Investment Q&A

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

Q: I rarely ask a question so this is more a general question. ENB today is down 1% in Toronto on above average volume and up 1% in NY on below average volume. I would expect this to sort itself out over the day but I would like your opinion on why? I could I guess transfer my ENB.TO to my US account and get a 2% pop.
Thanks for the great service.

Q: I currently have a 1.3% holding in KWH.UN and I am wondering if I should continue to hold it in my income portion. On June 25th, in response to Eric you were "fine" with adding then on June 28th, in response to Stan, your advice was not to add. This seems a significant change in a short period of time.

Since there has been no news and the dividend was recently raised is it fair to say the price momentum has changed your mind or has the investment thesis changed?


Many thanks.

Mike

Q: Why the big gain today?

Thanks

Sheldon

Q: CVR Refining LP (US) pays a 9.2% Dividend. Any opinion on this? Thanks!

Q: for a low risk income portfolio which of these would you choose? brenda

Q: To add to Julien’s post from today on bonds. I am in a very similar situation, younger (early 30s) with no bond exposure, all equities in the portfolio. I’d like to start adding some bond exposure through ETFs and did appreciate your suggestions on specific names. My question is, what etf would you say is a ‘one stop shop’ for bond exposure, as I like to keep it to one or two names at most. I’ve seen ZAG or VAB mentioned before. I’d like to keep it in CAD as I don’t want to add exchange risk. The purpose for the bond exposure would be to add uncorrelated assets and reduce volatility. Thank you as always

Q: What are your top 3 picks in the utility space and why? Thanks.