Investment Q&A

Q: With interest rates moving lower why do you still remain so positive on SLF? Why is the stock superior to GWO?

Q: Hi,

I am looking to reduce my exposure to financials across my family's portfolio, from 23% to 13%. Sunlife (3.03%), Royal Bank (3.41%) and TD Bank (5.55%) comprise our most significant holdings, all of which we have held for many years. I am looking to reduce and reallocate one of those positions as part of the overall reduction. Which in your judgement would be the best candidate to let go?

Finally, and I apologize if this question has been asked and answered before: is there any drill-down facility planned in the 5i Portfolio Analysis features that would list all holdings in a particular asset class, geographic sector, and/or industry? Or does the facility exist and I am missing it? For example, it would be helpful to have the portfolio analytics tool to be able to list the holdings that it is including in its calculation of the portfolio “financials” weighting.

Thanks
Derek

Q: Putting aside sector allocation considerations, which of Telus or Sunlife is likely to have the best total return over the next 5 years in a RRSP? Thank e.

Q: I hold all of the above in roughly equal weight in the income portion of my portfolio. The first three are at roughly breakeven, the latter five are up, two of them over 20%, as economic conditions have weakened. I am wondering why I don't simplify life by selling them all and buying the PDC ETF which provides greater diversification and has a dividend yield of 4.59%. I realize that 25% of PDC is in energy but mostly safer pipelines. Would this be a good move or am I better off to keep what I have?

Q: Hi,

Quick thoughts on these companies. I'm doing some clean up and these positions are under 1% in my portfolio. Which ones would you continue to hold, add to or just sell? Can you please rank. I have a diversified portfolio. Thanks!

Q: I thought SLF's earnings were solid, yet the stock is taking a hit this morning. Do you have any insights? Thanks.

Q: I am building a resp with a 10 year time span. I want to hold an insurance company instead of bank as the financial component .
Which do you prefer , or would you suggest another instead.
Thanks

Q: I would have thought an impending rate cut would be a headwind for Sun Life and other insurance companies, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Is the market just ignoring this until it actually happens?

Q: Hi,
Is Manulife starting to get more attractive than SLF due to its cheap valuation? How do they compare overall? I have exposure to SLF, would you recommend a small position in MFC? Thanks and Happy Canada Day weekend!
Shyam

Q: I have positions in both of these insurance companies. With the recent discussions about a national pharmacare program, could you tell me what level of financial impact would be felt by these two companies. Should I be looking to divest over the next year during an upswing in prices. I am retired and am relying on at the very least at maintaining the dividend payout and preferring an increasing dividend payment. Thanks

Q: Hi 5i team, how does lower interest rate affect insurance companies performance?

Q: I have some extra cash to add to the balanced portfolio. Can you select 3 of these stocks that present the best purchase opportunities at the moment for a long-term hold?

Q: Good Afternoon,

I am looking at raising some cash. Of the above, which 3 would be your sell preference, in order of 1st, 2nd & 3rd.


Thank you.

Q: Hello 5i Team
Of the three major life insurance companies in Canada (GWO, SLF, MFC) which is the best company to invest for a steady growing dividend stream.
Are there other Canadian life insurance companies that I should look at?
Notwithstanding the tax advantage of Canadian Dividends, should I be looking at US life insurance companies?
Thanks in advance for the excellent service.

Q: I have decided to only keep a few stocks and follow the Growth ETF Portfolio. Of the 10 stocks I have mentioned above 9 are listed in your BE Portfolio with the exception SHOP. All have done very well for me SHOP up 568%, CCL,B up 180% ,SIS up 159%,MG up 112% and the rest all up between 11 and 42%.So my question is do I keep them all? Sell some ? Any suggestions appreciated.Paul

Q: Hi Peter/Ryan
I am buy & hold investor. With quarterly results out for couple of mentioned companies, do you think any of these stocks don't fit in that category anymore irrespective of sector or there are better ones ?

Thanks

Q: Please comment on earnings, and if you would add to a position in any of the three?

Thanks

Q: Thank you for for answer yesterday about setting up my parent's investments. To summarize, they are very conservative, above 80 years old, and looking for safety and income.

I would now like to ask you about the distribution of the equity component of the investments (composing only 17% of the total, the rest being in bonds, preferred, and GICs). Those below are all in equal weight. What do you thing?

BEP.UN, BCE, BNS, CM, CU, ENB, TRP
XHC for healthcare exposure
IWO for US growth
VGG for US exposure
XEF (in a half position) for international exposure
VEE (in a half position) for emerging market exposure

Could you please suggest some more to round things out? I need another 5 or 6 stocks.


Also, do you have any objection to using ZAG and HYGH as bond substitutes for their conservative portfolio? I am buying individual preferred shares for that component.

Thank you once again,

Fed

Q: Knowing Sapiens of 5i - 2 questions - do you think that over the next year some increase in exposure to emerging markets is appropriate and would you use VEE or XEC if so and IEMG for US dollar exposure or another US ETF - second might a reduction of exposure to Cdn banks seem reasonable over the next year (ie sell some TD and maybe some BNS) and buy some SLF or another financial Cdn equity for some greater torque - in other words do you suspect the banks may stagnate a bit over the next year and become income only to some extent - best guess please - appreciate your instincts - Ken of Yonge and Eg

Q: The one-year returns of Canadian life insurance companies over the last 52 weeks have been rather unexciting, but over the last quarter they have suddenly blossomed. What has caused this revival, and can we safely invest in them for the next two to three years? Thank you. Walter