skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: HI guys
I remember Ross Healy saying early in his career he covered forestry stocks as an analyst, and he commented that the time to buy these stocks is not when everything is rosy, but when there is blood in the streets in terms of of bad news and low building starts. In terms of valuation, and longer term opportunity and appreciation is there any reason to buy lumber companies now - like West Fraser - which I know you have liked in better times?

Much thanks

stuart
Read Answer Asked by Stuart on October 07, 2025
Q: Is lumber in the basic materials group?
Could you recommend one or two lumber stocks (Canadian or US) that might have the best growth potential going forward?
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Maryon on September 23, 2025
Q: Hello 5i,
There have been many negative questions regarding Tariffs and other non-Canadian officials. Wondering if it makes sense to look to those Canadian companies that would benefit from the upcoming April 28, 2025 event results.
Following is my list of questions for you – please feel free to take as many credits as you require since I typically don’t use many.
• The clear winner looks to be BAM/BN/BIP/BEP with the massive housing & project build plans. Some housing build plans look to be well beyond anything the private sector has ever seen. Outside of investing in BAM/BN/BIP/BEP are there any other companies that will experience increased growth rates? Perhaps Canadian Only Lumber Companies, Steel, etc.… Being careful to ensure the industrial carbon tax doesn’t offset any building growth rates.
• Looks like major projects are going to be built to save the country from the tariffs. Assuming these are going to be non-conventional energy would the companies such as BAM/BN/BIP/BEP/WSP, benefit the most? Are there any other companies to start looking at? Perhaps carbon capture companies?
• I wonder if there are any areas of benefactors increasing/decreasing the amount of tax havens in Canada? There are a fair number of mid/small companies that could setup a beneficial tax structure and become more profitable. My experience with setting up offshore structures is that there are setup/dismantle/maintenance costs with Lawyers and Accountants but perhaps other benefactors are investable. Are there any publicly traded Accounting or Legal companies to start watching?
• With proposed additional spend to media companies are there any benefactors? Will BCE benefit from the overall plan? Are there companies worth looking at in the media sector?
• With the additional military spend are there any companies in Canada to invest in? I have a small position in MAL which could benefit from Canada built fighter jets. Is BBD.B a good one to look at?
• After reviewing the proposed firearm buyback pricing list, the overall program looks to be worth ~$2B in 2025 for Canadians. My question is could there be benefactors to this spend? Maybe ~$2B is not enough to stimulate the economy considering the current spending levels but it reminds me of a COVID-like spend bump. Assuming a large portion of the funds will be redistributed back into the economy.
• Health care seems to be getting an increased focus compounded with the buy Canada therefore are there any pure Canadian pharmaceutical/healthcare companies that will benefit? I have a SIS position that I could add to if they are going to be benefactors. Are there any companies that provide safe site vending machines or building structures?
Read Answer Asked by Dean on April 17, 2025
Q: Good morning - can you give us a sense as to what Cdn companies (say 10) that would be most adversely affected by a tariff war with the US? Many thanks as always.
Read Answer Asked by Doug on February 03, 2025
Q: My thoughts and prays are with the people of Los Angles. They are going to have to re build. Is there any forestry companies that could see a increase in sales. I presume it would be west coast forestry companies. US or Canadian compaines.
Read Answer Asked by Greg on January 15, 2025
Q: If Trump wins election and he follows through with his promised 20% tariff on imported goods, which Canadian industries would be most adversely affected?
Read Answer Asked by Mark on October 11, 2024
Q: Western forest Products (WEF) has really taken a pounding. It reports its second quarter results on July 31. west fraser already reported and the shares have been rising. I know they are different forestry companies but was the lift in share value because there is optimism in the forestry industry or was it specific to West Fraser. I was thinking of averaging down on my WEF holding just because the share price is so low. The market cap is only about 130 million and I believe that WEF still has little debt so my way of thinking is, "this can't go much lower!!" Surely all their 6 sawmills, industrial land, three manufacturing plants and all their timber rights have to be worth more than 130 million!!! Or am I looking at this all wrong?
Read Answer Asked by Paul on July 29, 2024
Q: Retired (25 years) investor, preservation of capital and income paramount. Can you please provide the following, ETF or equity suggestions for:
Basic Materials (hold 2% LIF), Communications Services (hold 4% BCE), Consumer Cyclical and Consumer Defensive (hold 0%), Healthcare (hold 1% HHL), Industrials (hold 0%), Technology (hold TXF 4%).

Thank you for considering my lengthy question for which I apologize.
Read Answer Asked by Gail on April 10, 2024
Q: Material Sector - I hold a full position in .LIN and starter positions in EXP CS FCX WFG AEM - all recommended by 5i. I prefer to have a full position in one of these for a long-term [3-5 years] hold. How would you evaluate them [or any other you prefer] and recommend your highest conviction.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by sam on February 21, 2024
Q: Portfolio Analytics indicates that across all accounts, we are underweight in the Basic Materials sector. The two stocks and CGL.C listed above are the only holdings in this sector. (CGL.C is a small holding. as it can be traded with zero commission)

Please suggest some additional Canadian and U.S. stocks in this sector to improve diversification, include reasonable entry points, and rank them in order of what to purchase first.

For a Canadian ETF, what is your opinion of XMA?

Please deduct as many credits as necessary.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on January 30, 2024
Q: In your answers to questions regarding sectors allocation, you say that materials sector should be at 10%. In my case it is 4% and includes AEM, NTR, CCL.B, WFG, MX. What would you do to increase my allocation? Would you replace some companies? Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Gervais on January 29, 2024
Q: Could i get your 2 favorite companies to buy right now ( 1 Cad and 1 US) in each of Consumer Cyclical, Utilities, and Materials. Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Neil on January 04, 2024