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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: PWB is issuing a series of preferred shares. Can I please have your take on what your comfort level would be with these?
Read Answer Asked by Adam on October 06, 2014
Q: Hello
I recently sold ZWB at $17.85 and now planning to buy CEW (equal weight banks and insurance companies ETF) Is this ok or would you suggest a better alternative.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by satish on October 06, 2014
Q: LTS.us appears to be defying the mkt, and is steadily moving up. What is your assessment? And should I wait to buy? As a financial service company, though small in size, it may have found a niche that will propel it forward.
Read Answer Asked by Lionel on October 01, 2014
Q: This is a follow up question on Blackstone. Is it true that some private equity clients are trying to do deals themselves, reducing the need for services provided by companies like BX. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Francis on October 01, 2014
Q: Can I please have your opinion on Black Stone BX on NYSE. Is it a buy, hold or sell. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Francis on October 01, 2014
Q: Hi 5i team. There was a time,if bank dividend yields (Canadian banks) are over 55% of the 10yrs, government bond yields, they are considered a reasonable buy. At 80% of 10 yrs, a strong buy. It would be screaming now but, of course, we know that the whole yield curve is manipulated. What if things "normalize"? Again, it used to be that long term government bonds were generally around 3.5% (+/- 0.5% say) above the expected rate of inflation. Based on this, if inflation hits 2.5% as we normalize (afterall that is what the central banks want it at). Long bonds should be around 6.0% (+/- 0.5%). Assuming not too crazy a yield curve, 10 yrs bond should be about 3.75% to 4.25%. That means our banks are still goodish buys (based on the 55% assessment). That also means that if inflation moves up to 3% gradually, bank shares, given a stead earnings picture, should be able to sustain their value. Is any of this reasoning valid any more or is it really different this time? Thank as always. Henry
Read Answer Asked by Henry on September 29, 2014
Q: My US exposure is underweight. I am looking at Barclays (BCS), Lloyds (LYB), National Bank of Greece (NBG) as 3-5 year holds with the wishful thinking that they may return to their previous and glorious highs of 2007. Am I dreaming?
Alternatively, can you suggest any US regional banks for a similar timeframe and which large cap US bank, if any, is your favourite?
Thanks.
Steven
Read Answer Asked by Steven on September 29, 2014
Q: Hi Team

In looking at employment data, housing starts and a number of other indicators, it appears the US economy is moving forward in a positive direction.

I am thinking US Banking has to be in a positive light moving forward over the next 3 - 5 years.

Presently I hold Wells Fargo and have done quite well. I am looking at adding a second bank and was wondering if you would comment on USB vs Citibank & BAC (Bank of America)

I realized I am asking allot and am hoping you know how much I appreciate the help.

Thanks for all you do

Gord
Read Answer Asked by Gord on September 27, 2014
Q: Hi 5i: Just a comment related to recent questions about the relative merits of various Canadian banks. I have often heard the view expressed that 'the banks all run together,' implying that it doesn’t matter too much which one an investor selects to own. I have also heard suggested the strategy of ‘buying the laggard,’ on the theory that in time it will catch up to the group and thus provide a better return over that timeframe. Recently I took the time to put the big five Cdn banks on the same chart to compare their stock performance over a variety of time periods. I was a bit surprised by the results. Instead of converging over the longer time periods, their performance actually diverges significantly, though all provided fairly decent positive returns. The specific results (as of a couple of weeks ago) included the following:
1. Best over the past 3 months: BMO

2. Best over the past 6 months: BMO

3. Best over the past 1 year: CM

4. Best over the past 3 years: RY

5. Best over the past 5 years: TD

6. Best over the past 10 years: RY

The difference over the 10 year period was quite significant. RY’s price appreciation was the leader at over 160%, followed pretty closely by TD at about 150%. BNS was in the middle of the pack at almost 100% and BMO and CM were both under 60% appreciation. Adding the dividends into the mix might close the gap slightly from a total return perspective but the laggards would still be well behind the leaders over the 10 year time frame. (All presuming the charting function I was using was getting correct data and working properly.) Cheers!
Read Answer Asked by Lance on September 24, 2014
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