Investment Q&A

Q: I am a retired, conservative, dividend-income investor and receive a pension, CPP and annuities. I own AD, ALA, AQN, BNS, BCE, CJ, CGX, ECI, FTS, PBH, RY, TRP, WCP, WEF, WSP, XIT, ZLB, RBC Cdn Equity Inc, Sentry Cdn Income and Sentry REIT.

I am almost fully invested with roughly 5% cash to top up my holdings, mostly in the industrial and consumer sectors and maybe a little in the financial sector. I have filtered it down to 4 candidates: ABT, KBL, MG and SLF.

Question 1 = are there any "red flags" within my current holdings that I should consider selling?

Q 2 = are there other candidates, besides the 4 that I have selected, that I should consider buying, that would compliment my current holdings?

Q 3 = are there any liquidity issues (ABT, KBL)? I think I have selected ok candidates.

Q 4 = Depending on the candidate, should I wait for the tax-loss season to wind down?

I am, for the most part, a buy-and-hold investor.

Thanks for your help,
Steve

Q: Many analysts are now advising building up positions in the lifecos in anticipation of a Dec fed raise. Obviously, these names have performed well over the last month and this is somewhat built into the valuations. Fortunately, I had sizeable positions in PWF and MFC before the run. Trying to buy more of any on a pullback but this may not be possible. Would you advise adding to any of these three names at these levels?

Q: I purchased Sun Life for some exposure to a rising rate environment even though I don't expect rates to increase very much. My concern with Sun Life and other insurance companies is there exposure to Canadian real estate as part of their investments. I know that Sun Life has an active real estate division and they purchased a real estate company in 2015 as well. Do you think this is a risk in the event of a real estate downturn in Canada? Safer to play Fairfax which I understand has zero exposure to Canadian real estate, despite its higher valuation? Am I over thinking things here?

Thanks,
Jason

Q: Looking for financial sector allocation suggestions as replacement for HCG/mortgage sector. Already have positions in EFN/ECN/CXI/BNS/SLF...any suggestions? or okay with going to 20% on tech vs current 15% 35 years old, money is all in registered accounts, little debt, and no need for money in next 10-20 years

Q: Recently, there has been much in the news about improved Canada-China relations, and the Liberal government pursuing a free trade deal with China. As it appears that more business opportunities are on the horizon (e.g., SNC-Lavelin, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board), what Canadian ETFs or specific stocks I should be considering?

Q: Hello 5i,
I hold GWO with only about a one percent gain, so not much cap gains tax to pay, and was wondering, since I know you like SlF, whether you thought it worthwhile to sell GWO in order to buy SLf. i would like to have the cash too, (GWO is in a margin account). So i would also sell it for that reason.
thanks

Q: Would you recommend buying SLF now for a long term hold?
Also, do you know how much of the company's business is non-life insurance (general insurance)? I think long term climate change will result in more wild weather over the next decade so I am more interested in life insurance.

Thank you.

Q: Hello Guys,

How do you feel about these two insurance companies ? Currently, my position in insurance companies is strictly GWO. I am considering taking my loss in GWO, selling some GWO and purchasing SLF to better balance that sector.

Q: Can you explain the e recent weakness in SLF

Q: Hi 5i,
I am young and have time to hold stocks long term. I own some Canadian bank (bns) as well as some broad etfs (and other various non-financial stocks).

Is there value or reason to own a company like Sunlife or Manulife (or similar, please recommend if you know of something better). Or would it be better to own a second Canadian bank? Or would it be best to add the extra money to my BNS position?

Thanks

Q: Good Morning 5I team, I have been building a cash position and would like your opinion on these stocks/etf to add to a mostly buy and hold dividend generating portfolio.

Q: Can you provide an updated assessment on SunLife (SLF)given recent results? I am looking to invest new money in blue chip dividend payor for son's TFSA account and also considering telcom (BCE) as an alternative. Should I go with SLF for now given the recent run up in BCE stock price? Thanks again. John C

Q: Good Morning,

Your opinion on the quarter and your outlook? After it gets its due pummeling after the open today, would you be looking at a new entry point with recovery on the horizon, or would you stay clear for awhile?

Thanks,

Eric

Q: I intend to take some money out of a savings account and put it into 3 or 4 rock solid (what a concept) TSX stocks earning divis
in the 3 - 5% range and looking at a 2 - 3 yr horizon. Would really like to see a list of stocks (with ratings) that you think would meet my requirement. Thanks again.

Q: Thank you 5i for your excellent service!!!

I have divided up my portfolio into thirds.
One third is a diverse group of ETFs.
One third is cash and a group fluid group of stocks made up primarily from stocks you recommend. SJ, CCL, SIS, KXS... etc.
One third is made up of the seven stocks listed above. Do you have any concerns about any of these being a long term hold. I know Magna is cyclical but is that a concern?
Cheers,
Bryan

Q: Please advise me
Out of the three insurance co.s MF, SLF FFH which one is better to invest
for growth and dividend

Q: Can you correlate USD strength to Canadian life insurance companies . For clarity if USD gains strength do the life co's usually go lower?

Thanks

Q: Good morning,

I own GWO and IFC for an aggregate position of about 3.5% in my portfolio. What do you recommend as a guideline allocation for "insurance" in one's portfolio?
If I'm low at 3.5%, would you recommend I add to my existing holdings or initiate a position in Sun Life?

Thank you,
Robert

Q: I realize these two companies are very different, but both have had a nice share price reduction recently (well, nice if you're a potential buyer!). Straight-up question: Which would you choose for a better TOTAL return over a 5 - 10 year time frame?
And do you see a material difference in net risk between the two over such a time frame? Thanks!

Q: I currently own PWF and down 18% and it is in a non rrsp account.I can write this loss with a gain in another stock in which I am over weight and wondered if SLF or FSZ would be a better replacement for PWF? I own no other stock in the insurance sector but own BNS and TD for the financial sector.