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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: What are your thoughts on utilities and Canadian telcos closer to the end of the interest rate cycle? Thinking of letting the insurance stocks I hold appreciate further in value and selling some to buy Canadian utilities and BCE and Telus since i own no shares in those three now and they will probably fall further. ???????
Read Answer Asked by STEVE on June 04, 2018
Q: Hello 5i

I read and consider your advice as very insightful. You often urge us - and demonstrate through your own model portfolios - that one should not overweight a company too much.

At present the stocks I have identified are all at or just over 7% of my total portfolio. To me, they are all “keepers” for the long haul. Still, they weigh heavily on my portfolio which is balanced with many other stocks sitting at around 5% weighting in my portfolio. Obviously I keep my holdings down to a manageable number and am not a trader.

Do I just ride the winners and be aware of the danger involved? Each of my mentioned stocks are up over 100% so I’ve got some space to “lose” money in a market downturn.

I do not need the money. Indeed, the capital gains on too many sales would put me in claw back territory.

Please deduct as many credits as you wish.

Best

Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on May 28, 2018
Q: My wife and I are in our 70's with RIFs mainly focused on income producing stocks.

Our annual withdrawals equate to approximately 10% of our investments, so currently, we expect to be able to live our lives out without running out of funds.

As part of my financial sector, I have a 3% position in PWF, which has been underwater for quite a while, but currently pays a 5.31% dividend. I know you tend to favour SLF, and I wonder if it is worth switching into SLF, even though it only pays a 3.44% dividend.

Your thoughts and comparisons between the two over the next five years please.
Read Answer Asked by John on May 28, 2018
Q: Hello I have a couple of different portfolios each with a different objective so assume balance and diversification over all. But if a person wanted to construct a concentrated portfolio of 5-7 stocks total to cover different sectors mid risk with a mix of growth and dividend payers what would be your top picks today? Banking, telco, energy, consumer discretionary, utilities. As always thanks for the great service.
Read Answer Asked by Kolbi on April 23, 2018
Q: I am building my porfolio following the BE porfolio. I have listed the stocks I currently do not own from the BE porfolio I have funds available to purchase 4 positions (or 8 half positions) in the stocks I have listed. Which four or eight would you recommend me adding?
SLF, CCL, WSP, CLS, PKI, GC, AEM, MG, ATD.B, PBH, GUD, TOY, AIF,
Read Answer Asked by Amber on April 23, 2018
Q: Hi 5i team,
From your 3 portfolios, which are the stocks that interlisted on US exchanges, and which stock pay their dividends in US$? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Willie on April 20, 2018
Q: I currently own in my RRSP the following stocks : GUD, KXS, SLF, SIS, AQN (1/2) and FTS (1/2). I have 6K$ that I would like to add to only two or three of those stocks to avoid too much trading costs.
I have a longterm timeframe (20years +) for my RRSP and am diversified across my other accounts.
I was thinking of KXS, SLF and SIS first, but utilities also look quite cheap to me these days.
What would be your selection? I'd rather not add a new position to avoid having to many...
Read Answer Asked by Julien on April 16, 2018
Q: I am heavy financials at about 20%, I should probably trim the herd....All but CHW will generate a large capital gain as I have held most for a long time. I hate to sell CHW as it pays a crazy div right now at almost 8%.

I am leaning towards holding all but taking the dividends and putting into other sectors (stock from the your balance portfolio following your balanced equity portfolio) and not adding any new financials to my holding.

Can you provide a compelling argument for selling 1 or 2 of the above for the sole purpose pf rebalancing out of financial. Or is my slow but steady approach with lower tax implications a reasonable compromise knowing I will be heavy financial for several years.
Read Answer Asked by Tom on April 12, 2018
Q: My weighting in the financial sector is 12% and I am wondering if it is time to increase it to 15%. I already own BNS,RY and SLF. I was wondering if ECN and FCR would be good choices to add to the mix or if you have any better suggestions.
Read Answer Asked by Terry on April 11, 2018
Q: I've been coasting along with Manulife for a little over a year and am thinking about bailing. Other than higher interest rates (which haven't helped so far), do you see any catalyst in the next year that should move the stock higher? What other financial would you replace it with if you were to sell (the only Canadian bank I currently own is TD for 2.6% of portfolio).

Thanks
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on April 06, 2018
Q: 11:56 AM 4/3/2018
I own RY, CM, BNS, and some TD, and they comprise nearly 20% of my income-oriented portfolio. It is often suggested that I should own shares in one or more insurance companies, but I think the big banks are already in the insurance business so I believe I am already am invested in the insurance sector.
Would you think I need to buy some SLF?
Could you please give me an estimate of what proportion is in insurance business in each of the big banks.
Thank you............. Paul K
Read Answer Asked by Paul on April 04, 2018
Q: In my TFSA currently have BCE, ENB, FTS, TRP, CNR, SLF, BNS and TD - Currently down about 5% in the portfolio. I'm looking to make a change to get some growth in lieu of dividends - what would you recommend keeping and buying.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by JOHN on April 03, 2018
Q: I am doing a bit of spring clean up on my portfolio. My question relates to insurance companies. I have a 3/4 position in Sun Life and 1/2 positions in Manulife and Power Financial. Manulife was purchased for its Asian exposure and Power Financial for its European exposure and its dividend. What insurer would you eliminate and is there a reason to keep more than one Canadian insurer?
Read Answer Asked by eric on April 03, 2018
Q: I would like to mix in a number of Canadian large caps into my TFSA that have moderate pe's , lower beta and on the growthy side. Would please give me 6-8 names to pick from. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Richard on April 02, 2018
Q: What are your 5 best picks for dividend growth stocks with an appropriate valuation?
Read Answer Asked by Kuldar on March 22, 2018
Q: Which stocks in your opinion are undervalue and buy able today
Read Answer Asked by Nizar on March 21, 2018