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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: Putting the finishing touches on my porfolio review and trying to decide between Loblaws and Metro. I am a long term investor and don't need income yet but I do appreciate the value a growing dividend payor provides.

As well as MRU has done recently, I am thinking that the Shoppers addition might ultimately provide more growth and profitability for Loblaws. I am thinking of buying only one of them (5% of a balanced, 25 stock portfolio) to avoid having too much diversification but is this a case where a half holding in each is better?

Thanks for the insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on September 21, 2015
Q: Hi 5i - just wondering about sector weightings - your answers generally indicate that one shouldn't invest more than 15% in one sector, however it appears as though the model portfolios have large weightings in technology and financials? Which sectors would you feel comfortable right now in "over weighting", if any? Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Neil on September 21, 2015
Q: Hi,
I hold potash and I'm down about $5/share at current price. I'm fine to hold pot long term given the yield (assuming it's safe) and outlook for the Agri space. I am considering adding to my position to lower my cost and add more yield to my portfolio. Pot is about 3.0% of my portfolio. What do you think about adding at this level or would you advise waiting until the bid for K+S is determined given the stock price could fall with shareholder acceptance of their 41 EURO bid. On a side note, what do you think about buying some K +S?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Douglas on September 21, 2015
Q: Regarding iFabric….2 questions. First they were just listed on the TSX and secondly the insiders own 77% of the share structure. I understand that these are both positive conditions. However could I have your comments. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on September 21, 2015
Q: I am thinking of increasing my positioning in NFI. It has held up well in the current market, pays a reasonable dividend and I think, should have some growth in a positive U.S economy, even if interest rates increase by 25 basis points. How significant are insider holdings? Institutional holdings? and has the increase above $1 billion mkt. cap.already been priced in. Another sentence ending in a preposition. thanks for all you do.
Read Answer Asked by Bill on September 21, 2015
Q: BMO have ETF's that have "covered calls"
Could you explain what a covered call is, and are there any tax implications with these products?
Read Answer Asked by Peter on September 20, 2015
Q: Hi team! I have some money that I want to park and not think about too much for about 5 years, but, I do need some income from these funds. I’m thinking of a diversified ETF portfolio. Could you suggest 5-8 varied ETF’s that pay a decent dividend? Thanks very much. So appreciate 5i.
Read Answer Asked by Kim on September 18, 2015
Q: As a recent IPO, dividend paying, growth by acquisition, relatively high ownership by CEO, in a high profile industry, would you consider RAY.A to be a reasonable, risky or speculative buy at this point? Has it caught your attention and what insight and opinion can you give, please?
Read Answer Asked by Gayle on September 18, 2015
Q: This question was asked by Curtis on September 16th.
Your answer: We would opt for a more balanced portfolio, adding some tech, industrials, consumer products (which should be OK in a downturn) and other sectors.
Could you elaborate with one or two company names you would be comfortable with that would fit Curtis's vacation portfolio?
Would you keep REITS at 20% weight?
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Serge on September 18, 2015
Q: your comments now that they've "coupled" with amazon. thanks
Read Answer Asked by Diane on September 18, 2015
Q: I think esports will be a huge growing industry over the coming decades. Do you know of any good public companies that are in this market that you could recommend for a long-term position?
I heard that CGX just bought an esports company, which I think was smart, but it is very small compared to the size of their business.

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Arthur on September 18, 2015
Q: Stock charts , or TMX money both allow you to compare performance between stocks in a sector / I find it helpful in getting a pulse .before buying .. Union Pacific and CNR both were battered , and I bought CNR at a recent low ... I didn't have enough USD but I would have bought Union Pacific as well... I have never lost on Rails ( touch wood ) . I follow ( CP, CNR, UNP.US, CSX.US ,NSC.US, KSU.US ) ... Making charts is easy, but doing due diligence on six companies is a day's work for me ... I would like to shorten my list / which are your faves ? ... and do you feel this reversal in rails has legs ?
Read Answer Asked by Thomas on September 18, 2015
Q: Please comment on the CEO retirement. Given time, do you think our investment thesis is still valid.

Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Dong Sheng on September 17, 2015
Q: Hi Peter & Team,
I plan on taking a sabbatical for a year after working overseas for 10 years. I have 1 mill. approx CAD to invest and want to live off dividends, travel and not worry about my portfolio. Therefore I want a SWAN portfolio and am thinking the following:
Financials 20% (BNS, TD, RY, BMO) - Avg Yield- 4.4%
Pipeline/Utilities 20% (ALA, AQN, ENF, IPL) - Avg Yield- 5.52%
Telecoms 20% (BCE, T) 4.4%
REITS 20% (CSH.UN, AX.UN, HR.UN, CAR.UN) - Avg yield - 6%
Energy 20% (WCP, CPG, HSE, TOG) - Avg Yield - 7%

Average Yield - 5.46%
As an non-resident I simply pay 25% tax and therefore would have a budget of $41,000/yr or $3,400/month.

What risks am I not considering with the above?

Are my stocks and sector weightings reasonable?


Read Answer Asked by Curtis on September 16, 2015
Q: Mr. Smedley had T.TOY as a top pick last night. If one were to buy a hundred shares to a growth portfolio would this be a wise move. (I already own all stocks in all 3 of your portfolios). You have never had a question on this stock.

Thanks for the great service.

Mike
Read Answer Asked by Mike on September 16, 2015
Q: Hello,

- Is it a good time to add to VLN ? Any reason outside the weak market for the stock to be down ?

- PHK is going down a lot these days ... Can you explain why ?

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Pierre on September 16, 2015
Q: My 20 year old son has a question for you as follows:
Hi peter,
I have a tfsa which i am looking to add to. My holdings are the following:
AVO- 10.8%
BNK- 10.1%
ENB- 15.6%
XTC- 15.6%
OTC- 15.4%
PHM- 5.4%
RMP- 7.7%
WIN- 18.8%

I was considering adding BNS & SLF.
OR
I was considering adding a large position in a mutual fund.
Would you please recommend what to add & potentially what i should sell.

Thank you!
Chad
Read Answer Asked by Danny-boy on September 16, 2015
Q: Just wondering your opinion of CN amending it's Normal Course Issuer Bid to allow it to buy from a "Third Party" from Sept 16th - Oct 23rd its own shares for cancellation....

MONTREAL, Sept. 11, 2015 /CNW/ - CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today that the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) has accepted CN's amended notice of intention to make a Normal Course Issuer Bid (the Bid). The notice has been amended to permit the repurchase by CN of its common shares under a specific share repurchase program (the Program) during the term of the Bid. The purchases will form part of CN's Bid for up to 28 million shares announced on Oct. 21, 2014.

CN will enter into an agreement (Agreement) with a third party to repurchase its common shares through daily purchases that will take place from Sept. 16 to Oct. 23, 2015. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, and subject to the terms of an issuer bid exemption order issued by the Ontario Securities Commission (Order), the third party will purchase CN's common shares on the open market in accordance with the rules applicable to the Bid. The price that CN will pay for any common shares purchased by it from the third party under the Agreement will be negotiated by CN and the third party and will be at a discount to the prevailing market price of CN's common shares on the TSX at the time of the purchase. Information regarding the number of common shares purchased and aggregate purchase price will be available on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com following the completion of the Program.

Is this just a way for CNR to repurchase more shares in a shorter period than it would be allowed to do on it's own?
Also I see the results of the "Program" will/does not get reported to SEDAR until it is over, just prior to CN reporting its 3rd Quarter results. Do you have any idea who this Third Party might be?

Thanks in advance,
Scot
Read Answer Asked by Scot on September 16, 2015