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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: Hi 5i Team - I am familiar with the following terms/metrics but not completely sure of what they mean in context. Could you explain the difference between earnings, net earnings and profitability.. Also how does cash flow differ from free cash flow. Does a company with free cash flow mean that it's profitable. Along these lines what is a good way of measuring profitability.
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Rob on January 31, 2024
Q: Dear 5i team.
I'm sure there is an answer to this in the archives, just not sure how to search. Maybe with AI, you folks can give us the option of searching like a google search? IE with a sentence vs needing to know ticker? (May put some of the folks out of work, so understand if this is not a high priority. :)

Can you tell me which US or Global ETF is focussed on building arms and munitions for military purpose? I'd like to take the aviation part out if possible, as I'd prefer to stay far away from Boeing for the time being.

Many thanks for your help.
Read Answer Asked by Arthur on January 29, 2024
Q: Aaron Rodgers (star Green Bay Packer) called out Nancy Pelosi for buying millions of NVDA in curious stock trades before a government announcement as Aaron's friend used his X account to become more informed on the Pelosi trades. I imagine there is quite a bit of this going on and I would ask if that benefits or hinders the ordinary trader like us who rely a lot on your knowledge.
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on January 29, 2024
Q: Hello 5i
I cannot find Ross's question from Jan 24 on sector allocation. In fact, I believe that sector allocation questions and answers are filtered out of 5i data banks. Questions from users on this topic may appear in the morning and then magically removed by afternoon. Is this a systematic removal on your part?
Please share Ross's question and your answer with me. I am interested in these questions and would rather see them than not.
Tia!
Read Answer Asked by Kat on January 26, 2024
Q: My question relates to tax loss selling.
I sold two stocks prior to year end for a capital loss. However, the dividend payout after the sale date were automatically reinvested into the same two stocks. I called the discount broker a couple of days after this and had them sell the shares.
Do the reinvestment shares nullify the ability to claim the tax loss for the 2023 tax year?

Thanks for your assistance in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Douglas on January 24, 2024
Q: This is NOT a question but a comment!

I of course benefit from the words of wisdom of Peter and his team. Peter with his extensive experience and having worked with some giants in this field like Eric Sprott has so much to share.
However I also benefit from fellow subscribers' questions/comments. Today (15-01-2024) Dave mentioned about Don Coxe in his question about LB.TO. It brought fond memories of Don Coxe whose columns on FP (previous iteration) I used enjoy. Arguably one of the most elegant financial writers whose USD:EURO ratio was very popular once. I presume he has retired. Please do share the link if Don Coxe is still writing columns anywhere!
Read Answer Asked by Savalai on January 16, 2024
Q: Hello Peter,
I will greatly appreciate your thoughts on my thinking process as I construct my portfolio for this year. I would like to know how closely your thinking aligns with mine and what would you do differently.
I am a retired senior, not risk averse yet mindful of the necessity to curb excessive enthusiasm. I like to think I keep the risk to reward tilted towards the latter.
My thinking goes like this. I expect the Canadian economy to go through a mild recession or at best ride the US economy to <= 1% growth. Hence, I want to allocate 30% Canada and 70% US (including marginal international through ETFs).
I feel that since interest rates have peaked, the stock market should return higher than historical average this year. I think the allocation should be 20% income, 25% balanced, 30%growth,10% investor suite and 10-15% trading opportunities. I think that automated AI/technical based trading software will have a larger presence, making the market a little more volatile and provide with trading opportunities.
I also think that more interest rate cuts in Canada than the US, the income portfolio should be all Canadian. High yielding stocks should provide capital appreciation as well in this environment.
I am not considering Shopify and CSU as part of a portfolio. I already own them and they are qa significant part of my assets. Any adjustment will have significant tax consequences. If required I will take decisions independent of the portfolio.
I look forward eagerly to your feedback.
Regards
Rajiv
Read Answer Asked by Rajiv on January 09, 2024
Q: Under Investment Q & A, as an example, Target price history - PYPL, current high target price $118.00, the deviation (line with dots) recent 13.9 -- can you explain what this indicates.

I am a long term member and I am noticing the below more than in the past:

A lot of questions have "take as many credits as needed". For instance, the longer the question the more credits are required or the more research done the more credits required, or the more companies asked about the more credits required? Please advise.

Thank you
Appreciate the years of good service.

Read Answer Asked by Dennis on January 09, 2024
Q: A question regarding interest rates and the effect it has on income stocks such as those in the Income Port.

Much is currently being hypothesized about interest rates going forward. Not about higher or lower, but the amount of cuts and how long it will take to get to a neutral rate.

That being said, if rates were to drop by 2% over the next year, and all else being equal, maening no black swan events or a deep recession, to name a couple, what correlation would you assign to stocks which have been beaten up during the 4.75% increase to the BOC rate? A 2% cut in rates is a 40% reduction, in the rate.

I assume that with falling interest rates, money would flow back from savings accounts, GIC's and the like. Stocks like BCE, T, ENB and the banks and utilities or any that are currently yielding >4% should see some attention, no?

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Kelly
Read Answer Asked by Kelly on January 08, 2024