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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 the financial sector, which is more likely to cut a dividend, the big 5 banks or the insurance companies SLF, MFC, POW ?

I am assuming it is ok to count POW as an insurance company or should it be viewed separately all together.

Kindly rate the likelihood on a scale of 0 to 10 for banks versus insurance and any differences you might see amongst the insurance companies.

Zero being less likely to cut a dividend.

I am asking this as a dividend investor who doesn't like buying a company that cuts dividends.
Read Answer Asked by Ernest on May 06, 2020
Q: Hi gang, I am looking into buying $11,000 for my daughters TFSA Acct. Should I buy $5500. BMO & 5500. SLF. Or 11,000. Zwb.And zwu or could you suggest me otherwise. Lots of time 15-20years. Open to any thoughts. Thanks be safe.
Alnoor
Read Answer Asked by Alnoor on May 05, 2020
Q: I noted an earlier answer that preferred life companies over banks at the moment, for a new investment. I am currently overweight financials and dont want to leave the probable dividend stream. However, should I be thinking about divesting banks to a degree and buy life cos? If so, which banks to punt ( don't be shy, I have them all) and which life cos to buy? As always, appreciate your collective calm.
Read Answer Asked by alex on May 04, 2020
Q: Can you please provide me your top 6 Canadian financials that you would buy at this time. Please rank:
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Karim on April 23, 2020
Q: I hold 2 % weighting of this company and am a little nervous about the Covid effect going forward for IGM. I am down 30 % on it. What might be a better company, in any sector going forward to recover the 30 % ?
Read Answer Asked by darcy on April 22, 2020
Q: Hello 5i team,
I greatly enjoyed your report on Covid 19 and investment themes. I have a pretty good idea as to 10 to 20 names of stocks that could fit into those themes.
Could you name just 10; I'd be curious to see how close I am.
Thanks,
Antoine
Read Answer Asked by Antoine on April 20, 2020
Q: Thanks for your flash report. Much appreciated.
Without doing a full review, which of the above would risk being downgraded if you were to do a full review? Thanks. Your service is great!
Read Answer Asked by Marco on April 15, 2020
Q: Hello 5i Team,
Thank you for all your guidance throughout this type of market. I'm sure all the Canadians are greatly appreciating your impeccable work for us DIY investors.

If you have ~$20k of cash today and your goal is to appreciate this into a much larger amount not too long after coming out of the other side of this market (i.e. after a recession), which 10-15 Canadian equities would you go after with a good sector diversification?

Since I am younger and my nest egg is still small, I'm not too concerned or rely on dividends. I'd much rather have stocks whose valuations may appreciate greatly rather than going for the slow and steady dividend aristocrats and blue-chips.

I have been eyeing the large discounts on Canadian equities such as the following: AC, CAE, SLF, GSY, LSPD, PLC, GIL.
Read Answer Asked by Michael on April 14, 2020
Q: If I am enrolled in a drip, is the stock purchased at a discounted rate or the market price of a stock. I own the listed companies; are any of those are eligible for a discounted drip purchase price? or do you need to buy them directly from the company to qualify for the discount.
Read Answer Asked by Thomas on April 13, 2020
Q: POW has now fallen to a price giving a similar yield to ENB, around 8%. For a senior living on dividend income, which of the two has the safer dividend for a long term hold? You have tended to favour SLF in the insurance/financial space, so would you still recommend SLF over POW for dividend safety and growth, despite its lower yield? If you don't like any of these three stocks, what's your top Canadian pick for a senior looking for a decent safe yield, with some potential for long term growth?
Read Answer Asked by David on April 06, 2020
Q: The current volatility and fear in the market has lead me to believe there will be some companies that will unnecessarily be punished/caught in the crossfire and therefore offer a great risk/return
could you please list out companies in your mind that have decreased significantly unfairly and/or offer a compelling risk/return in the US or Canadian Markets
thank you
Read Answer Asked by cary on April 06, 2020
Q: I am aiming to have a portfolio with 2 solid companies in each of the 11 sectors. Do you feel SLF and X would be sufficient for allocation to the financial sector? Or would you suggest adding a bank (RY) to provide better diversification? Thanks in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Jonathan on March 31, 2020
Q: Hello 5i, if you had to choose 10 companies out of the USA or Canada for a 5 year hold what would you choose?

There is no need for additional comments, the money isn’t needed in 5 years that’s just a timeframe that should hopefully allow for success vs the virus and recovery economically and adapting to the changed world ( going cashless, online shopping, deliveries, remote work etc) Risk is not an issue and neither is sector diversification. thank you !
Read Answer Asked by Michael on March 27, 2020
Q: Assuming markets will tank again, which would you suggest be purchased for a long-term hold at that time: BAM.A, SLF or TRI? Retired investor looking for dividends with some growth.

Many thanks to the entire 5i team for your collective efforts to provide us with timely, thoughtful information and a much-needed balanced perspective during this most challenging of times.
Read Answer Asked by Maureen on March 26, 2020