Investment Q&A

Q: Can you recommend some end-of-life services companies such as funerals, memorials, etc that are priced well right now?

Q: This is a follow-up to our question from last week (see: https://www.5iresearch.ca/questions/140708).

Based on your response that nothing in the list gives you much cause for concern, we would understand this to imply none of the 30 stocks would be considered a "sell" today.

Please divide the 30 stocks into a pair of ranked (best to worst) lists, one of "buys" and the other of "holds". As well, for each of the "holds" indicate the principal rationale for caution.

Q: About 1 year ago we created an equal-weighted 'balanced' portfolio of 30 Canadian companies in a non-registered account. Most were chosen from companies either covered by a 5i research report or included in a 5i model portfolio. The remainder were chosen, based on the 5i Q&A section, from what appear to be 5i sector favourites. All purchases are made with the intent to be long-term holds (10+ years). As well, we intend to increase our investments over the next 2-3 years, and then adjust over time as needed. Currently the amount invested represents ~40% of the eventual total.

Although a goal is to keep the portfolio roughly equal weighted, of the 30 companies, the following 14 were acquired in 3 purchases (full position) and currently have weights in the 2.31% (SHOP) to 5.00% (ATA) range for an average of 3.71%: CSU, MG, GSY, WSP, LNF, ATD, ATA, SLF, BAM.A, BIPC, FTS, DOO, SHOP and TFII. The remainder were acquired in 2 purchases (2/3 position) and currently have weights in the 1.98% (BEPC) to 3.17% (TCN) range for an average of 2.56%. So, overall, the weightings currently range from ~2% to ~5%.

Over the next 6 months we will invest another ~25% of the eventual total. As we make additional purchases, we need to strike a balance between keeping the weights roughly equal while taking advantage of market opportunities. Please provide some broad guidance/wisdom.

Of the 30 companies in the portfolio, which 10 would you have the highest conviction in today? Please rank them.

Are there any of the 30 that you might consider as candidates to be replaced because there are better options, and if so, what replacements would you suggest and why (disregard tax considerations)?

What additional 3 Canadian companies might you consider adding to the portfolio and why?

As always, thanks for the great service!

Q: Hello 5i Research team, not a question, more as a follow-up to your response to Sheldon's question earlier today about Park Lawn: I would like to mention that I believe a major factor that has allowed funeral homes to perform well in 2020 and 2021 is the COVID surcharge ($500+) imposed at each funeral in many jurisdictions for the additional sanitation measures required due to the pandemic. The profit margin on this surcharge seems to be quite generous in my opinion... Publish if you think this information can be useful. Thank you for your collaboration, Eric

Q: Can I please have your top 5 US and Cdn consumer non cyclical stock choices ?

Q: I read this in the G&M.

"For funeral homes, the decline in income over the past two years owed partly to rising interest in cremation, which costs less than burial.
The losses accelerated as large viewings were cancelled, reducing the need for expensive caskets, said Scott MacCoubrey, a funeral-home owner and president of the Ontario Funeral Service Association."

Can I have your point of view and how this will or not affect PLC?

Thanks


Sheldon

Q: Looking at some Canadian companies that are involved in various aspects of consumer activity such as retail, investing, borrowing. Please rate each of the following on a scale of 1-10 for desirability for a 5+ year hold in a well diversified portfolio. Looking for good total return with a higher than average tolerance for share price volatility. These would not be core positions. CF, EQB, GOOS, NFI, PBI, PLC, TSU, TOY, ZZZ.

Q: Am looking at purchasing PLC, but I don’t what sector to assign it to. TSX.com & i5Research Profile puts it in Consumer Cyclical but in the Income Portfolio you have it in the C. Non-Cyc. Sector. In which sector is more correct. Thanks … Cal

Q: I was planning on growing my position in these companies during 2022 in my TFSA account. Is there any of these companies you wouldn't invest in or replace for an other company (please indicate witch company you would replace it by).

Also can you say in what order you would rank these companies from highest to lowest, highest being you favourite and lowest least favourite?

Q: Hello 5i,
Looking to consolidate two half positions into one. The two half positions are PLC and CAE. Which one should I keep? Thanks.

Q: What are your thoughts on park lawn recent earnings and future direction

Thks
Marcel

Q: Hi there, I am looking to pick up a few positions. I am underweight in consumer cyclical, real estate, financials, energy, and US. I have no holding outside N.America. My investment profile is Balanced to growth-oriented.
I currently own the following in those categories:
ATZ, BRP, CELPH. COST, LULU, MG, PLC, TSU, X, RY, SLF
What stocks would you buy today?

As a side note, Is there a publication or investment service you would recommend, for US and international holdings?
Thanks for your advice.

Q: I am looking for monthly income. So far I am considering ZEB, KEY, PPL, and either HHL-B or HHL-T. Your opinion on those, and any suggestions you have, please.

Q: Earlier this year we created an equal weighted 'balanced' portfolio of 30 Canadian companies in a non-registered account. Most were chosen from companies either covered by a 5i research report or included in a 5i model portfolio. The remainder were chosen, based on the 5i Q&A section, from what appear to be 5i sector favourites. All purchases in the portfolio are made with the intent to be long-term holds (10+ years).

As per an earlier question we posed, we then increased our positions in 12 of the 30 companies. At this time we would like to increase our investments in 6 of the remaining 18 companies. The intent is to increase the other 12 in approximately 4 months. Which 6 would you add to today? Please rank them, include a small blurb explaining each choice and suggest an entry point. Thanks!

Q: I tried to pull a stock list of B+ companies based on your reviews. Your thought on investing as an equal weight portfolio with a 5 year horizon.

Thank you!

Q: Hi, for my TFSA I primarily hold small dividend with steady growth companies, to keep things somewhat stable. STC is the exception. I have room for one more company.
With that in mind could you suggest 3 stocks that may fit in with what i already have, keeping sector diversity in mind. ( I also have ATD.B in another account)
Thanks, really enjoy your platform and service to the small investors.

Q: Regarding companies like PLC that have businesses spread all over the US, does it make any potential privatization or buyout less likely for PLC, or does it have zero influence on any potential suitors?

Thanks.

John

Q: With thanks in advance I am interested in your thoughts on PLC's recent capital raise and future prospects for the stock, Would you be comfortable buying here?

Q: Own the following symbol / weight in my RRRS:

BCE 6.5 BEP.UN 5 BNS 4 CPD 5.9 CVD 5.5 EIF 2.1 ENB 6.1 LNF 2.5 QSR 2.4 SLF 3.3 TCL.A 3.1 WSP 5.9 XHY 6.8. ZRE 5

Please advice a new position from the Income Portfolio to add now:

AW.UN FSZ H MAL NWC PLC PRMW SYZ.V X

Much Thanks

Q: Earlier this year we created an equal weighted 'balanced' portfolio of 30 Canadian companies in a non-registered account. Most were chosen from companies either covered by a 5i research report or included in a 5i model portfolio. The remainder were chosen, based on the 5i Q&A section, from what appear to be 5i sector favourites. All purchases in the portfolio are made with the intent to be long-term holds (10+ years).

Our intent is to increase our investments in the 30 companies over time. We have recently increased our positions in BIPC and MG. At this time we would like to increase our investments in 10 of the remaining 28 companies. The intent is to increase the remaining 18 in approximately 6 months. Which 10 would you add to today? Please rank them, include a small blurb explaining each choice and indicate an approximate buy price. Thanks!