Investment Q&A

Q: How would you define a "core holding" in a portfolio? The above listed companies I consider to be core holdings. Does this list broadly match your definition of what type of companies should make up core holdings in a portfolio? Are there names in that list that you would NOT consider to be "core holdings"?
Thank you for your work and please deduct as many credits as you see fit.

Q: Similarly to the question asked by David regarding your Income portfolio, for B-E portfolio, what would be your top 10 stocks in the order you would buy. Based on anticipated total return (dividends + stock price increase) for the next five years expectations. I would also appreciate if you could add to these stocks your return expectations and risk ratios on the scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being highest. Thanks.

Q: Besides CNR, NWC, TIH, and BN, I'm looking for 5 other quality Canadian companies that have at least somewhat of a moat, and are resistant to AI and other types of disruptions to their businesses. I'm looking for companies that are not technology, banks, pipelines, materials or the other Brookfields. Can you please help? By the way, if you do not agree with the four I've listed, you can also let me know.

Q: I have to trim some of my holdings. Please rank the following in order of which you would trim first. Positions are roughly equal and this is an account focused on long-term investments. Thanks

ARX
ATZ
BAM
BN
CNR
CVE
EMA
ENB
FTS
GLXY
L
LMN
MFC
NVDA
SHOP
TOI
TRI
PPL

Q: Please comment on the Earnings for $L.

Q: Good morning;

I am doing some rebalancing of my portfolio. In light of my views on world events over the next 3-5 years I am looking for the top 3 "Consumer Defensive" stocks. I believe there to be risk in the US dollar over this period so would appreciate your recommendations on 3 Canadian and 3 American consumer defensive stocks and what makes them a consideration.

As always, thanks for your insights!

Q: I have very limited to zero holdings in Consumer Defensive and Cyclical. Could you explain the difference between Defensive and Cyclical and recommend how best to invest, either individual stocks or ETF.
Many thanks,
Ralph

Q: Can you provide an updated commentary, similar to your last answer from July 2024 ?
Has anything changed ?

Q: Is there any way to determine how "pure a play" L is as a consumer defensive vs MRU? What I am trying to get at is that there are a lot of consumer discretionary type items sold at Shoppers (probably the majority of the revenue?). Even Loblaw stores sell clothes. Metro seems to me more a defensive name in terms of groceries. Are there any publicly disclosed facts to prove or disprove this thesis? Thanks as always for your thoughts.

Q: What are your top Canadian picks in:
Healthcare
Consumer goods and services?
Much appreciated. ram

Q: Which do you think might have a better return over next 2 to 3 years and why. Suggested entry point? Thanx.

Q: Regarding your recent portfolio changes:

- what is the best metric for determining whether or not Tantalus Systems is good value at current levels ?

- I was surprised by the AI disruption note in your commentary for CGI. I thought they were to benefit from AI. Maybe I misunderstood (?)

- By trimming NTR and adding L in the balanced portfolio, are you suggesting there is more upside with L ?

Q: Hi,
Could you illustrate to us all what type of companies/stocks and/or sectors historically have performed the best ( or least worst ) over periods of recession/depression/stagflation and war times? And further, can you provide your top 5-10 CDN stocks that you think would do best in these situations, with at least half of them dividend payers please, if possible. Potential ETF and options strategies would be appreciated as well. Take as many points as you see fit.
cheers and thanks, Chris

Q: ATD has not really done much for some time now. What stock would you recommend to replace it at this time.

Q: Can you tell what the dividend and percentage is please

Q: Is Loblaw a good buy today

Q: Good morning,

Can I get your opinion on Loblaw after the split. I was looking at buying for my RIFF.

Thanks

Carl

Q: Hello, I’m looking to add consumer staples to my portfolio. That being said, after Metro’s recent decline post earnings would you consider the current price an attractive entry point? At current prices, do you have a preference between Metro or Loblaw. I plan on holding both in a non registered account where I prioritize yield, dividend safety and dividend growth. I’m leaning toward buying both but taking a bigger position in Metro due to the recent price drop and higher yield. Thanks.

Q: Hi Peter and the 5i Team,

John Heinzl on June 20 rated EMP.A as a “star” in his Stars and Dogs column in the Globe & Mail. We recently purchased a smallish amount in Empire EMP.A to round out our Consumer Defensive holdings which include COST, DOL, XST, and L.

As far as Metro MRU is concerned, it’s held in XST which also contains some of the other smaller firms in the sector.

Do you believe that the troubled takeover of Safeway by Empire several years ago is now a ‘thing of the past’, making Empire a reasonable investment, given its successful takeover of Farm Boy as well as its 51% share of Longos? Both Farm Boy and Longos are quite busy in our Oakville location.

Thanks as always for your insight. Happy Canada Day to all at 5i as well as my fellow 5i members!

Q: Hi Peter and team,

Portfolio Analytics indicates a need to increase our Consumer Defensive sector holdings. Across our combined accounts for this sector, we also hold COST and DOL, as well as two ETFs (ZLB with 19% representation, and XST with 71.5% representation in this sector.)

I am considering adding roughly equal amounts of L and JWEL to achieve the goal, and realize that L is much larger than JWEL, as well as being more defensive. But I do note that JWEL appears to have greater momentum presently and has a higher dividend as well.

PA classifies our portfolio as ‘Risk Managed Growth’, and L and JWEL would go into an 82-year-old’s RRIF.

Would you endorse such a plan? I’d also change the 50/50 allocation if you suggest this.

As always, thanks for your assistance.