Investment Q&A

Q: Answer at your convenience. I have had a small position in IJR for a couple of years and was going to start adding to it in the new year. However, checking back on past questions I see that the small/mid cap etfs noted above have been mentioned fairly positively. Would any of these be preferred to IJR or would a basket of say, 3 in total (with or without IJR) in this space be a better approach. Could you give brief comments, in order to compare, and which way would you lean if you were making
the choice ?
Thank you for all that you do.

Q: You responded to my question on XMHQ in June 2025, and I’d like to know whether your views have changed since then. The ETF has essentially gone sideways over the past year notwithstanding strong markets. Its Morningstar assessment has not seemed consistent with either its performance or its underlying composition. XMHQ’s better performance before 2024-25 but that’s not reason for confidence.
I’d welcome your updated insight — particularly on whether the current constituent mix looks more compelling in an environment where investors may again be concentrating less in mega-caps and technology businesses.
Do you see XMHQ’s prospects improving from here? I am not entirely clear on what key drivers influence its valuation. The prospect of lower interest rates does not seem to have much impact.
Thank you in advance for your deeper perspective.

Q: I bought XMHQ thinking it would be prudent to add some quality midcaps and diversify . It has not worked and I have a largish loss which if realized would not be useable for tax. A year ago, I almost moved on but continued to hold the ETF thinking its time had surely come. I see that you had the same thought yourselves about a year ago. We were both wrong.
Before I expel XMHQ , please comment on the prospects for XMHQ going forward. Do you think this DOG will finally have its day? Is it good enough at least to keep up with the equal weight S&P 500 RSP? :sab:

Q: I am looking for a mid-cap ETF (listed in USA only) that:
-Has not more than 300 companies (the fewer the better).
-Constituents listed anywhere , although prefer constituents listed in developed markets) .
-Includes *ONLY* profitable companies
-Constituents chosen based on key factors such as: ROE, ROCI, FCF, good gross and net margins.

I have a small position in XMHQ but ETFdb.com is somewhat lukewarm towards it. Therefore, rather than add to XMHQ I wonder if you could recommend one or more suitable ETFs that meet most, if not all, the above-noted criteria. (I am fine adding to XMHQ if you believe it to better than other ETFs available in the US; however XMHQ does not quite meet above criteria. ao:sab

Q: Can you comment on the prospects for XMHQ?

Q: I am looking to add exposure to the US market in my TFSA. I currently own ZSP and ZNQ and would like to add an ETF listed on the Cdn exchange that would balance my exposure to the Mag 7. I have seen you recommend EQL which I am considering however is there another ETF that would broaden my exposure beyond the S&P 500. Perhaps to include some mid and small cap stocks?
Also would you expect that mid and small caps will outperform given where we are in the market cycle?

Q: I have partial positions in listed 10 ETFs - plus JPM Quality US Factor [JQUA] ETF.- did not come up on your list.
Your advice is requested on which ones to move to full positions now:
a) rank those to buy now and add others you like;
b) rank those to buy later when your price points realized
c) rank those that are could be sold.
Thank you