Investment Q&A

Q: You often make reference to diversification being the best defence against ups and downs in the market and that timing the market is a mugs game. I have seen the benefits of diversification in my own accounts but I am confused by what exactly defines "market timing".

I have two examples. One, many analysts talk about "going defensive" and buying defensive stocks, (whatever they are). Secondly, you talk about certain sectors being cyclical (oil, automotive to name a couple) and you even recently suggested, when referring to XTC "When inflation hits and interest rates rise for a sustained period of time to slow things down in the economy, it will be time to leave the ballpark.". Having made that remark, you still do suggest we stay in energy.

My question is, when is leaving a sector or "going defensive" considered market timing and when is it just good investment sense (if ever)? Or should we never really think in these terms and simply buy good companies, maintain a diversified portfolio and always ignore the ups and downs?

Looking forward to your valuable insight.

Paul F.

Q: What criteria do you use to determine potential takeout candidates ? Could you share a couple of examples Thanx Robbie

Q: Hi, Just a comment on Dave's missive about investing. There are more than one way of making money in the market. Different styles suit people with different temperaments. If you like buying when thing go up and make money, good on you. I'm more with Warren Buffet, I like stocks when they go down. As an example, in Jan 1998, oil was $13 a barrel(!!!)going to $10 and change. I took a full position in COS at $3.84 a share. People thought I was stupid as it took $14 (!!!) to produce a barrel from oil sands in those days. I sold most of my position at $50 (should have sold it all! But the remaining shares yield 36% on cost). Just different people, differing ways to make money. Henry

Q: Hi 5i,

I am currently 5% down on CPG in a non registered account. I am thinking of using this loss to offset my capital gains. I understand that there is a 30 day waiting period before entering into the same stock, but does this apply if I want to purchase before 30 days in a RRSP or TFSA instead of the non registered.
Thank you.
Janice

Q: I was looking at the US asset class 5 years returns an was surprised to see MLP's as indisputable No 1 (+200%), even far far from the Reits at +87%.
Could you explain the difference(S) of the 2 assets classes and if there is an MLP defined class in Canada?
Thanks

Q: Peter & crew I understand stocks are more easily moved in "Round" lots. If I have only 100k to invest & I want to limit at 5% per stock I'm restricted to buying stock that is 5% of 100k. For instance I've invested in CTC many times in the past; but at the price of CTC now I can't Why don't Ctc et al split so that more Canadians invest in good Canadian companies? What prompts companies to split? Thanks

Q: I have stock in Allergan. I understand that Actavis ACT.US has agreed to buy Allergan for $219 per share.

A Pershing- Valeant has sent a proxy to buy and replace Allergan directors.

I do not understand that if Allergan has been purchased by Actavis, why there is this proxy battle for Valeant still to buy Allergan. This was in the mail to-day

Q: It has come to my attention that we Canadians can purchase cross-listed stock AGU,BMO etc and enjoy US dollar dividends being paid into our accounts and not subject to any withholding tax because the head office is in Canada...is this really so? I even read you don't even have to purchase the NYSE listed version, one can simply purchase the tsx listed version and request your broker regularly pay dividends in your USD portion of your account...again have of you heard of this...? Can this be a good strategy?

Q: when do companies generallyannounce a dividend cut

Q: As a portfolio decision, I know you usually trim a position when it reaches 9-10%. However, when do you decide to add to a name when it drops from say a 5% position?

Q: Considering the Canadian $ vs US $ does it still makes sense to use CDN $ to buy US Equities. Looks to me like you would lose 15% right of the top.

Thank you as always for a great service.

Q: Hello Peter & Co,
Judy asked on Nov 27 about withdrawals from a RRIF. I am 71 and I understand that in a RRIF any withdrawal from any type of security is considered as retirement income; it is treated as cash and therefore taxed as such. In a tax sheltered account, there is no such thing as capital gains or dividend tax credits; when an income is withdrawn the whole amount is taxed as cash income. The reason is that all contributions one has made to an RRSP (within the prescribed limits) were tax deductible. The taxes one has not paid then will have to be paid later but, in counterpart, all the gains made were free of taxes thus boosting the compounding effect.
Regards,
Tony

Q: Hello Peter and Staff;
Is there any downside to purchasing an ETF in December, in terms of distribution of units. I know in the past when I have held mutual funds, I have taken a hit early in the new year which pertained to a fund timing purchase in the last couple of months of the previous year. ?any similarity in operation of etfs and mutual funds in this regard?. Thank you very much

Q: Regarding the question on RIF withdrawals,I try not to withdraw dividend stocks in kind - I leave them in my RIF and withdraw the dividend income in cash. If I withdraw dividend stocks in kind, the dividend gross up on top of the taxable amount of the withdrawal, cpp and oas, gets my taxable income too high (despite the dividend tax credit). So, for my required RIF withdrawal, I take the cash from dividends and top up the amount required with an in kind transfer of a non dividend stock such as GIL. I will pay capital gains in the future obviously. Do any of your members who have to make RIF withdrawals have any other ideas? It is a bit of a difficult transition to go from accumulating retirement funds, to then having to use them to fund retirement - something I should have been thinking about 10 years before retirement! My advice to anyone who has to live off their investments is to top up their TFSA's and to think about how to position your portfolio between RSP's and investment accounts well before retirement.

Q: Would you provide insights to a “Kitchen Sink Quarter” used to describe a company’s quarterly financials? One definition found on the web is: “To kitchen sink is to announce all of a company's bad financial news at one time. A company deliberately overloads a report or press conference to overwhelm the reader/listener.”

1) What other items can be included as “bad financial news” in addition to:
a) write downs (i.e.: closing parts of operations and/or higher than anticipated cost of merging companies),
b) bad loans/investments (i.e.: for financial institutions)
c) Restated financial statements (i.e.: due to accounting irregularities, income tax rulings)
d) Change in senior management

2) In your experience, is this a normal event which occurs to companies within all industries? Or more prevalent in specific industries (Eg: Banks during the 2008/2009 financial crisis) or trend with the market cycle?
3) Are there indications/trends when a company may report a “Kitchen Sink quarter” (E.g.: 4Q yearend)?
4) How do markets generally react to a “kitchen sink quarter” – i.e.: good news, wait and see or bad news? How would you view this type of quarter?
5) Would companies rated by 5i with grades B+ and higher, less likely to experience a “Kitchen sink quarter” due to its quality?

Thank you.

Q: In addition to your comment, I have a rule to follow very strictly my orders. At the open, it is open season for your trade if you do not want to control it. A good placement requires a little effort, also be aware that most "professional" traders enter the market around 10h30 to avoid the fog of your type of trade at the open... At the office you can use your phone to place a trade, better in my view.

Q: The ex dividend date is Nov 26.2014, the date of record is No 28. If I sold the stock on the 26th who gets the dividend.

Q: In response to Dennis Mcv comments on brokerage permissions.
I understand that brokers/bankers can only loan out your shares for short selling if they are in a margin account. So they tell us!!!
I think the only way to ensure that your shares are not short sold is if you hold in your hands the physical stock certificate. but who does that today. I have always believed that the practice of short selling is not a good thing and is destructive by its very nature.

Q: Hi, like most of your members, I have an on-line trading account. The problem that I encounter when I wish to buy shares is that I'm at work when the markets are open and I don't want to use my work computer to make trades. How do you suggest we place a Buy order once you've chosen an equity that you wish to purchase. You once wrote that we shouldn't place a "market" bid as that is like giving a blank cheque. Should I place a bid in before I leave for work and limit it to the previous day's closing price? Or what do you suggest?

Thank you for the education,

Q: Hi Peter and team, On Nov 5th YRI and K hit multi-year lows. Just 20 days later they have gained/recovered 22% and 54% respectively from that multi-year lows. Would like to know the underlying reasons for this quick recovery. Thanks.