Investment Q&A

Q: good for income at this level ????. risks ??????

Q: Can you please review Liberty All-Star Growth Fund (ASG:US). Net assets of approximately $ 193 million, Expense ratio 1.22%. Would you consider it investible?
Thank you for considering my question.

Q: Hello 5i Team

I am reviewing global infrastructure / real asset closed end funds as a means to diversify into US/Global infrastructure companies. Two examples I could find on the Canadian Market are Brookfield Global Infrastructure Securities Income Fund (BGI.UN) and Middlefield Global Real Asset Fund (RA.UN).
Questions are:

1 - Which is the better choice BGI.UN or RA.UN?
2 - Any Canadian or US listed ETFs that I should be looking at?
3 - Any other Canadian Closed End Funds I should be looking at?
4 - Any US listed Closed End Funds I should be looking at?
5 - What is a reasonable MER for these products (BGI.UN is 1.25 % and RA.UN is 1.10 %)?
6 - What is the minimum assets under management (AUM) I should be looking at ( BGI.UN is +/- $102M and RA.UN is +/- $100M)?
7 - Any other items to review?
Thanks

Q: Hello your thoughts on UTG US

Q: I know that 5i has not generally recommended these split corp funds but I would like your take in this scenario. We know they bottom when asset value drops below an acceptable number and this has occurred. I recall years ago the same thing happened and yields disappeared and values plummeted. When the market bounced back however each roughly doubled and paid lucrative dividends until of course the next major downturn. My question given that we all expect new highs some day, is whether these would not be nice tuck ins today that will eventually appreciate if not double and begin paying great dividends?

Q: Would appreciate your analysis on this company.

Q: I've held since its inception due to a) the track record of the former Sprott fund manager, and b) beause it was a fund that would have tools to perform well during a stock market setback. I am looking to sell as the fund did not fulfill purpose b. Am I missing something? And can I sell JFS.UN as I would my other stocks (without a penalty) in my Direct Investing account?

Q: May I have your opinion on GAMCO Natural Resources, Gold & Income, for income? It's a covered call fund yielding 12% dividend. The holdings include 45% metals and mining, 20% energy, and the rest in health, industrials, agriculture. It seems to be 55% held by insiders. How secure is it for income, in your opinion? Thank you.

Q: Hello strictly as an'income source could you give-me your opinion,payout divi.
Tank You
Dan

Q: I would like to know how this fund pays such a large dividend in relation to the yields of its holdings. Secondly, how likely is it to maintain the distribution, especially in respect of the energy holdings. Thanks

Q: Could I please have your opinion of this fund. I am a retired income investor looking for diversification away from Canada. The only knock I can see in it is 30% of the holdings are financials, mainly US banks, which I do not own but like most Canadians I am overweight Canadian financials.

Q: If DFN moves over $5.00 per share in April will they reinstate the dividend for May ?

Q: DFN, the high-dividend split share fund that people sometimes ask about, has missed its first dividend since its inception in 2004. It even paid the monthly dividend throughout 2008-09. I see the share price is up this morning. I don't think people realize they will not receive the dividend and that it could be many months or even years before the dividend returns.

Q: What are your thoughts on EIT? It seems, at the moment, to be trading well below NAV. When I read the list of top 25 holdings, it mostly looks reasonable to me. But I'm not sure I understand their press release:
"[EIT] announces today that it has determined to suspend the Premium Distribution(TM) component and Distribution Reinvestment component of its Premium Distribution(TM), Distribution Reinvestment and Optional Cash Purchase Plan (the "DRIP") ".
I get that they've cancelled the DRIP but what is the Premium Distribution? What is the forward dividend at this time?

Q: RA and INF were integrated March 9th.
Yet I deal with 3 banks and none are showing the integration. Looking for the new market cap and new discount to NAV.
The yield shows 17.6 %, dividend shows $ 2.39 but this is RA only as before the merge.
Again looking to see what would be the yield with INF merged.

Many thanks,

Q: Big drop today when rest of market is rebounding. Are you able to speculate on why the selling is happening at such low values ?

Q: What are your thoughts on this fund now that a lot of the bleak scenarios you referenced in past questions are now upon us? Also, how does Quadravest rate in your opinion of fund managers? Thank-you.

Q: Can you please give me some guidance on MFR.UN. I hold it for income but after the recent collapse in value I am wondering if I should still continue to hold. What would you replace it with?
Thank you

Q: Two questions:
1. Your thoughts on Fairfax India Holdings (FIH.U:CA) latest earnings results, please.
2. I don't understand if they are in CAD or USD. Would I buy them in my Canadian or US Margin account? Thank you.

Q: What is the typical life expectancy of a private fund such as RA ?
Has Brookfield ever terminated one, if so how does this happen, what are the mechanics in play for the investor ?
From their website Brookfield owns +30% of the fund , is this not a good reason to buy RA ?
Thanks