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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.

I made an impulsive and uneducated buy of ALA a few months ago and have been rewarded with a 45% kick in the you-know-what. Fortunately, it has been a painful but not catastrophic experience. The buy is in a cash account.

I favour a buy-and-hold strategy but ALA has me constantly questioning my next move. I understand that ALA has a lot of debt and interest rates are not helping their cause. I am expecting a cut in the dividend (like everyone else). I know you have recently published an extensive set of your own rules to live by regarding equities with one of them being 'sell your losers' (paraphrased).

Simply put, is ALA dead-in-the-water or does it have long-term possibilities?

Thanks in advance.................Martin
Read Answer Asked by Martin on December 13, 2018
Q: Why have bank rate-reset preferred come off so much in the past two months after holding up well with rising rates prior to October? I hold HPR which is off about 15% since the beginning of October and holds mostly bank rate-reset preferred which I would have thought would hold up much better in the current environment.
Read Answer Asked by Robin on December 12, 2018
Q: I AM FED UP WITH BONDS. DURING THE LAST 5 YEARS I HAVE LOST IN ALL OF THEM .I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY ALL ADVISER SUGGEST BOND FUNDS AS A PART OF INVESTMENT. ONE HAS BEEN LOOSING MONEY .I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT AND ADVISE RE ABOVE STOCKS.EBRAHIM
Read Answer Asked by ebrahim on December 12, 2018
Q: On 7 December 2018 Rick asked for your list of top 20 dividend paying Canadian Companies. Would you have a similar list for top 20 growing/dividend paying companies in 1) USA and 2) International (ex-Canada and USA ) at the present time? These would be for a non-registered account held by a retiree with a holding period of up to 5 years.
Read Answer Asked by William Ross on December 12, 2018
Q: As I am retired and trying to accumulate dividends, I foolishly moved ala to my tsfa from my cash account. Now that it has drifted to a low ebb, I cannot claim a loss on selling. I know I should move on, but am Looking for a good dividend stock as replacement..
I appreciate all the advice that I read.
Read Answer Asked by Violet on December 11, 2018
Q: Good morning,
As an income investor, I have the following utility holdings that amount to about 12% of my non-registered holdings: FTS (up 10%), EMA and NPI (breaking even) and ALA (down 50%). I have no need to sell any of these and enjoy the dividends, but as a conservative senior and in a rising interest rate environment do you think it would be prudent to unload/reduce some of them or just hang on? If sell/reduce which should be the first to go?
Read Answer Asked by Ken on December 11, 2018
Q: What are your thoughts about EXE, buy, hold, or sell? How does the balance sheet look?
Thanks, Bob
Read Answer Asked by Bob on December 11, 2018
Q: Appreciate your advice on conversion privilege effective dec31/18
Presently down $4400 loss
1. To receive one cumulative rate reset Pref share series B of AQN for each cumulative rate reset pref series A of AQN converted
If u choose this option can u explain the reasoning and what might be expected in recovering the losses in the future with this option
2. If u don’t choose option1 I am assuming the pref will be cashed in at current loss
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Indra on December 11, 2018
Q: Received corporate action notice
Appreciate your advice
Conversion privilege as if dec31/18
I am presently down $5400 loss
1. To receive one cumulative floating rate préf share of series 4 CPX for each capital power Corp cumulative rate reset pref share series 3 converted If you recommend this option can u explain what it means going forward
2 those who do not convert need not submit — I assume this means it’s cashed in in dec31/18
Appreciate your advice
Read Answer Asked by Indra on December 10, 2018
Q: I've been comparing these two funds and while they appear to be essentially taking the same approach. HFR has Canadian & US holdings and FLOT has exclusively US holdings. Yet their is a substantial difference in their yields. But FLOT yield is 4.3% and HFR 2.3%. I don't get it.
Yield is nice to have but I'm more concerned with capital preservation through the end of this business cycle. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by Brian on December 10, 2018
Q: Hello,

We live in "interesting times"!

I have been patiently waiting to add more of AQN but price keeps rising without respite, even during major pullbacks! What magic is going on at AQN?

1) Does it look like a Top is forming around $14?

I'm sure the stock is very compelling as a momentum vehicle and maybe I should nibble both on the Up and on the Down.

As ever, your helpful thought appreciated.
Regards
Read Answer Asked by Arzoo on December 10, 2018
Q: Hi: With continued huge increases in US shale oil production and possible US oil self dependency to what extent could this decrease demand for Canadian oil volumes to the US thereby negatively impacting Canadian pipeline companies and thus share values? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Gary on December 10, 2018