Investment Q&A

Q: Can you give me a few names with the safest dividends and yielding over 3.5%? In evaluating dividend safety do you prefer to calculate the payout ratio vs earnings, operating cash flow or free cash flow? If FCF do you average CapEx over a few years or use depreciation as a proxy for stay in business CapEx?

Q: Over the last few years, I've become familiar with the likes of David Stockman, Marc Faber, Jim Rickards, Peter Schiff, Jim Rogers, and other well-known perma-bears. They spend a lot of time warning about sky high stock valuations, extreme asset inflation generally, the banning of cash, the importance of precious metals, impending market crashes, runs on banks, the freezing of stock exchanges, and other light fare. I try to balance their dire outlook with more sanguine perspectives, but I'm always wondering if some of the extreme scenarios they envision will ever materialize.

For instance, Marc Faber appeared on BNN a few days ago, warning that the share prices of some of the most successful companies are headed to zero in the coming years. He didn't specify which ones.

Are you familiar with any of these pundits, and should any of their warnings be taken seriously? Thanks for your thoughts. I'm due back at the bunker now...

Q: Hi 5i Team,
I recently learned that Canada has enacted a "bail-in" regulation so that systemically important financial institutions can recapitalize by converting some of their liabilities (deposits) into capital should another financial shock occur. Is this fact? How does this regulation work and How does one avoid forced conversion of savings?

Thanks for you great service.
Regards,
Danny

Q: Hi 5i;
Just a curiosity question . My current Financial planner has me invested in a couple ETF`s with MER`s of about .96% . That MER expense gets paid out of my fund but who gets that amount , my Financial Planner or the company the ETF is purchased from ?
Thanks
Bill

Q: Almost every investing article we read state "investors" doing whatever... Whenever I read that, I think of us little guys poring over our computers at the kitchen table. But I know better than that. I know "investors" are dominated by the big funds, insurance companies, pension funds, etc. But I'm curious. What percentage of investors are the retail investors?

Q: I am considering this ETF. What would be the principal drivers of performance for this ZCM? My understanding was that the return of corporate bonds more closely parallel equities compared to government bonds, but I see that in 2015, ZCM still managed to eke out a positive return despite the overall decline in Canadian equities. I also note that it has produced a positive return every year since inception. How closely correlated to stock returns do you expect ZCM to be? What is the likelihood of this product generating a negative return in any one calendar year, and what kind of scenario might have to play out in order for that to happen?

Q: With today's carnage on Bad and last weeks HCG and the fact that it is done from the States makes it obvious that shorting on the Canadian side is a lot easier and as you say without regulatory control. What makes it different in the States and why is it not here?

Q: Hi 5i
I have 4 different trading accts, Can.cash,US Cash TFSA & SDRRSP, when measuring ones diversification % do you include all accts into the mix? If heavy e.g. Finacials which acct is best to move or sell from, what is recommended TFSA or Bank stock?
Thanks Scott 60yrs and trying to catch up.

Q: Can you explain how expected earnings for a company are determined? And how accurate those earnings usually are? As an example, I was thinking about the recent run up in SIS before the quarterly earnings and its decrease after the actual earnings were reported. Thanks!

Q: The stock options announced today seems very generous given the stocks history and current trading price.
Should I be concerned about this?
I currently hold 1% position.
Thanks
John


Calgary, Alberta - May 12, 2017 - FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (“FLYHT”) (TSX-V: FLY) (OTCQX: FLYLF) is pleased to announce it has granted incentive stock options for an aggregate 3,660,220 common shares, subject to regulatory approval, to employees, officers and directors under the stock option plan approved at the Annual and Special Meeting held on May 10, 2017.

Q: My question is on over diversification - or indexing. My personal portfolio is over 8 figures. I currently hold 44 stocks spread accross the various sectors as shown below.

Technology 17%, Consumer Cyclical (Discretionary) 15%, Financial Services 15%, Industrials 11%, Consumer Defensive (Staples) 10%, Basic Materials, Metals, Mining 8%, Healthcare 8%, Communications / Telecom 5%, Energy 5%, Real Estate 3%, Utilities 3%.

The stock choices within are the BE portflio plus some top picks. With a portfolio of this size, my mind is having a hard time dropping the portfolio down to 20 stocks. I guess it is all relative. In your experience as a fund manager how many stocks are about right? I have adopted your style of buying a stock and holding it until the story has changed.

Thank you

Q: Is there a way to easily find free cash flow? What metrics do you like to focus on ?

Q: A comment on your response to Ken today on defining a half/full position.You totally confused me with the short answer sent him. This link, perhaps, explains thing s more precisely:
https://seekingalpha.com/article/3361795-what-makes-a-full-position-or-half-position-in-a-dividend-growth-portfolio

Q: I have seen large gains evaporate. Most of us operate on gut feeling or when pain of loosing becomes unbearable.

Please give your criteria to sell. Are these criteria available to individual investors. Thanks.

Q: Just an observation, wouldn't be better if (at least for the companies covered, and maybe for the ones mostly asked by members) when results are available or something unusual happens to a company to provide an overview of the situation? I think this will cut on the clutter and having many people asking about the same thing and probably more important save you time and for us to have timely information.

Publish at your discretion.

Thanks
M

Q: Hi Peter/Ryan and team:
Two questions if you would be so kind to consider.
I have read numerous times your or members use of the term 'half position' Could you explain in layman's terms what is a half position and what is a full position. Maybe an example would clear it up for me.
Question #2 is about A&W's declared dividend.
"A&W Revenue Royalties Income Fund (the Fund) (TSX symbol AW.UN) today declared a cash distribution of 13.3 cents per trust unit for the period April 1 to April 30, 2017. The distribution will be paid to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 15, 2017, and will be payable on May 31, 2017. This distribution will be taxed as a non-eligible dividend, as the source of funds to pay the distribution is a dividend from A&W Trade Marks Inc." What and why is it they state the distribution will be taxed as a non-eligible dividend. Will this then be taxed like interest? If held in a Non-Registered account will this still be taxed at the preferred dividend rate, assuming a T3 slip is issued? Thanks again for all your answers to the many questions you receive. Ken ... :-)

Q: Hi Team,
I believe the short interest in Shopify is now about 4.77% of the US float. Do you have any guidance on when the short interest can become large enough that the stock could become the victim of a short attack? I also know that SHOP has a fair bit of cash on hand and no debt, which may help protect it. Any thoughts you have about how a short interest in SHOP, or more generally any company, might become debilitating for a stock's price would be appreciated.
Thank you, Michael

Q: Hello Peter, Ryan et al:

A while ago you had shared your experience after reviewing portfolios for the members. I vaguely recall you talking about sector allocation , asset allocation and such.
Is the magical number of 100 k per year income/withdrawal ( that seems to the number most articles seem to suggest that one needs to retire comfortably) realistic in the current climate? To me it looks as though one needs enormous amount of money to generate this kind of steady stream of money.

What type of portfolios you suggest to would be seniors to generate this kind of steady stream with a lot less money!
I know you can only give broad stroke suggestions.

A suggestion: You can also through your blog give your recent experience after reviewing members' portfolios, of course masking the identity etc., That will be useful.
Thanks in advance.

Q: I must convert my RRSP to a RRIF this year. I want to add about 10 good company stocks that have 1,3,5&10 year compounded returns > 10% to boost the overall annual performance. I have identified the companies and now I want to pick the least volatile ones. I have data regarding beta, return on equity and debt to equity. I'm inclined to do my selection based on the lowest beta, highest ROE and lowest debt to equity in that order. Does this seem effective to accomplish my goal and/or can you suggest a more effective selection process? Thank you.

Q: I have sold 40% of my shopify position to take some profit and am now sitting with 6% cash in my non registered investment account. What options might be available to me to park the cash until I see some exceptional buying opportunities. Second question is that I am seeing several investment articles recommend a larger cash position as there may be a correction given very high valuations that appear to have too much "hype or anticipation" factored in. What percentage would you recommend I maintain in my investment account. I am sitting at approximately 6% in my non registered account and 10 % in my RRSP. Thank you for the great service.
Deborah