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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: First of all, thank you for your amazing work. Cannot express how helpful my 5i subscription has been. Life-changing in all honesty.

My positions in LSPD (17.3%) and GSY (12.7%) have gotten a little out of hand. I was fortunate to pick them up near their lows in April. I've already trimmed both a couple of times, but I am really struggling to sell more given the positive outlook 5i has of both for the future. I've seen similar questions asked about trimming and selling positions with phenomenal growth and seen your responses suggesting to trim positions to reasonable weightings. I thought I might have an easier time doing so if you suggested some positions to add to or some new ones viewed as favourably as LSPD and GSY.

I have the following companies in a TFSA and have included the weightings only of positions I think might warrant a second look. While I anticipate a comment about weightings needing to be personal what would YOU suggest as the highest weighting for LSPD and GSY? And, again, please suggest some positions to add to or new ones.

Feel free to take question credits as you see fit.

DOO (2.1%), ATZ (2%), AW.UN, BYD
ATD.B
BMO, BRK-B:US, GSY (12.7%)
WELL (4%), VEEV:US (1.3%)
CAE, DAL:US, AC (1%), XBC (3%)
LSPD (17.3%), KXS (7.6%), DSG (3%), CSU, PHO (1.1%), AMD:US, CRWD:US (2.4%), U:US (2.1%), NVDA:US (0.83%), TTD:US(1.2%)
ROKU:US (1.9%), TTWO:US (1.2%), PINS:US (1.5%)
AQN, BEP.UN
REAL

Thank you again
Read Answer Asked by Stefan on January 25, 2021
Q: I am looking to "trim the fat" from my TFSA, which currently holds 20 stocks: ATD, BCE, BMO, BNS, CCO, CM, ENB, FFH, PDYPF, INO.UN, LAS, NXE, NWC, NA, NTR, PEY, PZA, MJJ, TRP, WELL. Are there any positions that raise red flags with you? In addition, could you suggest 3 or 4 value picks suitable for a long-term hold (20 years plus)?
Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Sarah on January 14, 2021
Q: For my financial sector I currently hold ZEB and while the monthly dividends are nice on a timely basis, the MER is relatively high. So I am looking at breaking in down into 3 or 4 individual stocks. Would please rank the financial companies listed above for performance. Please include others I may have missed.


Thank you


Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on December 16, 2020
Q: good morning. with most of the banks reporting now for year end and most of the majors making a ton of money again this year can you see that dividends will be allowed to be raised again starting next year or do you see problems in the future.
i noticed bank of nova scotia did not raise at all this year and hoping that they can restart again next year.
Read Answer Asked by hans on December 04, 2020
Q: Purely in terms of dividend sustainability could you please rank TD, RY, BNS, NA, CM and BMO and briefly why? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Gary on October 26, 2020
Q: Dear 5i team,
NA, CM and RY have seen recovery to an encouraging extent.
BNS, TD and BMO much less so.

I do bear in mind that not all banks were/are uniformly exposed to risks precipitated by the virus; those that needed to increase reserves against losses have done so I believe. I’ve not sourced reports indicating any bank is not prudently shored up with loss provisions.

Would it be too soon to start a monthly purchase of BNS, TD, and/or BMO - small amounts, say $1k?
If it is too soon, what are you looking to hear, read about, or see happen that would tell you buying can begin?

Thank you so much!
Read Answer Asked by Hilary on October 05, 2020
Q: The 12 month low for bmo was $55.76 and for bns was $46.38 a difference of $9.38.
On aug 14 bmo closed at $78.03 and bns closed at $57.68 a difference of 20.35 in favour of bmo.
Do you think that a major reason for the weakness in bns is due to the coronaravirus in latin and South America and as it continues it to spread should I switch from bns into bmo or is it too late?
Read Answer Asked by Terry on August 18, 2020
Q: I have these shares in a tfsa. Do you see any sells in this list and can you please suggest a couple of additions? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Lois on August 10, 2020
Q: In a straight-up comparison of BMO (Bank of Montreal) versus RY (Royal Bank), for a long-term position (non-registered account), which one would you buy, and why? (I've owned BMO for >25 years, never owned Royal, but because of ongoing portfolio adjustments, I'm in a position where I want to own one of these two banks, for the long-term. Note: I already have long-standing positions in TD Bank and National Bank, in my Canadian portfolio, so another aspect to my question is which one better complements my existing Canadian bank holdings. In my situation, there are no particular tax implications for buying BMO vs RY.)
Read Answer Asked by Ted on July 30, 2020
Q: Firstly, thank you for your outstanding guidance.
The first 3 stocks haven’t bounced back yet and are still quite a bit down. My question is -would it be better to try and recover $ in the Growth stocks listed below the 3 or reinvest with A&W, BMO, PRU and wait it out for another year.
I have positions in the growth stocks that could be deeper in BNS, Telus, Enbridge, TCP, Kinaxis, Qualcomm. And if you suggest that the growth stocks make more sense to recoup money faster, could you rank these from strongest to weakest-(Potential for growth). Thank you.
Bruce
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on July 30, 2020
Q: HI Guys,
Have these stocks bottomed here &
Would you buy these 5 names right now and in what order would you put them in 1-best & 5-worst
AGF,CIS,ONEX,BMO,CWB

What financials would you be buying if you don’t like those?

Thanks again!
Nick
Read Answer Asked by Nick on July 23, 2020
Q: Hi 5i team,
I’ve recently sold some of my SHOP position in a taxable account (the share price has risen ~15-fold since purchase about 2-1/2 years ago, and even after this partial disposition, SHOP remains my biggest overall position—thank you for this excellent recommendation!). Now, I want to reduce the tax hit, and so I am planning to sell positions in BMO, BNS, and SU, with aim to rebuy after 31 days (to avoid superficial loss), as these 3 securities are core holdings in my portfolio. In general, when I do tax loss selling, I try to maintain an economic position in the types of companies I am selling, because I’m always anxious the shares will rise during the 30-day waiting period (indeed, frustrating increases in stock prices during the 30-day waiting period seem to happen quite often, at least in my experience). So, my question is: Can you recommend a security (or securities) to maintain economic exposure to BMO/BNS, as well as to SU, for the 30-day waiting period? (For perspective, I’m planning to sell ~$185,000 worth of BMO/BNS, as well as ~$72,000 worth of SU; when I rebuy BMO/BNS/SU, I would then sell the temporary holdings I bought to maintain the economic position.). Would you buy a Canadian bank ETF and Canadian oil sector ETF, to maintain these economic positions (and please recommend some appropriate securities), or rather other individual Canadian banks or individual oil companies (and please recommend some appropriate securities)? Also interested in your philosophical thoughts about how to handle the situation of tax loss selling, which arises every so often, especially now during pandemic, when there is wide variety of individual security performance (some big winners, but also some high-quality stocks that are—hopefully temporarily—depressed in price) as well as higher-than-usual volatility.
Ted
Read Answer Asked by Ted on July 14, 2020
Q: BMO has new issues with principal protection. If I understand, many will limit your upside in order to guarantee the downside. Some seem to not limit the upside. My grandchild will require funds in 7 years. Can you give me your opinion as to Bank of Montreal Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF Principal Protected Deposit Notes, Series 5
JHN2446 suitability. Is there a better “protected” alternative or is it all a case of you don’t get something for nothing. I’m looking at a safe place for $10,000 (Currently 20%).
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Bryan on June 22, 2020
Q: What is your best guess as to the likelihood of a dividend cut by any of the above listed companies? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Chris on June 11, 2020
Q: BNS is up AFTER they posted loss, increased reserve provisions etc., BUT it seems ALL the banks are up today even though news about their future is still pending!
Should we "read" that "birds of a feather" phenomenon is operating here and the market has decided to ignore the pending results of other bans and is into a full blown buy mode!
Do you think it is risky or reasonable response to the current situation and one can buy bank stocks now? I know your favorites are RY,BNS,TD.
Read Answer Asked by Savalai on May 27, 2020