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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: In our investment accounts, reg and non-reg combined, we have: PSLV @ 3.5%, PHYS @ 3.5%, BCE @ 9.72%, BNS @ 6.6%, KEY @ 3.5% VSC @ 5.7% and ENB @ 6.6%. I have a significant cash balance which is available for the right opportunity. Thus far nothing jumps out as “buy me now”.
We have smaller allocations [2% to 3%] to FTS, MFC, ALA, KEY, SU each and a number at less than 2%.
Given we are retired I’m wondering about increasing some of these allocations on any market general pullback? I usually focus on liquidity and free cash flow as two of my selection criteria as well as comments you make to questions asked of 5i.
Thanks for an advice you can provide.
Read Answer Asked by Ronald on December 22, 2020
Q: Retired, dividend-income investor, who normally employs a buy-and-hold strategy. I have long term core positions of mostly conservative equities (ETFs = CDZ, XIT, ZLB, ZWC, ZRE, LIFE; Stocks = AD, AQN, BCE, CSH, FTS, MFC, NTR, NWC, PBH, PLC, RY, TRP, WSP) and fixed income of annuities, Fisgard and Gov't-Private pensions. I believe my portfolio is set up fairly conservatively.

I have cash for another position in my Cash Account. I have been reading several 5iR questions lately about various themes for 2021 (Recovery Trade, Swap from Growth to Value, Emerging Market improvements, Take-Over Candidates, etc.). While I'm not even sure if this is possible, I'd like to ask you to screen for as many of them as possible (all thrown into one big ball) to create a half dozen candidates for me to do more research on. I'm looking for a starting point. I'm not even sure where to start, hence the request.

I'm looking for a Canadian (preferably) or USA company, potentially a take-out target, benefitting from the recovery of the economy. I lean towards the Value spectrum, as I inherently find it difficult to buy a stock that has already had a good run. If a dividend could be thrown in, that would be a bonus. Market cap and sector do not matter.

This is sort of a "kitchen sink" kind of question. If that results in zero candidates, then please use your discretion and drop various filters. As you can tell by my current holdings, they are for the most part, blue-chip companies. If we could identify something like an Enercare (that was taken out by Brookfield), that would be a homerun.....happy to hold it but ecstatic to have it taken out. But Enercare is just an example.

Please rank them from best candidate to least...maybe 3 Canadian and 3 USA companies or all 6 from Canada if possible.

If you can run this exercise, then I'll do some further research on your list. I know this is a crazy request...thanks in advance. Take as many credits as you need to throw some brain power at this....I'll never use all of the credits I currently have.

Much appreciated...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on December 19, 2020
Q: Hi Folks,
I currently have the above companies in my Non-Registered account. I am looking to add some money - can you tell me what company you would add to OR can you recommend another that I can take a look at. Appreciate your comments.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by JOHN on December 18, 2020
Q: hello 5i:
You were recently asked a question about which stock would be your first purchase if you were a fund manager and you chose CRWD. A different type of question: you are now the fund manager of a Canadian Income fund: what would be your first purchase? If the answer is different, what would be your first purchase for a stock that would act more like a GIC, but with a better yield?
Paul L
Read Answer Asked by Paul on December 15, 2020
Q: I am looking at reducing the number of holdings that I currently have. Please rate the sell order you would have for the above companies
Read Answer Asked by James on December 14, 2020
Q: enbridge came out with annual investors day presentation today and just wondering if you guys listened to it. they increased the dividend by only 3% but to me that was being cautious for outlook next year cause who knows what will happen but happy in their decision to raise a bit at least. just wanted your thoughts and as a sidenote i get a
newsletter from a reputable writer in ontario here and he was saying in one of his latest reports that 80% of all trading on the canadian markets [tsx] comes from south of the border now. i did not know that and is this right?
thanks
Read Answer Asked by hans on December 08, 2020
Q: Good morning - I am overweight Utilities and underweight Energy. I have large positions in BEP and AQN, both of which have considerable capital gains as well as FTS which has plowed along steadily but not much gain. I am thinking of selling FTS and buying ENB or TRP. In an earlier question you suggested that you liked TRP over ENB if you had to choose. Do you like any other energy sector company better for a long term dividend loving old timer? I already have a chunk of SU and Canadian Natural Resources. On the other hand, I am noticing analysts starting to love FTS. Should I stay or should I go, and to which energy company? Thanks for helping me stop going in circles. Al
Read Answer Asked by alex on December 08, 2020
Q: If I were to sell one of these stocks to purchase something growthier, in what order might you suggest? Are any of these potential recovery plays?

Thanks.

Brad
Read Answer Asked by Bradley on December 07, 2020
Q: Hello I have accumulated about 27% of my cash portfolio in ENB and TRP combined due to DRIP and the fact that I have held the shares for about 20 years. The also make up about 10% of my total investments. If I sell, the tax will be like a kick in the pants and so I have never sold. The dividends have always been good too. But with Trudeau looking for areas to raise some cash, I feel capital gains might get worse. If I were to sell some of this, would you suggest some renewable energy issues such as AGN or BEPC to replace?
Read Answer Asked by Ken on December 07, 2020
Q: If you had to choose between Enbridge and TC Energy - to hold for the next 10 plus years, with the goals of preservation of capital (acknowledging market risk) and overall dividend return during that time period, which one would you choose?
Read Answer Asked by William on December 04, 2020
Q: My wife has the above shares in a RRIF and we have to sell a few shares of one of them to provide enough cash for the monthly payout.
They each have, or have had their benefits but I'd be interested to know which ones I should start with at the present.
I've been inclined to sell losers as opposed to winners in the past and I am wondering whether to ditch ENB which is in the red, but if there were to be turnaround with ENB, the bounce might mean that BCE, which is a slow lumbering beast might be a better choice. Your thoughts?
Read Answer Asked by John on December 03, 2020
Q: I realize these are two completely different companies with one dividend producer and one that could rebound significantly post Covid, If you were to choose one of the two for a two to three year return, which one would you pick.
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on November 30, 2020
Q: Have $12,000.00 to invest, current BMO Inv Line allocation is as follows:
Communication 8%
Cons Disc 21%
Cons Staples 13%
Energy 6%
Financials 32%
Health Care 11%
Info Tech 1%
Companies held AW, RBC, SLF, SBUX, WMT, BCE, PFZ,SIS, BB, ENB, TNY, HEXO,VTR,ParkLawn

Would appreciate your thoughts on how I could deploy the cash.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on November 30, 2020
Q: Please rank these stocks in terms of safety of dividends and please provide payout ratio for each. Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Chris on November 27, 2020
Q: Hi!
Stocks have increased a lot recently and most of the above are well off their lows with stocks like BEP and BIP almost reaching their high of the year. Would you feel comfortable entering new money into the above names for income/growth or wait for a pullback? I know timing the market is next to impossible but do you see this rising market as sustainable and if one waits will the opportunity to enter still at reasonable prices be missed? Also, what are your thoughts on RDVY. It was not listed as a choice on the drop down list.
Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Neil on November 24, 2020