Investment Q&A

Q: Your opinion please on CNR vs UNP ? I have a long time horizon. Looking to hold as forever stock.

Q: I am looking for safe, dividend paying Canadian preferred shares investments . Which ones would you be recommending at this time and why?

Thanks again for all you do.

Paul

Q: Hi
There are some reports that ENB should/ might sweetened the takeover price for ENF. Any comments? Is adding to an ENF position smart, in view of this possibility? Thx Frank

Q: Payout ratios

I am confused about payout ratios. I have read here several times that you prefer to stick with dividend income stocks that have payout ratios below 50%. You have also suggested recently that the following were good solid choices for dividend income stocks. Your website does not include payout ratios, but I suspect your calculation is different from those I have found elsewhere. Below are the payout ratios I found in other places. As you can see, they are mostly above 50%, and some are above 100%!

Could you please comment on your calculation of payout ratios, that have these below 50%, or why the high ratio is acceptable presently?

Thanks again.

PWF 72%
BCE 97%
CU 116%
TRP 78%
ENB 182%
TRI 169%
QSR 79%
AQN 130%
T 82%

Q: How do you see fit BLX as a long term 3-5 years growth story. Considering the industry (utility) would you have a better recommendation for new money allowance in a dividend / distribution portfolio?
Thx

Q: I own both ENB and BIP, although much more of the latter. I would like to get your opinion of the purchase of gas assets by BIP announced today. I realize the benefits to ENB's balance sheet, but is it also accretive to BIP at this price? Are there good growth opportunities provided by this purchase? Also, I believe that a portion of this acquisition does not close until 2019 - how much of the cash flow will be delayed until then?

Q: The N.A,V of this fund is $7.12 it has lost money in last quarter why not short itÉ

Q: My question is regarding the recent sale of assets by Enbridge to Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. The Globe and Mail columnists are quite positive on the future of Enbridge shares. Do you agree with the optimism and do you think this deal is good for Brookfield and its future share price. Thank You.

Q: In reference to Donald’s question about the Td GIC linked to banks and utilities:
I agree generally with the reply provided by 5i. However, in your response you talk about “going to cash” and I think this may be confusing. The product offered is a GIC and is insured. The principal is protected so there isn’t an issue with “going to cash” in a bad market. You will get your money back at the end of the term. It is essentially a cash investment all along, although one is locked in for the term.
What motivated me to write this was the deceptive way, in my opinion, TD is offering this product. It says the MINIMUM return is 2% and states quite clearly that this is an annual return on the main webpage describing the GIC. However, if you read through the prospectus (so dry and complicated it will give you a migraine) or click on the tiny footnote you will see that the 2% is actually a 3 year compounded return of 0.66% per annum. The 2% is a total return. If the market goes down or sideways, you will get a whopping $20 per $1,000 invested over 3 years.
I am a long time TD client and shareholder but I am disturbed by what I feel are decptive practices and the “pushing” of products on Canadians. This is approaching Wells Fargo behaviour, IMHO. It can’t end well for anyone. Sorry to take up your Q&A time with this but I feel the investment community needs to speak out about this.
Good luck fellow investors!
John

Q: Hello 5i team,
How does NPI now compare to other utility stocks like AQN, Fortis, with respect to growth prospects, and other metrics P/E, debt load ? I thought it might be a takeover candidate at one time.
Bernie

Q: I am down 5% on a half position, would now be a good time to add more? What do you think of the prospects going forward?
Craig

Q: I’m investing for a parent who is currently 100% in cash, is nearing retirement and has never invested. They will not actually need income for another 3-5 years, but I would like to generate some dividends, so they can see actual cash coming off their investments (this may be reinvested). I think dividends will help psychologically if the equity portion declines as they will at least “be paid to wait” while the market recovers.

I am considering constructing the portfolio as follows:
30% Cash – PSA
50% Bonds – ZAG
10% Equity – International Dividend – PID
10% Equity – International Broad Index – XAW
10% Equity – Canada Growth – 5i

Can you provide 5i’s 2 or 3 highest conviction calls right now. I’m looking for growth at a reasonable price. Not looking for yield, but would like it to at least pay a modest dividend.

I would also be interested in any views you have about the suitability of the portfolio and any alternative / additional suggestions you may have.
If there is a correction in the equity markets in next few years or one of 5i’s A companies slips on a banana peel, I may look to put some of the cash to work and increase the equity potion.

My tactical views are: interest rates will rise with the US leading the way, the US broad equity markets are looking very expensive, Bonds are generally not a good investment and at low rates they will get killed by inflation over the long run (but they reduce volatility).

Also, in terms of allocating these investments between non-registered and TFSA, how should I generally be thinking about this? International stocks and bonds into the TFSA until it’s full and cash and Canadian stocks in the non-registered account? I don’t think they will be making any new contribution so perhaps there is no way to use the RRSP.

I look forward to your thoughts and apologise for asking a multi-part questions. If you start to run out of steam, don’t worry about the tax questions.

Thanks

Q: Hi, Would like your esteemed opinion on this company. Seems to be increasing revenue and profit and paying a nice dividend.

Q: I have recently taken over my parent’s investment account management because of health reasons. I found that my parent’s financial advisor had their money tied up and mutual funds with heavy fees, as well as GICs that were locked in for a long period of time. The money is now available for investing. They are retired and in their 80s. I will be keeping most of the money in HISA, GIC, and some short term bonds if the yields ever go above GICs. I would like to include a couple of stocks that are quite secure and pay decent dividends. And suggestions? I was thinking of RY, CM, BNS, PWF, BCE, CU, TRP, and ENB. Do these sound good, and do you have other suggestions?

Q: I'm a young investor (early 30s) and have previously had all of my portfolio in equities. I'm concerned about risk and want to put about a quarter of the portfolio into safer, fixed income type investments. I'm struggling to understand the benefits of investing in GICs (currently with rates of 2.8-3.5%) vs Bond ETFs (like VAB or ZAG). Can you help explain the difference and benefits between Bond ETFs and investing in a direct GIC? Can you recommend the better choice for me; GICs or Bond ETFs?

Q: This is more a request than a question.
What I would like to know, especially for companies that are carrying high debt levels, is how much debt is maturing each year for the next 15 to 30 years. I don't know what time frame would be reasonable but the longer the better.

Q: Any specific reason ADW is taking a beating? Short Sellers?

Q: The stock is losing ground steadily now. Do you know why?

Q: Crown has announced a new LP "Capital Power LP". They have partnered (their first) with OOM Energy Group (“OOM”), a private electricity generation company who produce Integrated Energy Platforms they claim are more reliable and efficient, and cost effective than certain areas such as Ontario Hydro(not surprising). This will "provide investors with attractive, utility-like income". It all sounds good but I am worried about the competitiveness of such a partnership. Would you have any thoughts on this development?

Thank You, Stephen

Q: Morning,

I have a 2/3 position in ZWU and like it for the 3 sector exposure, covered call and high yield with DRIP. Would now be a good time to add the other 1/3 or wait until after the summer? What are your thoughts on it's exposure and stability for a long term hold?

Thanks!

Craig