanced) portfolio. For your equity component (what ever allocation you decide) stay focused on large-cap dividend payers and weight defensive sectors generously.

If I want to stay with Canadian stocks only, please name your top 10 stocks that would fit this bill.

Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Curtis on November 23, 2017
Q: Dear Sirs,
I am looking for 5 companies(Canadian and US ) that you feel would weather a good sized market correction well. I understand that the US is not a primary focus but would appreciate any names you feel comfortable suggesting as part of a grouping of 5 to 10 names. As an aside , would you view a holding of Berkshire Hathaway as meeting the above criteria.

With thanks
Read Answer Asked by Brad on November 08, 2017
Q: Hello 5i,
Love the new website. you must have put a lot of work into it. Thank you very much for your efforts.
I have been concerned about what is often called the 'housing bubble" in Canada. I am certainly no expert but house prices to rent, to income, per capita gdp and just the general high degree of debt in our country.

Knowing that I am not an expert in this area I don't want to bet too heavily on this fear. So, I think I have found a solution and thought i would run it by you for your commentary.
I don't have a lot of real estate other than my own home. So I am not worried about that, I am going to live here anyway. But, it seems like the Canadian banks would be hit if there was a big drop. I don't know if you know of other industries which would be affected?
Now, I have about ten percent in fixed income and I think all of that is in US funds in a rrif. I thought I might shave off some of the banks and buy my fixed income in Canadian funds. Then I would invest all of my US funds in stocks.

The big problems with this plan, as I see it, are capital gains and especially hold ing my fixed income outside a registered account ( because this is where my banks are, from which I would be raising the money). Of course at todays rates the taxes on the fixed income outside the sheltered accounts wouldn't amount to that much anyway. I know that you speacilise in straight forward questions on stocks but I notice that you sometimes venture further afield and reply to questions of strategy. So, i hope I qualify for this latitude. There may be a few questions in here so take off the points necessary
thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on November 07, 2017
Q: I am a retired investor living on dividend income. I recently sold some assets and now have 15% of my portfolio in cash. I want to invest the cash across 5 stocks yielding minimum 3.5%. Can you recommend your top picks regardless of sector.
Read Answer Asked by Curtis on November 06, 2017