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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: Hello 5i Team
I am comparing two ETF from Vanguard Canada and from Vanguard USA.
Vanguard Canada – US Total Market ETF (CA:VUN), trades in Canadian dollars on Canadian exchange, tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index. The MER is equal to 0.16 %. The 2019 distribution was composed of $0.99538 foreign income, $0.00076 ROC and $0.1593 foreign withholding tax (approximately 16 % of the total distribution, applied by Vanguard).
Vanguard USA – Total Stock Market ETF (US:VTI), trades in US dollar on US exchange, tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index. The MER is equal to 0.03 %. The 2019 distribution was US$2.8747 with no withholding tax applied by Vanguard.
Questions are:
1 – Are these two ETF essentially the same (one trades in C$ on Canadian Market, the other trades in US$ on the US Market) as they both appear to track the CRSP US Total Market Index?
2 – If I hold CA:VUN in a non-registered account, will there be withholding tax applied by my broker to the distribution?
3 – If I hold US:VTI in a non-registered account, will there be withholding tax applied by my broker to the distribution?
4 – Is the difference in the MER (0.16 % vs 0.03 %) essentially the 15 % withholding tax applied to US dividends?
5 – Which is the better ETF to hold in a non-registered account, ignoring the cost of currency conversion to purchase US dollars in order to buy US:VTI?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on September 03, 2020
Q: Both NAVI and COOP look oddly undervalued even after one factors in known problems in their business models. NAVI pays a good dividend (too good?). COOP pays none. Is NAVI’s dividend well covered? COOP appears to trade at below book or is that incorrect? What do you calculate are the PEG ratios for each of theses companies? Financial sites give differing ratios.
What do you see as vulnerabilities that are perhaps not discernible to a non-finance professional? Interest rates are likely to remain low for several years; it appears the US economy will continue to be bolstered by at least some stimulus, however modest, through to at least end of year 2021. Would either company be a probable target by a new US Admin? I would be thankful for your looking under the hood. I am concerned there might be dangers of the type that are sometimes skipped even by premium finance sites.
Would you buy either company, and if yes, your preference (if any?)
Read Answer Asked by Adam on September 03, 2020
Q: I have no exposure to gold in my portfolio. I must reduce my exposure to one of my four largest holdings (ATD.B, GIL, HCG, SJ) to make this purchase. I was planning on buying FNV and/or AEM. If I only purchased one gold company which one would you pick? Which 2 companies would you sell to make this purchase?
Read Answer Asked by Robert on September 03, 2020
Q: Hi Group can you comment on the latest news release on PYR stock is highly volatile but appears to have some momentum. Its hit another high this am( $6:43) then backed of again. Do you think the big boys are day trading this stock or is it based on their new technology Thanks for you views on this
Read Answer Asked by Terence on September 03, 2020
Q: good morning,

I have been reading that RY and TD are more full valued at present than are BNS, CM and BMO. I own all five banks and am wondering if its a good idea to sell RY and TD and buy one or more of the other three banks. If this makes sense to you, which bank(s) would I buy, in order of preference.

as always, your advice is appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by alex on September 03, 2020
Q: Good morning 5i folks. Apparently, I've fallen behind on my financial acronym homework . I guess I need to bone up.
Can you enlighten me as to what constitutes a SPAC ?
Thanks, David
Read Answer Asked by David on September 03, 2020
Q: thanks for the recent risk ratings answers for US stocks....I use the information to set my target weights.
and I want to mention this is one thing I struggle with, like how to set target weights for each stock in a portfolio.
yes, I know for a blue chip stock, the weight could be 4 or 5% and for smaller cap stocks, like 2%......but really in setting the target weights, I'm in the dark!!!
with this in mind, perhaps you could keyboard your thoughts on what the process is or key factors are.......anyhow, thanks!......Tom
Read Answer Asked by Tom on September 03, 2020
Q: After the reorganization of BEP.UN, I hold over 8% (for all 3) in a RRIF.
Is it worth trimming down to 1 or 2 of these and which would be better for long term hold in a RIFF?
The portfolio is otherwise fairly balanced but leaning overweight in financials and solid Dividend payers.
Thanks for the continuing advice!
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Linda on September 03, 2020
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