Investment Q&A

Q: How do you feel of the Vsn-KKr-Encana deal especially with regards to VSN

Q: Hi Peter & 5i: Can you please give me your current assessment of Calian? I do not own it now but I have in the past. They seem to fly under the radar mostly. I know they are a very low volume trader, have a very small float, small market cap, and they have some history of share buybacks. I also know that they are substantially dependent on government contracts. With the shares under $18 and the dividend over 6% again, I am thinking about buying a small position but I am wondering if there is anything of particular concern on their horizon, apart from their 'regular concerns' that is. Thanks very much and the Best of the Season to all at 5i!

Q: Can I get your updated views on Park Lawn Corp (PLC-V)? It has risen quite significantly lately, am I'm wondering if I'm too late to initiate a position.

Thanks!

Q: I own SLF and plan to hold it through the pending interest rate increases. I also hold VNR, ZUT and ZWB each at a small profit. Would you continue to hold these latter 3 much longer and risk a price slide? Thanks.

Q: This is a bond fund(managed by Daniel Ivascyn & Alfred Murata) that had performed quite well,but showed weakness the last 2 weeks, with quite wide fluctuations last few sessions.On Dec 19,it dropped 0.158(1.09%) fr 14.4986 on 12/18 to 14.341.Maybe there is a distribution next week as it did so on Dec 23,2013.Have a 7.63% return since purchase in 3/13.Please provide your expert advice on this fund & whether I should HOLD or SELL.Appreciate your usual excellent advices & services. Merry X'mas & All the Best for the New Year

Q: Hi Peter,
Can you give me your opinion on alaris and should I continue to hold? thanks Clare

Q: Hi Peter and Co.

May I have your opinion on this bond...TRANSALTA MTN 6.4% 18NV19? The bond is presently trading at $110.36*, and I do have a nice capital gain. I have no problem holding the bond (in my RSP) until maturity, but am concerned about the safety of the bond considering the price decline in TA's stock price. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Merry Christmas to the staff at 5iResearch.

Arnie

Q: Hi guys,

I have 2 separate questions, but I thought it would be simpler to submit them both together.

1 - Given the recent bounce in energy stocks, do you believe we've put in a bottom in oil and the energy shares or do you think its just a bounce to be followed by renewed selling pressure. Despite the strong performance in shares like CPG and VET, RSI indicators still show that these stocks are not close to overbought yet.

2 - I have no fixed income exposure. I'm fairly young at 36 years old, but I want to increase exposure to fixed income over the next few years as interest rates, potentially, start to rise. What type of fixed income products, do you prefer? Corporate debt, rate reset preferreds, GICs (if rates get high enough) and should I stagger these purchases after central banks start raising rates or wait a bit after the first rate hike and then purchase.

Thanks for your help and happy holidays!
Jason

Q: I own vsn, vsn.pr.a and vsn.pr.c.
Today Scott Barlow in the Globe and Mail has singled out Veresen one of the companies that could be vulnerable because of their high debt level. Do you share his views? Are the dividends safe for both VSN and the preferreds? Do you recommend holding these shares?

Q: Peter and Co.
For a while you favoured Boston Pizza but now you favour A&W. To me they appear to be similar except in size. I have been considering BPF but seeing a local BP close has me wondering if there is something going on that is below my radar. Can you please explain why you now seem to favour A&W and is BPF OK? Thanks in advance and I wish you all and the other members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Gary

Q: IPL sure had some strange volume trading today -25 million shares - what would do this?

All the best of the Season to you!

Q: Hello- CSE provided an update yesterday - adjusted Ebitda is expected lower than 2014 ...what do you think of the company's long term prospects? Buy , sell or hold??
Thank you

Q: Dear Agent. Would this stock be a solid buy.Eddie

Q: What are your thoughts on Enbridge and Pembina Pipelines now after the big drop? Is it a good entry point or will there be more weakness if the price of oil continues to drop? Also, Will they be affected if interest rates start to rise in the States next year? Which one do you prefer?

Thanks

Q: Merry Christmas Peter and Team.
With your help the stock portion of my portfolio has grown and I need to add about 5% to my bond portion.
With no room in a sheltered account TFSA or RRSP could you suggest an ETF or other investment to add bond type safety in a non sheltered account.

Q: Are utilities selling off strictly due to potential interest rate concerns or is there a potential link to lower energy prices. For instance, lower energy prices might reduce demand for alternative energy sources (wind, solar, etc.)? Also Northland Power in particular has been hard hit, any specific reason you know of? Thank-you.

Q: Hi Peter and team.
could you give me your opinion on ZWH, ie, how the covered calls function and if the dividend is safe. i am hoping for a 8 to 10 % annual return from it.
thank you
cliff

Q: Hello, Preference between these two companies? Long term hold as part of a balanced portfolio, growth prospects, dividend growth? Other names more preferred? Thanks,Lavern

Q: Hello 5i team,

dec 12 it was announced "COM DEV International Ltd (CDV.TO) has signed an agreement to acquire 100 percent of MESL Microwave Ltd for £12.8 million in a transaction that expands COM DEV's market and product portfolios."

I have a small position in my portfolio. Can you please comment on this purchase and what you expect for CDV over the next 2 years please?

Thanks for all you do

Gord

Q: Hi Peter - I am light on utility stocks and would like your comments on the following beat up utility stocks and how you would rank them currently based on 2-3 yr total return. Stocks are ALA, PPL, IPL, CSE, KEY, TRP, ENB. Thanks for your great service!!