Hi there,
The portfolio as listed looks quite solid. We know that Banks and Utilities will provide solid income and each one you have listed there will give you more than enough yield to match your goal. Of those listed, my preference would be BMO or BNS based on current valuations and near record-high yields. I like TD as well, and it is simply one of the best of the bunch. CWB definitely adds more risk given its exposure to the oil & gas industry and it has a targeted payout ratio of 30% (much lower than the big banks).
BEP is a leading renewable energy company, and MFC is the nation's largest insurer. As you pointed out - with a time frame of five years, both make excellent selections.
The only ones I would exercise caution with at this point in time are EIF, REI.UN and ENB/CNQ. Not because they are bad companies, but because we may be nearing a second wave and possibly, a second shutdown. The first shutdown had a big impact on oil and gas prices and demand is not expected to increase anytime soon. Given this, CNQ or ENB may trade flat or drop if this persists and there is no clear path to growth. Personally, I'd choose a pipeline over a producer given the simple fact they aren't as impacted by volatile oil prices. That being said, if you are going to pick one, CNQ is definitely best in class and one of the lowest cost producers in the country - it would be my pick among all producers.
From an operational standpoint, EIF has performed quite well all things considered. We think its share price was unfairly punished as it is much more diversified than a traditional airline like Air Canada. Furthermore, it serves northern and remote locations which are dependent on its services. That being said, a second shutdown would hurt.
IMO the riskiest is REI.UN - although it trades at a big discount, traditional retail has arguably been the most impacted by the current pandemic. The shift to ecommerce is here to stay, and physician retail stores will struggle. The good news is that REI is the largest REIT in the country and has been diversifying into apartments. So it is no longer a one-trick pony. We still like the company, I just would not consider it one of the safest in terms of the dividend and capital appreciation - especially if we see a second shutdown. Many unknowns for the industry here.
I also agree that a well diversified portfolio should have some precious metals exposure - there are several from our top 20 that could make excellent choices and that would meet your dividend goal (+1.83%). Unfortunately FNV from our foundational picks and KL from our bull list both yield below 1%.
Finally, there is a glaring gap - no exposure to Technology. I know it is very difficult to find dividend paying tech companies, but it is important for investors to have exposure. Open Text on our Bull List is a solid option, but at 1.65% doesn't quite meet your target. Very few tech companies do. However, if you are steadfast on that rule, consider looking into these two companies
- Sylogist (SYZ) with a yield of 4.6% and is a Canadian Dividend Aristocrat
- Absolute Software (ABT) with a yield of 2.19% - no dividend growth since 2015.
Hope that helps!
Mat