Investment Q&A

Q: Why has MFC not held up as well as SLF in the current circumstances/

Q: Curiosity leads me to use a question credit- any idea what is behind the massive SLF volume today? Only twice before, in the last twenty years, has the stock seen something like this.

Q: Appreciate u 12 tips today. Too many for me to buy now.Has lots of the big 6 can.banks & Qst (similar to Xbc).Please give me best 5 to buy.Txs for u usual great services & views. FYI China moves to impose HK security law causing drops in Asian markets esp HK( down 4.84% now) as well as US futures(Dow now down 139 after earlier up some 108)

Q: Please rank the above in terms of return potential and risk. Feel free to exclude one if the comparison is too difficult. Thanks in advance!

Q: Can you please rank these stocks in terms of current valuations / market timing?
I am planning on purchasing 2 or 3 over the next few weeks and am wondering where to start.

Thanks.

Q: Hi, I am looking to invest a new half position in SLF or add to a half position in PBH. Would you favour one over the other today? I don’t mind risk, I favour growth, but am slightly light weight in financials.

Also, I currently hold VUN in my RRSP. After reading the ETF fund update, would you recommend switching to ZSP or ZUQ? I recognize the withholding tax advantage of the other two over VUN. Is that alone worth the switch?

Thank you.

Q: I am about to triple the size of my investment in the portfolio above and give equal weighting to all. Virtually all of this new money will be in non-registered accounts. In total, this self-directed portfolio will represent 20% of my holdings; I also have 40% in a growth-focused pension fund, and 40% in a mix of ETFs through a robo-advisor.
Do you have any suggested changes to the list of names? I am primarily focused on growth, with a 3-5 year horizon.
Do you recommend a different weighting e.g. heavier on some, lighter on others?
What are your thoughts regarding timing? I am tempted to put all of the new money in now, betting on the sustainability of the recent recovery. But I understand that a phased approach will reduce risk.
Thanks for your help.

Q: Hi 5i,
Thoughts on purchasing BAM.A and SLF at current prices, or wait for lower prices? Do you think their dividends are safe?
Thoughts on the Canadian oil sector with respect to SU and CNQ? While dividends cuts have happened and likely to continue, do you see long term value in purchasing at these levels and do you prefer one over the other? Worth the risk for a 5 year hold?
Thanks very much
Terry

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.

Q: Please comment on results of SLF.Txs for u usual great services & advicesa

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

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.

Q: Are the Lifeco's in general going to be hurt badly because of relatively high death claims due to Covid,
or is this possibility already priced in ?

Q: Which of these 2 companies do you consider to be the better investment on a long term basis. I am attacked to MFC's Asian business but you seem to recommend SLF frequently. I currently hold MFC but could switch to SLF or add SLF to portfolio.

Q: Can you please provide me your top 6 Canadian financials that you would buy at this time. Please rank:
Thank you

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 % ?

Q: Your preference has been for SLF over MFC - is that still the case. At $17 do you think MFC has a good entry point?

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

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!

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.