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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: same sector tax-loss strategy...What am I missing here...with the assumption that the banks move more or less in tandem...

If I sell BNS stock at a $30K loss and use the funds to buy BMO as a "placeholder", won't I be in the same position either way? i.e. after a 10% gain I would either recover my losses as the BNS stock increases or I would grow tax-free gains as the BMO stock increases (up to $30K)...

Surely for this tax loss strategy it is best to just stick with the company I most believe in, yes?
Read Answer Asked by Brett on October 02, 2023
Q: We are dividend investors in our late 70’s. We derive most of our income from dividends. Recently we sold about 200,000. Worth of Enbridge and are looking to reinvest. We have short listed some companies above and would like your opinion on them. Also if you have any other suggestions we would welcome your ideas. We are looking for solid companies with a good dividend that also increase their dividends.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on October 02, 2023
Q: Hi 5i,
I've just started following EQB with an eye to getting in.
In the past week all 5 major banks are nicely up (even CM!) as is NA.
Conversely, EQB has had a sharp drop followed by a bit of a bounce, but is down overall.
I realize a week is not long and typically not a period of time from which to draw conclusions. However, the opposite direction of WQB's trajectory to other banks has me confused.
Can you explain why its trajectory over the past week would be so markedly different from other, bigger, names in the sector. Is it a sign of some fundamental weakness that isn't well publicized, is it just one of those short term things that defy explanation, is it due to a difference in its business model that is seen as a weakness, is it size related and is it typical for it to go in the opposite direction than most other names in the sector?
I'd sure like to have better insight into EQB, given its behaviour over the past brief while.
Thanks 5i,
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on September 18, 2023
Q: These are my wife's holdings in her non-registered account. Held these for very long time. EMP.A I bought for her maybe 5 years ago when down a lot. Sitting on a fair bit of cash. Thinking of adding to banks at some point (recession?) or adding BCE and EIF? T is small holding at 2000 shs. Comments/suggestions please. Oh, own ETF ZUE for quite a while also. RRSP has other banks +++
Read Answer Asked by James on August 29, 2023
Q: Hi Peter and team:
Thank you for the advice you have offered all these time, giving us readers a sense of direction.
I'm a retiree and looking for a balance of income and growth, and currently holding the above in the financial sector and need to trim down as per the Portfolio tracking service suggest. Could u rank your preference from the Income and growth , from Most Prefer (5) to the least (1). Feel free to add names not in the list above.
Deduct as many points as you see fit. Thank you as always
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by DAVID on August 21, 2023
Q: I have owned these stocks for over 13 yrs incl. T, JNJ & IGM - added quite a while ago. The last 4 added last 2 years. Sitting on cash build up wondering what to do - ie. buy? Add to; ENB, GRT.UN, , GSY or ? I am 74 YY. I own in my RIF: ALA, FTS, RNW, RY, SLF, TD, RYNWH.UN and ETF ZHY. My Non- Registered account portfolio- first listed stocks represent, by far the largest portion of my investments.
Read Answer Asked by James on August 09, 2023
Q: I sold TRP today at basically a break even price because I do not want to wait out the final outcome of their recent split up plan and to see how their debt is allocated etc. I was in the stock for long term income given I am recently retired. It will be hard to find an equivalent yield, given capital preservation is a prime objective along with the income. TRP was held in a non registered account for tax advantaged dividend income.

With long term capital preservation a goal along with income generation, and that I hold all of the above listed companies already in appropriate proportions and don't wish to add to them or their sectors (no more utilities, financials or telecoms) what other Canadian blue chip dividend companies would you consider for long term hold with decent dividends for income? I also already have enough allocated to bonds, GIC's and cash accounts so I'm not considering these assets either.

Manageable debt levels and ability to maintain dividend growth, hopefully at the rate of inflation or higher is the main criteria I would hope to have in replacing TRP for the long haul. Thank you for your valued insight in giving me suggestions to look at.
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on August 03, 2023
Q: Hello Peter & Team: I am trying to trim down my financial holdings as I am spreading too thin, I'm currently retired and would like income with growth potential with 3 -5 years holdings time frame . Which of the above is most prefer to least prefer, and why.
Thank you for your great service , as always.
Read Answer Asked by DAVID on June 21, 2023
Q: I am looking to add exposure to Canadian Banks. Given current pricing it seems like a good time to add exposure. Can you rank your favourite banks at this time. Do you have a preferred Bank ETF that could also provide good Canadain Banking exposure.

Thanks
Tim
Read Answer Asked by Timothy on June 05, 2023
Q: Do you recommend purchasing any of these banks right now, especially with those with foreign investments?
Read Answer Asked by Ron on May 29, 2023
Q: Good Afternoon,
I have owned Killam for a while. There has been no appreciable growth or dividend increase. What is the likelihood of either happening. Would I be better off selling Killam and purchasing another stock? If so, what stock would you suggest that would offer some growth and a good dividend. There is no tax implications as I hold Killam in my TFSA.
Thanks in advance for your opinion.
|Jane
Read Answer Asked by Jane on May 07, 2023
Q: I am about a 1.5 years away from retirement. Across all my my registered portfolios I have all 5 major banks, pretty well in equal %. An independent financial advisor suggested cutting this back to 2 banks.

My question to you is can to rank these 5 banks in order of what you would consider selling?

Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Dino on May 02, 2023
Q: If I were to buy two bank stocks, which two are better. Thanks a lot.
Read Answer Asked by Lai Kuen on April 19, 2023
Q: I am an income investor and hold equal weighting in all 5 big banks. I’m looking at the quite larger than normal yield spread between RY and BMO and TD and am thinking of either halving or even fully selling my RY position to add to BMO and TD. Someday when the spreads go back to being much closer, I would likely repurchase RY. Do you see anything wrong with this logic? Would you prefer one of TD or BMO for such a move? Half or full position? I’ve held RY for a long time, thus my little bit of doubt!
Read Answer Asked by Mark on April 17, 2023
Q: I was wondering if you would indicate which US banks have been acquired by the above mentioned banks and how risky these acquisitions might be considering the differences in the banking regulations between the two countries.
Thank you very much. Any information you provide will be greatly appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by Mary Jean on April 13, 2023
Q: Hi Peter, Ryan, and Team

In your answers to other members, I’ve observed that National Bank isn’t one of your recommendation, and I’m wondering why.

Their 5 year CAGR is 9.4%. For the 3, 5, and 10 year periods, the beat their peers (BMO, CM, RY, BNS, and TD) by 6%, 6%, and 3% respectively.

Watching the negative news involving GSY, I’m considering switching it to NA. Since we’ve held GSY for some time, we’re still up quite substantially.

In our combined accounts, we also own TD, which we’ll keep.

I’d appreciate your thoughts on this proposed switch. Thanks in advance for your insight.

Read Answer Asked by Jerry on April 04, 2023
Q: Hi 5i, my question is on all financials impacted new taxes.

"Dividend tax change: Ottawa is planning to raise billions of dollars from banks and insurers through a change in tax rules on dividends that financial institutions receive from Canadian companies."

Can you put a guess on how this will impact investors?

Thx

Read Answer Asked by Christopher on March 30, 2023
Q: Hello,
I already have a large position in TD and a small position in BMO, and would like to add to one or two more banks that won't keep me awake at night. Its quite clear that banks have trillion of dollars in loans . Last report that I read $4.12 trillion. And $1.5T of loans come due in Canada by January 2024. So even if 2% default, we have $30B in losses. And that's just Canada. Therefore, of the Canadian banks, which ones have the least exposure to the US. ? Today which ones are your recommendations?
Finally, in terms of deposit insurance, is it $100K per bank account or per individual taxpayer.? Brokerage account like RBC - Direct investing, the $1M is it for the total portfolio or just the cash? Again, per account or per investor?

Thank you
CR
Read Answer Asked by Carlo on March 28, 2023