Investment Q&A

Q: Still a new-ish member, wondering about the March 1 Research Report.

Am I correct in thinking that this extensive list does not represent necessarily your favorite stocks, just ones you have decided to do research on? I assume our favorite stocks are in the Model Portfolio instead. I am just wondering what criteria you use for a stock to make the research list, since there are many stocks you like in the Questions area which are not on the Research list.

Thanks so much, Peter, Ryan and team!

Q: You have advised to notice the start of dividend payment as a significant event in corporate development and investment worthiness.
Could you please list companies that have started dividend payments over the past 2 years plus any comments you have on them. Is there a site to find this sort of information? Thank you.

Q: Hi, question on reporting taxable gains. Several years ago I put some money into a trading account. I have not added or taken any out. I made several trades/gains last year but I am still down overall about 40% due to Lightstream holdings. Do I have to pay tax now on those trades ? I have of course being paying tax on the dividennds.

Q: Hello,


On Feb 27 a reader sent this comment. Can you provide more information as to where I can find this "guest fund websites".

Thanks


Not a question but a comment to my fellow members. I have noted a number of member remarks as to a shorting suggestion on a recent BNN telecast. I frequently watch these telecasts as well for different views. I would suggest that members go to the guest's fund web sites for performance of their particular fund as a reference point. I find myself that some guests have better advice than others. I do not find that particular recent guest to be in the more reliable camp. - See more at: https://www.5iresearch.ca/questions?page=5#sthash.OHPM5HZX.dpuf

Q: RE: Bill on CSU split

I don't understand the obsession with CSU stock split. I am happy with the dip as it allowed me to buy a few more shares at the price of 2 month ago. As a small investor, I bought 11 shares at $222. It cost me $9.99 for the trade - same as if I had bought 100 shares at $22 (assuming a 10:1 split).


The only two real benefits with stock split that I see are:

1- Full 100 share lot are easier to get filled on a 'limit' order than fractional lot. Full lot must get priority because I have seen prices go lower than my fractional 'limit' order without it being filled...

2- Spliting stock results in a lower price which is more easy to DRIP (divvy reinvest) if your discount broker requires full shares - like mine does. I am actually happy with HCG 2:1 split because I have sufficient (constant) divvy dollar to buy a full share now at $43 - but could not at $86. But with CSU, even with 2:1 split, the stock price would still be $125...

Q: Peter,
I am trying to find a Canadian website that gives financial ratios of Canadian stocks, Book value/share, cash/share, revenue/share, NTA/share, ect. ect. These ratios will be handy for comparing different stocks in the same sectors. Why is this information not easily available in Canada? If it is not available for free, is there a paid service that can provide these summaries?
Thanks.

Q: How can the average investor determine how much of a stake the company insiders have in the game? Some of us think it's an important factor in making our investment choices.Is it?
Thanks
Garry

Q: When you trade in a cash account, will the discount brokerage firm send you a capital gain/loss statement on each transaction made at year end or do you have to keep track of all the transactions yourself ? Thank you for the great service.

Q: Peter and team, I have a managed RRSP account that I wish to transfer into my self directed account. The account contains some large cap US stocks but mostly medium and small sized Cdn stocks. Is there a preferred strategy to move the account holdings ? I had thought to ask the firm to liquidate and transfer the proceeds but am now thinking the thinly traded small companies would be better sold over time. Is transferring everything in-kind better ? Thanks you.

Q: Do you have suggestions for safe places to park excess cash sitting in a discount brokerage RRSP, perhaps for a few months, while waiting to invest it in the market? I've used HFR (Horizons Floating Rate Bond ETF) previously.

Q: Hi Peter & 5i: Just a comment. I haven’t asked a question for a couple of months but I have continued to read the 5i members’ Q&A daily. I have gained lots of information from others’ questions and your responses. It may seem frustrating sometimes when someone asks a question you really can’t answer or includes a lot of extraneous information that won’t be relevant to your response. I very much appreciate your approach to answering these questions anyway; to try to give people something for their effort, at times despite the way they have asked their question. You are usually able to offer them something useful and sometimes that is useful for me too. If somebody asks for too much or provides too much info, it may just be that they don’t yet understand the turf well enough to ask for exactly what you can give them. But they still need some help and that is the point of their membership; to gain some assistance in an area they have not mastered and to be educated a little bit along the way. Thank you for your patience.

Q: Not a question but a comment to my fellow members. I have noted a number of member remarks as to a shorting suggestion on a recent BNN telecast. I frequently watch these telecasts as well for different views. I would suggest that members go to the guest's fund web sites for performance of their particular fund as a reference point. I find myself that some guests have better advice than others. I do not find that particular recent guest to be in the more reliable camp.

Q: Not a question, but a comment.

As a member who rarely posts questions I am annoyed with individuals who list their holdings and ask for a portfolio review. The latest being Karen who posted today, listing 38 holdings and asked for a detailed review.

My issues are 1) We are members not clients; and 2) Your site is clear on the scope and nature of the information provided.

I think your response on these questions should be that it is outside of the scope of 5i's service and they should consult a financial advisor.

If individuals want to be treated as clients then spend the money on a financial advisor rather than expecting the 5i members to subsidize their needs.

Q: About Catherine's questions on stop losses and when to sell criteria, I read last night Peter's earlier blog posting -

https://www.5iresearch.ca/blog/some-possible-reasons-to-sell

and I thought I would e-mention it as I found it helpful...Tom M

Q: Hello, I am a new client and need some assistance.

% of Holdings % of Gains
ATD.B 2.3% 18.96%
ALA 0.9% 9.06%
ACQ 0.9% 7.25%
AVO 1.5% -1.91%
BAD 7.0% 173.88%
CIX 1.1% -1.63%
CNR 2.6% 10.14%
CTC.A 1.7% 8.93%
CSU 7.5% 34.71%
DII.B 1.2% -7.94%
EFN 0.7% 4.63%
ESL 1.1% 76.50%
GIL 1.2% 4.52%
HLF 1.5% 22.96%
HCG 2.7% 18.17%
IFP.A 1.5% 94.23%
IPL 3.0% 18.54%
KLS 0.2% 6.06%
KEL 1.0% 4.58%
LNR 1.7% 80.08%
MG 3.0% 14.5%
MDA 1.7% 3.78%
MX 2.3% 4.61%
OTC 7.0% 14.64%
PVG 0.3% -40.21%
PSD 0.4% -27.27%
RRX 0.8% -0.69%
STN 1.4% 0.06%
SJ 1.7% 2.52%
TD 2.1% 5.61%
TOU 4.1% 11.82%
VRX 4.9% 30.77%
VET 1.3% --new--
WFT 2.3% 16.92%
WCP 1.7% 14.28%
VDU 0.6% --new--
VUN 0.6% --new--
VCN 0.6% --new--


What should I sell, if any? And what should I purchase to diversify my portfolio?

I think I would like to have no more than 30 stocks to make it easier for myself to look after. What are your thoughts?

I appreciate your time and assistance.

Thanks you very much.

Karen.

Q: Hello. I have read comments regarding stop loss selling but I would appreciate your insight and suggested reading on when to sell a stock. I have heard many say it is a difficult part of investing but have not offered any strategies. And, as you have commented, you don't offer target prices. Thanks as always.

Q: Here is a general question. If anyone knew yesterday that Royal was going to report a 2 billion profit and clean beat all over, would they not have backed up the truck before today, in anticipation of a short term bounce? Instead, it is down a quarter. What does this say about the rationality of the markets. Is it possible there is more luck involved than is acknowledged and is a lot of investing similar to the lottery, notwithstanding common sense and a long term horizon. Thanks

Q: Not sure if this has been previously asked, but would it be possible to include another column per your portfolios ('Summary' and 'Model') of an exact date of when you formally recommended a company into your portfolios for subscribers? It would certainly help for backtracking purposes to monitor your track record (a good one at that) in pulling up daily/weekly charts.

I use CF as an example, you posted a writeup on Jan 20/2013 at a price of $7.29 with a 2014 P&L and Total P&L the same of -6.2%. These numbers being the same brings up a further query upon looking at your reports, it says this is a "Review of Canaccord Genuity Group" which has me looking for the "Initial" report (of which I don't think there is a previous report). Just a little confusing in looking for another report, but if there was an initial date recommendation column then no further searching would be required. The 2 same P&L numbers tells me there is only 1 report.

I would find the inclusion of dates to be a valuable data set. Thank you 5I team for the service you provide.

Q: voting vrs non voting shares.

Even with lower volume and a premium to non voting shares, if the non voting do not have a coattail provision, would you buy the voting.
Years ago I lost huge upside when a premium was offered to voting shares only.
thanks

Q: hello 5i, my question today has to do with research information. if a person wanted to open a trading account within any of the Canadian banks which one would you recommend. i would like the one that is most accurate and tilting slightly to resource sector and small caps .also any perks that should be considered. should anything else outside the banks be a possibility ? thanx norm