Investment Q&A

Q: Can you please rank your top three Canadian utilities for overall performance over the next 3-5 years and explain why? On a related note (and I may be repeating myself), which would you recommend over the same time period and why: FTS or H?

Q: Hi again 5i,
Re the question I just sent in asking for information about yesterday's sharp price decline and trading halt for DHT.UN, I've now learned of the bought-deal arrangement that was announced yesterday and which led me to sustain a significant paper loss on my first day of ownership.
So now my question is - could you please provide your analysis of the long-term implications of the bought deal for DHT.UN.
Thanks 5i.
Peter

Q: Hi 5i. I think the figure you like to use to measure a company's dividend payout is the ratio of dividend to free cash flow. I think Peter even wrote about this recently in the FP. For the above two companies, could you please tell me what the dividend-to-free cash flow currently is? Is it following a perceptible trend of rising or falling?

Q: Good evening, I'm interested in adding to my existing SU energy position. I have a full position in ENB and am wondering if it isn't a good time to reduce ENB and add another company like TOU or CNQ. I've been in both before and done well. The yields are lower than ENB but there's more chance of capital gain. I realize ENB is more utility than energy so there's a bit of apples to oranges in this question. I'm a chicken retiree who wants safety, yield and the chance of gain. Thanks, as always.

Q: Good morning,

I know there are risks with owning Verizon right now, but with another recent dividend increase (now 17 consecutive years of increases), forward PE ~ 7.0, and a dividend yield approaching ~ 8%, do you think there is merit in buying for an income investor?

Q: Thinking of buying BCE at these levels to go along with Telus holdings for a long term hold, thoughts. Is the payout ratio or ongoing business a concern ?

Q: Hi 5i,
I've owned BCE in my RSP for a little over 2 years. In that time the dividend return has been roughly twice the capital loss, meaning that my return is about 1/2 of what it would have been if the share price had merely held its own.
Although I'm not down, the return from this 'blue chip' name is not what I had hoped for after 2+ years of ownership, and based on what I've been reading about it I don't feel optimistic that the next 2 years will be much if any better.
Do you agree that BCE is unlikely to provide a better overall return in the next couple of years than it has for the past couple?
If so, could you please provide me with a few names that I could replace BCE with that will have similar dividend returns but likely more in the way of capital appreciation - but not in O&G, pipelines, financial or tech as I'm well stocked in those sectors.
I realize this might be a tough order, and I look forward to your thoughts.
Thanks,
Peter

Q: Hello i would like to add some Zwu to my TSFA account strictly as income,hovewer i noticed that Zwu isn't part of your income portfolio any reasons? i'm 80.

Thanks.
Dan

Q: Any news that caused the drop in share price?

Q: These stocks seem to be in a serious downtrend, in the case of NPI more than cut in half. What's going on? Interest rates aside are investors just giving up on "going green"? Or are these unbelievable bargains like the Canadian banks in 08/09?

Q: Hi 5i

Is anything expected of AQN in the near to mid term to turn its fortunes around ? You've mentioned previously you consider it a hold ... how long would you monitor this one for signs of a turnaround ? Frustrated but willing to see how this plays out.

Q: Hold this loser in a RSP account in a drip mode. Long time holder starting to drop below break-even. Time to sell? Thx Ron

Q: I believe that a little over a month ago the Atco CEO purchased $931K of stock at $37.22 - a 6.2% increase in ownership. Is this enough conviction to get someone interested in taking a position in the stock?

Q: I hold ZWU ( significantly),in my RRSP +my non registered account,since my belief was that 1) utilities offer stable yields+ are quite essential even in a recession 2) call options from BMO are made for 50% max of portfolio, so ZWU could also benefit from some growth( in theory ..).But in fact,ZWU share price is in a constant downtrend since the last 10 yrs (17 $ in 2013,10$ now).The dividend is for more than 50% ROC, the rest being mostly eligible dividend.Do the clear fiscal advantage+ the 8 % yield compensate for the capital reduction over those 10 years ?

Q: BK has dropped 18% this week. Can you explain why such a sharp drop compared to the underlying investments.

Q: Hi all, I know extendicare is not one of your faves but I'm wondering if you would comment on the stability of their divie distributions into the future and general financial stability.

Q: Down from lyr H $55.74.Did a BD at $52.25 in June.While BOC pause yesterday,it spreaded fear of higher rate. Add,Hold or Sell?.Please comment.Txs for U usual great services & views

Q: Hi 5i!

Love your insights provided across your site. Keep it up!

I know you’re not fans of split corps, but I have to ask (as an observer of this stock), what is happening the past week to FTN?

Q: ENB’s large acquisition and stock issue with the resulting (short term) price hit looks like a buying opportunity to me. Thinking of exiting out of AQN as it looks like it’s going nowhere and buying more ENB. Good idea?

Q: Is this ETF too volatile and risky for a conservative investor? Terrific yield.