Investment Q&A

Q: I'd like to get Peter's opinion on Ray Dalio's all weather portfolio. Has 5i ever thought of releasing a version of this type of portfolio or would you already consider the income portfolio to achieve a similar result?

Thanks!

Q: What are your thoughts with regards to holding First Asset 1-5 Year Laddered Gov't Strip Bond Index ETF (BXF) vs the Ishares Canadian Short term bond ETF (XSB) in a non registered account? Should a person sell XSB and replace it with BXF for a non registered account?

Q: What do you think of the company at these levels post div cut?
Would you consider the conv deb a better risk/reward than the common? thanks

Q: Is there any point in holding preferred in registered funds? If so, is Xpf a reasonable substitute for cpd for income

Q: Correct me if I am wrong. Your research and investment advice has leaned towards mid to small caps and generally a bit safe from the risk reward perspective. By that I mean that there is a far lower probability of making a loss as compared to making above market gains. I have done well with your advice and am wanting to clear room for buying some stocks from your next portfolio coming out end of the month. I am fully invested and therefore will need to raise cash by doing some selling. Although my holding pattern is 3-5 years, I would probably have to exit my oil and gas stocks with significant losses and also trim gains from other holdings. The rationale being, there would be a better opportunity with the newer portfolio recommendations.
I have been reading here that the new portfolio will be more aggressive and I take it, riskier as well. Could you please give me your thesis for constructing such a portfolio at this time? What do you see in the market that prompts you to suggest an aggressive approach? Thanks.

Q: With the E.U. implementing quantatative easing, I'm looking at european stocks, what do you think of this insurance company.

Q: This firm is in an interesting space from a demographic perspective. Their numbers seem solid. However, although apparently an o.k. firm, are they a good investment? I am otherwise 90% invested in blue chip, dividend paying equities. Thanks!

Q: Down over 4% today and fits in my portfolio for sector exposure pays 4.11 % dividend which i need to live on and business seems to be getting better after the one time write offs.
Can i please have your assesment in view of toadys reporting ?
Thanks for the quality of your no BS website!

Q: I do not understand the market reaction today to 2014 results.
Could you outline what is so disappointing to the market. I can see some organic growth. And their dividend in USD is getting better with a weak CAN.
Thanks.

Q: Hi Peter, Ryan, and 5i Team
Could you please share your opinion on future prospects for ESN. Do you think it could be an ok stock for bottom feeding?

Also, while being mostly invested in Model Portfolio and other 5i favourably regarded stocks; what Portfolio allocation percentage could reasonably be allocated to small cap (high risk, high reward) stocks as a group?

Thank you

Q: What do you think of their recent earnings and this company going forward.

Q: Hi Peter,
Can you give me your opinion on this company, would you consider buying a small position? thanks Clare

Q: Hi,
I was wondering if you can give your opinion on DRA.UN. It trades at a significant discount to NAV and don't really have any analyst coverage. It seems to be an interesting way to diversify from regular stocks and bonds.

Q: I'm in the same leaky boat as others with the unsecured 8.75% notes. Given that the initial purchase was about 1% of my total portfolio, would it make sense to hang onto the shares I will get in the restructured company and treat it as a speculative investment?

Q: Hi There

I'm down a similar amount on each of these - a little over 50%.
Combined, they currently comprise about 1.5% of my portfolio.

I also own almost double the percentage above in FRU and CPG which are doing fine.

I'm wondering whether to hang on for a possible company sale of one or all of the first three or whether to "combine" them - which one would be the best keeper? - or put the proceeds into CPG.

Thanks as always
David

Q: Hi Peter and Team,
What do you think about Sierra Wireless, it has dropped 25% from the high after last qtr report. What is a good entry point?
Thank you for your help.
Pui

Q: I know your preference is to buy the strength and momentum and I do have a lot of those 5i names, but the I can't help but look at some of the beaten up oil companies. Companies like LTS, LEG, LRE, etc. all have so much debt and Athabasca Oil has none. Production may go up 3 or 4 fold in the next 18 months, $300 million still coming their way, and their market was only $695 million this morning. For a speculative play, do you see more potential than most small caps.

Q: with new housing growth in the U.S. not that great, slow down in Asia. What makes Western Forest Products a preferred choice in the sector. Japan has been devaluing their currency and from what I understand wef is facing competition from other countries like Russia. With a bunch of negatives out there it may be a good time for a contrarian to buy the stock. Can you throw a bone that would likely be cause the fundamentals for the company to improve, other than the fact that it is cheap.

Q: Would you buy at these levels?? The looks very constructive.

Thank you

Q: Dear Peter:
As you folks suggested to some of the earlier queries, the energy stocks seem to be in the bottoming process. What are the three or five solid Canadian stocks in the energy sector that you would suggest for some one who is in his 60s! Or is it better to buy XEG and forget about the basket of stocks in this sector?