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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 Team,
I was hoping you could help explain something. I own a five-year corporate bond ladder. This year to date the value of my bonds have fallen 0.91% (which on its own is fine as I hold the bonds to maturity). I am unclear why my bonds would underperform VAB (up 3.56%) and CBO (down 0.16%) in the same timeframe.

I realize VAB has a longer duration on average than my ladder or CBO. Credit quality may be better in both funds, and mine are typically in the BBB range. But is there any other reason why bond funds should outperform specific bonds in a ladder? Is there a scenario where a bond ladder will outperform the bond funds?

Finally, is there any advantage to owning bonds in a ladder at all?

Thank you. Michael
Read Answer Asked by Michael on July 07, 2016
Q: I have been wanted to diversify my portfolio and I was wondering if this is a good list or a bit of overkill. I have recently bought some XBB. I want these for fairly long positions, my concern is that I might be over paying for these as everyone is fearful and flocking to bonds as a safety net. Would it be wise to let things settle or buy partial positions in these etfs. Also would it worthwhile also owning some us long term treasuries. I am looking to try to cover all possibilities so I am not chasing in the future when market conditions change. I would like diverse group to cover inflation, rising market, recession. I know that I cant take all risk off but I would like have some safety net and not hold all equities.
Read Answer Asked by Geoff on July 07, 2016
Q: I have transitioned a substantial part of my own RRSP from mutual funds to individual stocks & other investments, with the help of 5i (thanks! Done quite well), over the past 3 years.

My wife is still reluctant to do the same, so we are transitioning her RRSP from mutual funds to ETF's, with only one purchased so far. The specific ETF our advisor put us in was BMO ZDV. At the time, I specifically wanted an ETF with lower exposure to the energy sector.

Unfortunately, we bought in at the August 2014 peak, and are underwater by 20%, even after distributions. Moreover, the distributions have been steadily dropping since we bought in.

Is it time to bail out of this ETF, and if so, what would you replace it with?

Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Lotar on July 07, 2016
Q: This is a company that is not discussed often. It appears to have a reasonable balance sheet and has raised its dividend for 27 straight years. It does operate in a cyclical industry but it has seemed to manage this well, in part, I would think, because of its used equipment and repair operations. Is this a company you would recommend?

Also, refrigeration is a part of its operations. How does that unit fit in with its heavy equipment franchise? Are there resulting synergies, is it a different customer base, thereby offering diversification or are they the same customers and therefore there are reduced sales and marketing costs?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on July 06, 2016
Q: Hi
I'm looking for a handful of high yielding companies with a good balance sheet.
In what order would you rank the companies listed? Any other companies you really like that could also be included or preferred over these? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Carlo on July 04, 2016
Q: 9:53 AM 6/29/2016

Hello Peter:

Today you made this distinction between "Safe" and "Secure" dividends in your answer to Grant asking about Superior Plus : "We would consider the dividend 'secure'. 'Safe' is a different category completely".

1. I am looking to concentrate on companies whose dividends you consider to be in the "safe" category, and which yield over 3.5% as these should/must be at least the main core of any pensioner's holdings for reliable income. This can be confusing to sort out since I presume that you will not consider all banks, utilities, telcos, REITS, Pipelines, etc. qualify as "safe".

2. So if you could sort out a short list of the few that qualify for the "Safe Dividend" category it would be most appreciated. I do understand that disasters do occasionally happen, and any company no matter how safe can get into trouble.

2. This brings up the problem of portfolio concentration caused by owning only a few names or sectors. Is it better or "ok" to just own a portfolio of only "Safe" dividend stocks, or are we advised to dilute the quality of our portfolios and own some less safe dividend stocks to supposedly "diversify" risk? This harks back to the people whose portfolio consists of only the big five Canadian Banks and who have done brilliantly for the past 50 years!

Your considered opinion on this issue will be most appreciated........ Paul K.

Read Answer Asked by Paul on June 30, 2016
Q: I wish to add a utility stock to my holdings. Do you have a preference between Boralex and Algonquin? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Patricia on June 30, 2016
Q: I have a full 3% position here, its one of my more well timed picks as I entered in Jan at $9.25. I am concerned a little here in regards to its big brother TransAlta Corp. It's apparently got itself up for sale and is certainly struggling. To what extent do the two relate now? If TA fails or is sold on the cheap how will it impact RNW? I like the div. but since I have a good capital gain am wondering if I should lighten up here in favor of a perhaps other safer renewable. Your thoughts, thanks
Read Answer Asked by James on June 30, 2016
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