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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: Is the financial sector good value at these levels ?
I'm a little concerned investing new money in the banks as rising prices have brought valuations to pre-pandemic levels. Insurance companies not yet there, may be the better value.
Thank-you.
Read Answer Asked by Albert on January 18, 2021
Q: I am looking to "trim the fat" from my TFSA, which currently holds 20 stocks: ATD, BCE, BMO, BNS, CCO, CM, ENB, FFH, PDYPF, INO.UN, LAS, NXE, NWC, NA, NTR, PEY, PZA, MJJ, TRP, WELL. Are there any positions that raise red flags with you? In addition, could you suggest 3 or 4 value picks suitable for a long-term hold (20 years plus)?
Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Sarah on January 14, 2021
Q: For my financial sector I currently hold ZEB and while the monthly dividends are nice on a timely basis, the MER is relatively high. So I am looking at breaking in down into 3 or 4 individual stocks. Would please rank the financial companies listed above for performance. Please include others I may have missed.


Thank you


Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on December 16, 2020
Q: I invest in companies that have a track record of growing dividends. A chunk of my portfolio is invested in Canadian bank stocks which up to this year had a nice record of increasing dividends. In 2020 TD and RY did increase early in the year - but Covid brought a halt to increases from BMO and BNS. When do you think the banks will begin to think about increases - is 2021 too early and does OFSI (or whatever they are called) have a say and will they disallow.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Gary on November 26, 2020
Q: What are your thoughts about these companies, aiming for dividend growth and capital apreciation. Do you suggests any alternatives with similar strategy and sector?
Read Answer Asked by Clayton on October 29, 2020
Q: Purely in terms of dividend sustainability could you please rank TD, RY, BNS, NA, CM and BMO and briefly why? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Gary on October 26, 2020
Q: With regards to your response to Member Brian Oct 20, 2020. Which bank stock to buy? National maybe small and regional, but the growth of the bank has been far superior to the other Canadian banks.
Dating from Dec 31, 2015, National stock is up 65%, the nearest rival Royal is up 30% and BNS has grown .02%. Since March 23, 2020 National is up 75%. Far ahead of rivals. National pays 4.3% dividend and BNS is 6.5%. However which one would you prefer to own. Many seem to forget this company and I don't know why. Just my observation, love your site, and you've made me a ton since I joined. Thanks to your Team PS even XFN ranks third in returns
Read Answer Asked by David on October 20, 2020
Q: Dear 5i team,
NA, CM and RY have seen recovery to an encouraging extent.
BNS, TD and BMO much less so.

I do bear in mind that not all banks were/are uniformly exposed to risks precipitated by the virus; those that needed to increase reserves against losses have done so I believe. I’ve not sourced reports indicating any bank is not prudently shored up with loss provisions.

Would it be too soon to start a monthly purchase of BNS, TD, and/or BMO - small amounts, say $1k?
If it is too soon, what are you looking to hear, read about, or see happen that would tell you buying can begin?

Thank you so much!
Read Answer Asked by Hilary on October 05, 2020
Q: Hi group stocks appreciate your help picking your top 3 stocks in each of the following sectors - I am a medium to low risk investors and have a 50/50 Stock Mix in US and Cad
- Tech
- Consumer disc
-Staples
- Materials
- Energy
- Utilities
- Communication
-Financials
- Real estate
Please deduct credits at your discretion / Thanks for all your help navigating these difficult times it is much appreciated
Read Answer Asked by Terence on June 24, 2020
Q: Hello 5i team,
Thank you for your help today- what I’m hoping to get some perspective on is tactics one could do to grow a portfolio- what you’d think wise or stupid, please.
In TFSA, two holdings happen to be up: AQN by 35% and NPI by 21%. Everything else is in the minus by -30 to -35% due to the current situation as generally they’re ok businesses, like two banks, phone co, etc.
Tactically, would it be an idea to sell the two that are up, and buy a few which are quite down now, then in due course replace what was sold?
I was thinking of more banks like BNS or BMO, and PPL, CNQ,SU, and KEY.
The idea being that the gains over time would be more than the growth in price of the two being sold, thus netting an overalL growth in funds.

In RRSP, two are close to break even, just a couple hundred dollars each in the red, namely T and NA.
If sold, I was thinking of BIP, BPY, and maybe SU, CNQ, and BMO- fairly similar to the TFSA idea.

I like dividends, I know SU just reduced; I’ve not heard if these others have/plan to. I think I’m fine with a 3-5yr estimation of recovery period for these ‘down’ stocks, if you think that’s likely.

I’d appreciate your counsel on this, thanks very much!
Read Answer Asked by Hilary on May 13, 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: Hi,
Could you please comment on commercial impaired loan growth with respect to the Canadian banks prior to the Cov 19 crisis ? Have they increased their reserves appropriately ?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Dineth on April 27, 2020