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: What would you replace MX with or would you stay away from this sector for now? What would you replace AD with?
Thanks for your service?
Read Answer Asked by Ozzie on March 18, 2020
Q: Hi, I'm a retired, dividend-income investor. I took some profits and losses (to wipe out potential capital gains) over the last 5 weeks and am now planning on reinvesting the cash to top up some of my existing equities, up to my desired asset allocation. I want to leg in, in probably 3 waves over the next couple (?) of months, to top up ZWC, AD, AQN, AW, BNS, BCE, LNF, NWC, RY, TRP, WSP.

Can you please indicate which of the above equities you would allocate into which wave (in other words, does it look like the equity is "ready" for an investment OR should I continue to wait for a while)...or not at all (not worth any further investment).

Thanks for your help...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on March 18, 2020
Q: I have a very small position in the above 3 utility companies and want to add more. Can you please rank the companies for estimated best total return over the next 3 years?
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Grant on March 17, 2020
Q: I'm holding the following since I thought they would be considered safe stocks, however they are going down with all the rest.

1) I made the big mistake that gold miners would actually do well in the current situation, however I know see my mistake that I should have purchased gold directly. Would you, given the situation today, sell the miners and buy gold directly - what has the past crises shown about gold versus gold miners?
2) Do you think the utilities above will stabalize near current levels, or do you see that there will be a reset in all P/E and P/C levels down to lower levels?
Read Answer Asked by Kel on March 13, 2020
Q: Any idea why ppl which currently yields 5.27% was down last week while the above other defensive stocks were up?
Read Answer Asked by Terry on March 09, 2020
Q: It looks as though utilities, and renewable utilities in particular, have taken off, while Canadian pipelines, which are also traditionally stable investments, are either flat or dropping.
Do you have any comments on whether:
1. this is a short term disparity or a fundamental shift,
2. whether one group is better than the others at current prices, and
3. If the recent drop now otherwise creates a good point of entry for any or all?
Read Answer Asked by Peter on March 09, 2020
Q: Retired, conservative dividend-income investor with a "buy-and-hold & trim-add around a core position" strategy. At times like these, I take a fresh look at my holdings and ask two key questions. #1 = are there any of my equity holdings that have alarm bells going off? #2 = how safe are the dividends (knowing that no dividend is 100% secure)? The portfolio capital may rise or fall, but it is the continuation of the dividend that is more important.

For asset allocation purposes related to individual stocks (as opposed to sector allocations), I use the following:
5% targets = AQN, BCE, BNS, PBH, RY, TRP, WSP
4% targets = AD, AW, CSH, NWC
2% targets = LNF, MG, NTR
ETF targets = roughly 3-7%

Q#1 = are there any of these equities that you hear alarm bells?
Q#2 = are there any of these equities where you foresee dividend risk?
Q#3 = any thoughts on how I have my asset allocations set up (knowing it is a very personal decision?

Take a bunch of credits. Thanks for your help...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on March 06, 2020
Q: Which stocks (US or Cdn) in your opinion may serve as something of a hedge during the virus scare. Kinaxis, for example, doesn't seem to be getting beaten up (yet). I'm thinking of online shopping support stocks, streaming networks, or other businesses that won't be affected, and may even see a boost, if people choose to stay in.
Read Answer Asked by Kim on March 06, 2020
Q: Top 5 picks for a Smith Maneuver portfolio of dividend paying stocks for someone in their late 30's?
Read Answer Asked by Jamie on March 06, 2020
Q: Hello 5i team,
I've held a good number of stocks you hold in your BE portfolio and I've managed to obtain a 14% compound annual total return in the last 11 years.
100% of my portfolio is in equities; I'll be shortly 77 years old and plan to reduce my equity exposure to 30%, with the above stocks in mind.
Your opinion is most valuable
Antoine
Read Answer Asked by Antoine on March 02, 2020
Q: Hi 5i,

In my non-reg account I prefer to hold stocks that I can hold onto for a minimum of 3 to 5 years and possibly 10 to 20, that have a yield of around 3% to 5% with the stock price growing +/-5% annually.

Having said that, I am looking to add a stock that would be equal to approx. 1% of total portfolio value.

I am considering adding to my renewable utility stocks (BEP, AQN, INE and BLX which currently total 7.5% of total portfolio value), bank stocks (TD and RY currently 6% of total portfolio value) or telecommunications (Telus or BCE currently 0% of total portfolio). My concern with T and BCE are the current CRTC talks and what may be the market reaction to any deemed negative outcome.

Other than the above listed stocks do any others come to mind that you would recommend at this time?

Please deduct for multiple questions as you see fit.
Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Brian on February 26, 2020
Q: The valuations on companies with a favourable ESG component are lofty at best. Do you see any in this sector that are still reasonably priced? A dividend would be preferable.
Thanks for your consideration.
Read Answer Asked by Denis on February 21, 2020
Q: Could you suggest a few Canadian names that are dividend growers in the utility space that are most reasonably priced, for a long term hold?

Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Ian on February 19, 2020
Q: As a retired investor, I am keen on stocks with low betas, high dividends and some growth. AQN, NPI and BEP all meet these criteria and are all up significantly, riding on a crest of green sentiment. These three stocks now compromise 13.5% of my total portfolio. I am loathe to part with my green energy stocks as they are doing so well. That said, have I put too many eggs in one basket? At what percent should I cap my green energy investment? Other than higher interest rates, what could impact continued growth in this sector?

On a related note, I am now overweight in utilities, which now represent 21% of my total portfolio. This includes the three above-mentioned stocks, plus Fortis and BEP. Would you suggest reducing this weighting? And if so, which stock(s )would you be inclined to sell?

Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Maureen on February 14, 2020
Q: Utilities seem to go parabolic since December 2018 with no sign of slowing down. Since interest rates seem to remain low for a foreseeable future, is this a new secular trend emerging from improved interest in green energy. ZUT in particular includes many renewable power generator companies. So I basically have 2 questions: If this is a new secular trend should one increase their utility allocation ? 2: Is there still life for oil and gas companies ?
Read Answer Asked by Yves on February 13, 2020
Looking for more? Sign up for a FREE 14 day trial! No credit card required

We invite you to sign up for a 14 day free trial of 5i Research!
Experience all the benefits and tools we have to offer; stock research, model portfolios, Q&A with our experts, and so much more. Join a community of like-minded investors today!