Investment Q&A

Q: I am going to give you another chance to answer Keith's question from earlier today about what caused the big drop in some 5i "market darlings" yesterday. I cannot believe it is just coincidence that this happened to these stocks on a day when the TSX was the only North American exchange that was open. Somehow I have to believe that there was some, if not manipulation, at least coordination with the Canadian fund managers. My list of stocks that were impacted by about 5% down on the day were BYD, ATD.B, CSU, ESL, CCL.B and SJ. My capital gains on these stocks range between 55% (SJ) and 260% (CSU). My reaction was to buy some CSU yesterday to increase my ACB from 115 to 140 which will at least delay to some extent the day of reckoning when the tax man will get his hands on my capital gains when I want to sell something (which was definitely not yesterday). I thought that might be what Canadian fund managers were doing as well, (ie the funds which have low ACB's on these stocks were willing buyers from those funds who got into these stocks later in the game and were willing to sell for whatever reason. But your answer to Keith said that was not likely. So again, please wrack your brains and see if you can come up with some kind of answer to what happened yesterday. Thanks.

Q: In response to Bill's request for a DRIP site where shares are exchanged I highly recommend the following. I have used it for well over a decade and it is moderated and we have never had an issue with anyone.


http://www.dripinvesting.org/boards/boards.asp

Q: Hi 5i team

I'm trying to put together a excel spread sheet of my portfolio for better analysis based on the financials. What would be the best way to calculate the free cash flow? Is ROIC an important measurement of profitability or is ROA sufficient? Thank you.

Q: Hi Peter and Team,

With the recent market turmoil and economic conditions expected for the next little while can you name 3-5 companies that you think would be absolute BUYs? Whether they are solid companies that have been brought down with the general market, or ones that can actually benefit from the current conditions.

Thanks,

Jordan

Q: I know in the past you have mentioned that you use Bloomberg Professional. I'm just wondering if you could recommend websites or software that the average person can take advantage of for Canadian market research and portfolio tracking?

Q: I think the U.S. is going into a recession as some have predicted and much of the data supports. Ones overall view of the big picture should be paramount, not the buy the dip mentality which has been pervasive view and correct over the last few years, prior to 2015. Things have changed and the markets are forcasting the change. Cash will be safe but until the change for the better starts to happen, I recommend stay in cash. Not for everyone, but if you invest or trade, you have to sleep at night. just one point of view and this makes a market go up and down. Watch all the data. not good at the moment imhop.

Q: I am interested in some balancing to my overwhelming Canadian holdings.
1. Can you suggest some low MER ETFs to provide US and World (excluding North America)?
2. What do you think of 'fundamental' ETFs compared to those based on 'market cap'? Any suggested names for further research?
The complexity of the expanding ETF field seems self defeating to their intended purpose. Thank you for your guidance.

Q: Short term placement for $150,000 US in todays very volatile market 3 - 6 months. Growth only!
As always, thank you for your expertize.

Q: In response to Derek's question regarding Veresen's 2 DRIP's I just point out that they do not have an OCP (Optional Cash Purchase) component.

So he cannot buy more shares via directly within the plans (for no charge).

I have DRIP'd many companies for over a decade, not referring to the synthetic DRIP's financial institutions offer, and have set up many people in Canada. I know a lot of investors like to send in an OCP regularly or occasionally and find it a component they require.

There are many CDN. companies with DRIP's with and without a 2% - 5% discount on reinvested dividends, but that do not have an OCP component.

ALA still has a 5% discount on reinvested dividends for example, ENB 2% and REI.un 3.1% off the top of my head.

There is a site where people exchange (sell) for no fee to each other to set up DRIP's. Only 1 share usually is required except NA which requires 100 as I recall. Cost is usually stock price + a stamp + $10. As opposed to getting a share certificate from one's brokerage account transferred from Street form into the individual's name and charge $50 to $100 typically.

Hope this is of help to Derek or someone.

Q: The stock price has dropped to what seems to be a very attractive level.

High dividend and several new projects that could increase cash flow.

I would like your comments Thanks

Q: If I may add a follow up to your reply to Michael. I presume people subscribe to your service because they believe, and rightly so, that one can outperform the tsx composite. Accordingly the fact that the TSX composite may or may not have been flat for the past 10 years is not really relevant. I suspect many of your subscribers have handily beat the tsx composite index over the 10 year period.

Q: I have 80 % of my portfolio invested in the NYSE ( 10% Europe not hedged), I want to start moving some of my portfolio back into Canadian stocks but the CAN Dollar keeps weakening as does oil. Any suggestions or indicators I should use to start pulling the trigger? Thanks so much!

Q: Hey guys, last February you hosted a 5i seminar in Mississauga, are there any plans on making it a yearly event?

Thanks,

Jim

Q: Hi Peter & team, what is the difference between the Consumer Defensive sector and the Consumer Cyclical sector? Is Consumer Defensive another word for Consumer Staples (such as loblaw or Procter & Gamble)? Is Consumer Cyclical another word for Consumer Discretionary (such as Canadian Tire or A&W)? Thanks, Gervais

Q: I am wondering how safe Money Market funds are. It is my understanding that they invest in financial instruments and could possibly tank if for example those instruments (and perhaps the financial system) collapses, so your cash out would not equal cash in. Is cash truly the king in terms of certainty? In this case, would there be any insurance coverage (referencing your earlier response to another person asking about Money Market funds)?

Q: In response to the question re "not withdrawing capital" if one is retired, I am in the same situation. However, my portfolio is set up to produce enough dividends, so that we can "not withdraw capital". My assumption is that if the banks and telcos have to reduce dividends, we are all in big trouble! Before retiring, I also made sure we had the biggest line of credit the bank would give us, on our house, so I could draw on the line of credit if we need extra cash, and pay it back when stocks recover. If interest rates were 6%, my portfolio would be a more classic 60/40 split.
The bottom line is that living off your investments in retirement is complicated (but I enjoy the challenge), nerve racking at times and something I should have thought about more 10 years before retiring.
PS Probably belongs in forums

Q: Peter,
I read with interest today on Reddit about your investment education and experiences prior to starting 5i. I was struck by one comment, "There is guilt there but I am trying to make amends". It seems to me that the investment world is multi-faceted in its "guilt" and I would ask the following questions. Where are the investment regulators in this industry? And what are their rules on "conflict of interest" when it comes to investing? What about the individual investor's greed that drives them to ignore risk in an investment? Don't get me wrong - I am very happy that you started 5i - but I wouldn't beat yourself up about things beyond your control in the investment world.

Q: I was reading an article entitled "Markets down without uptick rule" by Daniel McGroarty and Larry Reaugh. Vancouver Sun. It was about 'stopping the shorting' to get Canadian Companies back on track for 2016. Can you explain it in laymen's terms and your views as to whether they are on track. Thankhttp://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-vancouver-sun/20160106/281745563370518/TextView

Q: Your thoughts on Sandvines earnings report today & initiation of dividend. Love the service Thank you If asked, answered & posted already pls disregard.

Q: In an earlier response you made a reference to “the typical small cap January bounce after a disastrous year”. I’m holding a few big loosers which I was looking to dump for a year end portfolio clean-up. I didn’t want to do any selling in the middle of the tax-loss selling season and was holding on in hopes of this “January bounce”. Given the way the market has started off the year so far, I’m beginning to think the chances of a bounce have all but faded away. Looking into your crystal ball, would you suggest still holding out a little while longer in the hope of a minor short term rebound in some of the names that have been decimated over the last year?