Investment Q&A

Q: Hello, Happy New Year! Does the sector balancing tool un the etf and mutual fund update work only on excel? Is there a way to make it work on google sheets..Thank you. Shyam

Q: I am new to trading and managing my own portfolio. I have been investing for a few years now , but had everything managed by a broker. I decided i wanted to manage my own portfolio due to management fees and what i felt were average returns at best over the past few years. Is there a trading platform or two that you could recommend ? I read the reviews on Questrade and BMO Investor Line and both had really poor reviews .

Q: I am now down to three companies that are under a 2.5% weighting. I would (as usual) appreciate your thoughts about these three. Thanks. RAM

Q: I am in my 70s and my focus is on capital preservation, income and, hopefully, a bit of growth. Would you recommend the income portfolio with a sprinkle of equities from the B.E portfolio? Have you ever given thought to developing a portfolio for seniors?

Q: Hi All:

Hope you all have been enjoying the X'mas season. Happy 2019 to each one of you!

I noticed the cost per unit on the monthly statement changes sometimes for the ETFs I own. I own another one other than ZBK. I wonder what makes it change? When I sell them should I use the cost per unit on the monthly statement as ACB? If I sell part of it that I should use that month cost per unit to calculate the ACB?

Thank you.

Louisa

Q: Hello,
Back in 1998 I purchased my first ever shares in a public company called Ontario Hose Specialties Inc. It was such a poor investment I have forgotten all about it until the share certificate materialized recently. The certificate is for 500 shares but the company no longer appears to be publicly traded. It does however still exist and appears to be a private company. I am wondering if my shares have any value today. If the company went private and they had to buy out the shares am I entitled to that payment all these years later? Any assistance is appreciated.

Q: Hi,
I originally got into nvda at $160, and photon at $1.20. After watching good companies climb to great highs then fall lower than ever do you ever recommend averaging down? I’m only 33 and don’t need the money back for years. Since this is my first major correction since beginning investing I actually find it exciting to see so many things on sale. Would you recommend topping off these and and other good names (bns, aqn, gsy, sis etc.) or initiating new positions In names the methanex, magna etc.? I use all drips available (including proxy drips in my tfsa to save on fees). I only have about $10-$15k available to deploy right now, but will have more in the new year, so I don’t want to spread it too thin.
Thanks and Merry Christmas!

Q: Hi Team,
I hold KP tissue at a loss and thinking to replaced it with RPI.UN Richard's Packing, so that I am still in the sector and get the "tax loss"'
Your expert commend PLEASE !
Thanks as always, have a good Christmas every one !!
Tak

Q: Hi Team,
I hold these 6 lossers and like to trade as the follow to crystallized the "tax loss".
sell ALA buy PXT,
sell BNS buy TD,
sell MFG.PR.G buy MFC.PR.C
sell SOX buy WSP
sell KPT buy PRI.un
I understand my queston have too many companies in one question, please deduct as many as it needed and I sincerely thank you for all these years of your team's best service and help my retirement investment portfolio.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you ALL.
Tak

Q: I am selling RME for tax loss selling. Any suggestions for a proxy?
Thanks

Q: I am a conservative,retired income investor looking to invest when (hopefully) this s###-show has settled down. What would you suggest for Canadian companies? I've been watching the banks but they seem to be continually weak.?
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Bob

Q: Could you please provide me with your opinion on the importance of global diversification within a portfolio. How comfortable are you with a heavy weighting in Canadian stocks for a couple in their mid 60's. The way I see it - we live in Canada, spend in Canada and am wondering if having exposure to US and/ or global equities exposes us to currency risk.

Q: Hi Peter:
Season greetings to you and your team.
I would like your opinion on the trade(s) I was thinking about.
1) Sell full positions in POW and NFI.
I've had POW for 5 years and it has done nothing during that time except go down about 20%. However, I also think that at $24.00 it has potentially hit a bottom support number. I would be happy collecting the nice dividend it pays.
I also think based on your recent answers to questions that NFI has potential going forward.
2) If I sold POW and NFI, I would add to the positions that I already have of the other companies that are mentioned.
I'm well diversified and this would not interfere with my sector or geographical weightings or the amount of dividends I am receiving.
I think both scenarios have their positive attributes and would appreciate your thoughts. Do the trade or remain the course.
Thank you very much for your valued opinion.

Q: Can you comment on why Onex has been so terrible in terms of this years performance.....and what you think it's prospects for 2019 are?Also is Vermillion dividend safe in your view?

Q: Hi 5i,
Can I have your opinion on averaging down on these in the current climate, say in the next few days,. Without regard for weightings,risk profile etc, could you rank them in order that you would chip away at them?
Thanks

Q: Is there a possibility for us to know Upgrades &Down grades to take the timely benefit such as ENGH today?
More than growth stocks may be we should sell the looser and keep or concentrate on high dividend paying stocks with minimum chance of cut such as bce,,telus, Td please help naming a few good in your opinion

Q: Hi Peter,
Please deduct as many credits as you see fit. I have some losers (some big) as per below:

Margin account
CLIQ down 52%
PHO down 37%
MX down 20%
TFII down 23%
ECN down 13%
NFI down 11%

TFSA
GUD down 17%
CLS down 20%
DOL down 38%
TSGI down 47%

RRSP
DOO down 43%
COV down 26%

Here are my questions.
1- Should I claim the capital loss with CLIQ and PHO and repurchase in 30 days?
2- Are there any names there that I should just sell and move on to something else? What would be your top 3 replacements for the removed names in that case?
3- My initial thought was to inject new money in CLIQ, PHO, DOL, TSGI, DOO and COV to bring these names back to my initial weight. Would this be a good move in your opinion?
These names are part of a diversified portfolio and don’t need the funds for another 10 years minimum.
Much appreciate your service. Your responses to this market volatility have kept me from panicking as I did in 2008. I thank you for that.

Q: An analyst from Citi has warned that “debt service ratios for non-financial firms” in Canada are very high, and a crisis is possible within a year. Is it safe to assume that none of the companies you recommend would have any trouble servicing their debt (TSGI, SIS, PBH, COV, TOY, etc)? Do any prominent names come to mind which might be at risk? Thanks for your thoughts.

Q: Hi, I have some capital losses from sale of shares earlier on this year. Looking to book some gains, by selling partial position in certain holdings which have appreciated considerably from my cost, but presently trading 10-25% off their highs for the year. Q1:Should I liquidate at current prices (before year end) or wait until market sentiment improves and valuations are better ? Q2: Either way (2018 or later), in order of preference, which ones will you let go first ? These stocks and weightings as follows : CSU (12%), SYZ (6.5%), BYD.un(5.3%), SHOP (5.2%), CGI(4%), KXS (3.3%) and CCL.b (4.5%). Thanks

Q: Could I get your views on RUS over the next year or so. Do you see any movement here or is it simply a good dividend payer?