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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: You have referred to some stocks and ETFs as CORE. What percentage of portfolio would you recommend as core (relative to satellite holdings) and what would be the number of core stocks and ETFs for diversification. What core stocks and ETFs across all sectors would you recommend?.
Read Answer Asked by sam on October 22, 2020
Q: 7:18 AM 10/7/2020
I am having a lot of difficulty trying to calculate or find Compound Annual Growth Rates [CAGR] of share prices without [and with] dividends reinvested. Do you know opf a reliable source?
Sources tend to differ a lot perhaps because of not properly accounting for share price stock splits.
I would appreciate it if you could give me CAGRs without and with dividends reinvested for
CNR, CP, TIH, RBA, TRI, BAM.A, RY, CSU.
Thank you......... Paul K.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on October 07, 2020
Q: Dear 5i team:
Your software indicates our family’s investments are too Canadian-focused. However, I prefer our “home bias”, for three reasons:
(a) most of our assets are non-registered, and the dividend tax credit is especially favourable for Canadian source dividends in a province such as ours (Ontario);
(b) I like supporting the companies that I invest in (e.g., we buy Peller family wines, since we own their shares);
(c) but most important, many of the “Canadian” businesses we own are surprisingly international; among our top 20 equity holdings are:
Alimentation couche-tarde (Circle K is world-wide);
Brookfield Asset Management (globally focused company that invests wherever the opportunities are);
CGI Group (revenues are 84% outside Canada per 2019 annual report);
CP Rail (significant U.S. revenues);
Fortis (65% of earning are in U.S.);
Manulife (growing Asian revenues);
Restaurant Brands International (most of Burger King and Popeye’s restaurants are outside of Canada);
Shopify (not sure, but suspect international revenues are growing faster than Canadian revenues);
TC Energy (dropped “Canada” from its name to reflect its growing U.S. presence);
TD bank (substantial and growing U.S. presence);
Anyways, the above-listed 10 stocks represent about one-third of our overall equity holdings (in absolute $ terms), but I would not consider these companies as being “100% Canadian”. I wonder whether your software could be rejigged to reflect the relative percent earnings (or revenue) contributions, broken down per Canada, U.S., Europe, Asia, and so forth. I suspect our home “bias” is not nearly as substantial as it appears.
Ted
Read Answer Asked by Ted on July 21, 2020
Q: I'm looking to start a new position in one of the above. They are both trading very close to each other in valuation. CN is bigger with more reach so I was leaning that way but wanted your take. Why would you go with one over the other? This would be in my TFSA.

(I feel like I have enough spicy growth names in my TFSA and am looking for something I can let sit for 20 years and not think about.)

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on May 11, 2020
Q: Hi guys,

Wondering your thoughts on truck based shippers like tfi and ups as compared to railways? With a 5+ year time horizon, what has a likely higher rate of return overall and success probability with the economy ahead?
Thoughts on whether to invest now at all versus waiting 1 to 3 months for more earning to sink in?
Thanks
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on April 28, 2020
Q: I carry these stocks in my RIF account with different level of loss. They do not seems to respond to any positive move in the market. I am loosing patience. Should I sell.
What replacements would you recommend that could recover faster in this type of market.
I value as usual your opinion
Raouf
Read Answer Asked by Raoul on April 15, 2020
Q: After reading your special report and market update today, I'm curious if you would also be looking at CN or CP following lots of volatility for them. Would this be an opportunity? and would one of them look more attractive to you than the other?
Read Answer Asked by Jeff on March 10, 2020
Q: I have a substantial amount of CN shares. Would it be prudent to exchange my cn shares for cp rail shares. In my opinion, the Ceo of CNR (Ruest) has done a terrible job of managing CN Rail. The 6 month performance of CN is -3.5% while the market has been on a tear. While CP is up over 4.5% in the same time period. Not sure how much business CN has given up with the strike either.
Read Answer Asked by Thomas on November 26, 2019
Q: Hello 5I
My holdings include, with total portfolio weights::
ATD.B (4.65%); BYD.UN (5.65%); CP (3.65); CSU (3.50%); GSY (4.6%); WSP (4.20%); ZEM (4.5%)

I have concern about a possible recession and economic slow down, and I would like to structure the equities in my portfolio with a bit more of a conservative and defensive tilt.

I otherwise would want to keep these positions but do you see any of these 7 being less conservative and defensive? With my objective in mind, should any be reduced or eliminated?

thanks for your excellent service.
Read Answer Asked by Leonard on November 19, 2019
Q: Just a short comment on the rails, having been employed at one for my career. These two companies may see volume drop off, but they also have the ability to reduce capex and headcount. In an environment of less traffic, their operating ratio gets easier to reduce. In my mind, very defensive stocks to hold
Read Answer Asked by Kelly on October 25, 2019
Q: I have held CP for some time. After a period of strong increases, in the past few weeks it has pulled back by over 15%. CNR (which I do not own) also pulled back but not to the same degree. This surprised me as general economic conditions still seem fairly positive and I would have expected the rails to continue with strength. Do you see these companies returning to their positive path over the next 3-6 months? Thank you.

Read Answer Asked by Leonard on October 18, 2019
Q: hello 5i:
the railroads are beginning to look a little more interesting to me. While I still think we need at least another 5% taken from the price to become very interested, I wish to know which you'd pick today, knowing you go back and forth on them (you last chose CN in mid-August), and WHY you'd choose the one you do.
thanks
Paul L
Read Answer Asked by Paul on October 09, 2019
Q: Hello:
I am looking for a conservative, growth orientated, low dividend payout company that will give me capital gains. Dividends are a low priority. Any thoughts on CNR, CP or ATD or other companies that would satisfy my objective. Thanks in advance.
Jerry
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on September 17, 2019
Q: Hi Guys,

I need to top up 2 out of 3 of the above companies to 2.5%, which ones?

thanks,

Jim
Read Answer Asked by jim on July 11, 2019
Q: Would you please give me your 5 best ideas for momentum stocks in any sector other than tech or healthcare and say why you chose them. A big thank you for all you do for members.
Read Answer Asked by Elaine or Gerry on May 08, 2019