Investment Q&A

Q: My Virtual Brokers account still shows shares of Guestlogix (gxi:ca) and Newnote Financial (neu:ca). Both companies went out of business several years ago. Can I get anything for these, ie some bankrupsy settlement? Should they be removed and junked, or is there any benefit to do nothing and wait?

Q: Read your report on PHO. Curious about the rating. On your sidebar you have a rating of B+ but overall rating of B-. Why is the meaning of the difference between these 2 "ratings"?

Q: Hi There
Can you tell me of a website (other than Bloomberg) where I can find reliable Cash Flow information - preferably FCF. Alternatively, or as well, AFFO info. Thanks.

Q: Hello 5i team,
Thank you for your help today- what I’m hoping to get some perspective on is tactics one could do to grow a portfolio- what you’d think wise or stupid, please.
In TFSA, two holdings happen to be up: AQN by 35% and NPI by 21%. Everything else is in the minus by -30 to -35% due to the current situation as generally they’re ok businesses, like two banks, phone co, etc.
Tactically, would it be an idea to sell the two that are up, and buy a few which are quite down now, then in due course replace what was sold?
I was thinking of more banks like BNS or BMO, and PPL, CNQ,SU, and KEY.
The idea being that the gains over time would be more than the growth in price of the two being sold, thus netting an overalL growth in funds.

In RRSP, two are close to break even, just a couple hundred dollars each in the red, namely T and NA.
If sold, I was thinking of BIP, BPY, and maybe SU, CNQ, and BMO- fairly similar to the TFSA idea.

I like dividends, I know SU just reduced; I’ve not heard if these others have/plan to. I think I’m fine with a 3-5yr estimation of recovery period for these ‘down’ stocks, if you think that’s likely.

I’d appreciate your counsel on this, thanks very much!

Q: Hello,
I was about to question when I should make a significant buy in my kids’ TFSA’s, and should I wait until 2nd and 3rd quarter earnings are out which could substantially affect the market to the downside. Then I read your article: Unintended Investments consequences from Covid crisis. You seem to have answered that very well in that the Central banks of the world have a “put” on the floor of the world’s markets and the worlds’ governments have politically put cash in the hands of those who need it most somewhat enabling the economy.
So in other words, you would suggest to get a move on and start investing before the expensive market becomes more so?
Cheers,
Rick

Q: Exit strategy - with a rapid bounce in equity markets, there is increasing potential for draw down in equities. If things go south, what exit strategy would you recommend.

Q: I believe recently discussed a maneuver to exchange CAD to USD. Is that something I can do in a self directed I trade account?

It seems to me that if this is a dead cat bounce in the market and there is another test of lows that having USD would be a good hedge. What are your thoughts on the best currency to preserve capital?

Q: This is in response to an answer you gave on an earlier question today. As you may have gathered I am rather new to options. I wonder, first of all, whether you might be able to suggest a resource to understand the basics. I have been doing well but have stayed pretty close to the bit I do understand. Mostly covered calls. But, related to the question I asked earlier about the covered call on TD, to avoid capital gains, could I not buy back the call before expiration? I know this might cost me a bit of money. But, it would allow me to take the chance of trying to make some option premiums on some of the stocks I own, without the worry about capital gains and taxes. I am not familiar enough with this to know, though, whether it could be a useful strategy.
thanks

Q: Do you know of a website that lists or graphs all sector values over time for the TSX? I can find average one year or five year values on the RBC website and on Bloomberg.com but I don't see a more comprehensive source of data. I would like a visual comparison of how the various sectors have changed over the past ten years or so. Thanks

Q: Good day,
Is a non-bank brokerage safer than one owned by one of the big six? Do non-bank brokerages trade for their own accounts and have the same kind of risks a bank owned brokerage has in the event of a banking crisis?
Thank you.

Q: I am retired and am more interested in capital preservation and income. I try to hold mailly blue chipd...banks, ENB, BCE etc. I have no experience with puts and calls but have been reading extensively and playing in a practice account. I also own BMOs ZWU etc. I intend to start selling covered calls at or near the money as a way to increase my income. I have assumed that the income from selling puts and calls effectively lowers my cost base but cannot find anywhere that confirms this so my questions are:
- Am I correct
- Given the volitivity ( I have no idea whether to be bullish or bearish right now), is this the right market to be doing this in?
Thanks
Don

Q: I heard what I thought was a very interesting interview with Tudor Jones today. It is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9VpVf3g9Y0

My question to you is do you agree with his point of view? Would you think it wise for me to follow along and include it at 2% of my portfolio? That would be around $230,000. If yes what is the easiest and safest way for me to buy it? If no, why not?

Thanks


Sheldon

Q: Some people have been inquiring as to where to park cash. Do you have any information about the Manitoba Credit Unions? I have recently inquired and have found that deposits in a high interest savings account are guaranteed under the "Deposit Guarantee Corporation of Manitoba" for an unlimited amount, paying 2%. Has anyone used one of them and did you like them? I also put this out in the forums. I would like to hear of someone that has opened an annount, and if they were satisfied.
Thanks for any help

Q: Do you have good source of information regarding us tech stock ?
(newsletters ?). Thanks !
Martin

Q: Hello 5i,
This is a general question on investing. Say if i own TD, for instance, and i don't want to lose it, or something similar to it. Is it a reasonable practice to sell a covered call on TD and at the same time and roughly the same date, sell a put on something like BNS. I don't really mind if i end up owning the both of them, either.
Thanks

Q: Dear Peter and Ryan.

Thank for your great work. I have a full time job and receive T4. I am filing income taxes for some capital gain last year. I am wondering whether I can claim the membership subscription here as an expense to offset the capital gain. Where to fill the number if yes?

Thanks again,
Yiwen

Q: I notice that the daily volume of trading with most of the stocks I own is well below the average. Doesn’t that make this recovery more fragile? Bill

Q: My daughter's mortgage is up for renewal in December. The bank called and offered to renew early. She is currently paying 2.64% (5 yr fixed) and they offered 2.87%. She was asking my thoughts on what rates might do over the next 5 years and whether to take their offer?

My initial thoughts are a) USA-Cdn rates will probably go lower (and possibly negative) to stimulate the economy; b) the bank is calling now to try to lock in her mortgage at a higher rate as opposed to in December when rates will most likely be lower. My guess is to decline the offer.

What does your crystal ball show regarding interest rates over the next 5 year period?

Thanks...Steve

ps We bought our 1st house at 20.25% and our lowest rate was 8%. So from that perspective, at sub 3% who cares?

Q: Hi 5i:
Just a comment for Mark who asked about a good way of arranging a charitable donation of SHOP shares with a big embedded capital gain. He might check out the CanadaHelps.org website as they facilitate this sort of thing, have a very broad range of charities to donate to, and make it relatively easy. It is flexible so with something like SHOP you could donate several shares and distribute it to a number of different charities, one share apiece if you want to. The tax receipt is great because it is for the full market value of the shares at the moment of the actual transfer and comes electronically from CanadaHelps. There is no tax on the capital gain that you are giving away. You can share your contact info with the recipient organizations, or not if you’d prefer anonymity over junk mail.
Cheers for the giving!

Q: Thanks for all your support. At the rate I'm having to trim Shop, I believe I will be running into tax issues.

Do you or other members have a simple way to quickly and simply sell shares to charities for tax purposes?

Any suggestions on how to track capital gains during the year?

Appreciatively,
Mark