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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: We have a substantial investment in our RRIFs in SPY, IWO and XLK together with US banks.
We now want to purchase CDN ETFs with complementary US stocks for our TFSAs. Could you please recommend a few such ETFs that would fit.
Separately could you advise on how stock future prices affect the opening each morning.
Thanks for your great service.
Alex
Read Answer Asked by Alex on December 31, 2015
Q: I have held BAM and some of its spin offs going back to the Brascan days. I will likely hold BAM.A forever but recently waded back into BIP because the NAV of BAM.A was so heavily weighted to Commercial real estate. I am always hesitant to bet against the smart money though. The combined Brookfield holdings are a 10% position. Any thoughts on the use of both holdings? I know that sentiment with one will affect the other and am ok with the large total weighting. Thanks for the thoughtful service.
Read Answer Asked by Derek on December 31, 2015
Q: The Big Dogs in my portfolio, each of which is down in the 20-70% range (are AVO,ACQ, KLS). Can you outline a compelling case for holding on to any of these DOGS?

Like many others, I was stung by the debacle around WIN - but in less than a month after selling .... the stock has increased about 40%. I would hate to see history repeated for me by selling these stocks and then sit on the sidelines and watch each of these DOGS become "Leaders of the Pack" shortly afterwards.

I know you do not have a crystal ball, but still would appreciate your take on these stocks.

Conversely what 3 stocks would you see as compelling opportunities going forward to replace them.

My portfolio is well balanced with a blend mostly of your Growth, Income and Model portfolios.

Thank you and best wishes for 2016.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on December 31, 2015
Q: I'm sorting positions between growth, balanced and income portfolio segments. I'm inclined to put BAM.A in income because it manages trust positions like bep.un. What say you?....thanks also for the help with the small stuff.......tom
Read Answer Asked by Tom on December 30, 2015
Q: My wife turns 71 on 31st December and this year, we converted her small RRSP to a RRIF with only three investments, namely Patient Home Monitoring PHP, Apple AAPL.US and National Grid NGG.
PHM is down 53% and pays no dividend; AAPL is down 16% and is currently paying 1.9% (though less for our investment), and NGG.US is up 46% and currently pays a 4.68% dividend with payments semi annually.

The dividend payments are not high enough to support the minimum withdrawals, so I am looking for the answer.

I have been considering culling PHM for a while in order to create cash, but am always teased by the fact that it seems to be on the cusp of re-discovery, as it is now.

AAPL.US has also been a big disappointment and the dividend is small and the price has remained within the same depressed range for a while.

NGG.US, although it hasn't lost money for me, at least is providing a reasonable dividend.

Any suggestions?
Read Answer Asked by John on December 30, 2015
Q: How would you view the current valuation of the rails compared to their prospects? Union Pacific specifically has been beaten up badly it seems based on coal volumes. Any favourites or maybe hold with exposure through Berkshire? Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Derek on December 30, 2015
Q: Could you please comment on the statement update released by the company today on "investment in working capital" Why did they feel giving this update was important and what is it really saying? What is "non-cash working capital"? Overall is there anything in the statement to be concerned about or pleased about? Thank you for your expertise !!
Read Answer Asked by Alexandra on December 29, 2015
Q: Hello and Happy Holidays!

What are your top stock picks for 2016?

Best,

Carla
Read Answer Asked by Carla on December 29, 2015
Q: It's in a run, am I too late or is it a good long term investment. I have been looking for an alternative energy investment
Read Answer Asked by Earl on December 29, 2015
Q: I have a portfolio of about $1 m spread across 37 stocks? Is this too many holdings.
Read Answer Asked by Mark on December 29, 2015
Q: Hi Peter can you tell me if it is legal for a public company to withhold information on a arrangement with another public company .iam referring to the Wi-lan net flicks deal
Kind regards
Stan
Read Answer Asked by Stan on December 29, 2015
Q: Seasons Greetings! Exchanging US dollars to Can. dollars: I had several US stocks in my non-registered account thanks to my former advisor. I have now liquidated them, and have about $100K US that I need to exchange to Can. dollars. What is the most beneficial way to do this? Is Norbert's Gambit still recommended?
Read Answer Asked by Helen on December 29, 2015
Q: I want to segregate about 10% of my portfolio to provide income to cover some living expenses. I'm looking at this list of stocks for higher yields; EIF, MKP, GRC, ALA, AD, MIC, CHR.B, CPX, GH, RNW, BDT. Would you please provide your evaluation? Also, I'm open to other suggestions.
Read Answer Asked by Helen on December 29, 2015
Q: Looks pretty good right now-PE 5.7--EPS 3.03--Div 3.95%--Rev and Inc UP--
fundamentals look good--Insider plus Company buying shs--1st two weeks of Dec dropped $4 dont know why?--US$ helping profits
What do you think of them?
Best of the season to everybody
Read Answer Asked by peter on December 29, 2015
Q: I hold a large position in North Quest Ltd, a junior gold explorer. Nordgold (LSE: NORD)owns 52 % of NQ and has announced that it will be making a takeover bid, offering $0.253 per share. NQ has just released the results of a glacial till sampling program that identifies a large, high grade gold anomaly in a previously unexplored part of the claims.
I feel that, because of this new anomaly the shares are worth far more than what Nordgold has offered.My question is this - if I refuse to sell my shares at the present offer is there any scenario where I can be forced to sell them?
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Edward on December 28, 2015
Q: Hi team, I have to sell about half of position of one of these stocks to liberate some emergency cash. Do you have advice about which one I should let go of? All the best for a restful, happy Christmas to everyone at 5-i !
Read Answer Asked by Kate on December 28, 2015
Q: Not a question, but a great thank you Peter, Ryan, and all of the 5i team. I like others, have learned so much from you and have profited by it.
Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year. Lets all hope it will be less strenuous for all.
Hal
Read Answer Asked by Harold on December 25, 2015
Q: Hello, what do you think about selling CAM (I'm basically even after one year) and topic my 1.5% position in WSP? or you have another preference?

Thank you and Merry Christmas and all the best in the new year.
Marios
Read Answer Asked by Marios on December 24, 2015