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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: With interest rates rising (in the US) the ongoing babble from so many 'experts' has been to stay away from 'bond proxies', namely utilities, telcos, pipelines, etc. However, those stocks have been performing quite well since the fed raised rates. Today Desjardins came out with top picks for 2017 (in the G&M which suggested Algonquin's forecasted returns would grow by 39% next year and Fortis by 17%. Do you think they're being too optimistic? And are these forecasted results already baked into the stock prices?
Read Answer Asked by John on December 23, 2016
Q: Greetings 5i team: Could you please comment on the above stocks with respect to their current versus historical valuations? I guess I am trying to gauge the extent(if at all)their share price is being "propped up" by their yield. I think I know the sectors that are considered most vulnerable to interest rate increases, but do any companies jump to mind that could be more negatively affected than their peers, particularly if rates rose faster than the market anticipates or for the wrong reasons, i.e. inflation versus economic growth? Thank you and best wishes,
Read Answer Asked by Stephen R. on December 21, 2016
Q: Hi Peter and Team,

I find that we need to buy some more in the Utilities sector, to keep to a 10% weighting. We presently have about a three-quarter position in each of AQN, BEP.UN, and FTS. Do you think that INE would be a good addition to this mix or is it too similar to AQN and BEP.UN? We can buy and sell XUT commission-free, but I notice that ZUT (not commission-free) has a better chart. Should I increase our positions in each of the three we already have, buy a new one, or top up with XUT/ZUT? Or is there a US ETF in this sector that looks compelling? Or perhaps in the present "climate", could the utilities sector weighting be reduced below 10%? What sector should take up the slack?

Thanks for all your great advice which has been and continues to be very valuable. A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you at 5i and the members as well.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on December 21, 2016
Q: Hi Peter and gang,
EIF's EPS(TTM) is $1.82 and it pays a monthly dividend of $0.1750 which translates into an annual didvidend of $2.01. If my calculations are correction, EIF's payout ratio is then 110%. Would you please comment on the sustainability of EIF's current dividend payout. Also please provide comment on this company going forward.
As always, good works fellas. Regards!
Read Answer Asked by Harry on December 20, 2016
Q: A couple of years ago I transferred 25% of my sdrsp into a sdrif so I could set up the basic structure and start adjusting to appropriate holdings to produce a revenue stream and a bit of growth. I will transfer the remainder of the RSP in 3 years. I have gradually been selling stocks that do not seem to fit and have been moving the proceeds into some of the 5i income portfolio. I currently hold 9 of them, as follows :
ABT, BCE, BEP.UN, BNS, ENB, ET, FSZ, XHY, WSP

I have some cash available and would appreciate your suggestions for which 3 or 4 of the remaining ( ADW.A, AGU, AW.UN, CPD, CVD, ECI, L, SPB VNR, ZRE) you would suggest I acquire. Also, given possible year end/new year movement and events, could you shine up your crystal ball and give any comments on what timing might be best for those acquisitions?
Please note: I hold IPL (6%) as well as ENB (8%)– would you recommend IPL be changed to VNR ?

(I also have a fully funded TFSA with a growth tilt and a non-registered account with a dividend/growth tilt and OAS/CPP gvt pension).
As always, THANK YOU to Peter and the 5i Team for being there ... May your Christmas' be Merry and Bright !
Read Answer Asked by Alexandra on December 20, 2016