Investment Q&A

Q: Interfor had a significant down day today and West Fraser did not do well either. What do you think might explain these drops? Lumber prices and housing starts may be factors. Should I consider selling my positions in both companies?

Don

Q: Hi peter and team, thank you very much for your great advice. We are extremely happy with these two stocks but as each of them now comprises more than 5% of our portfolio, should we take some off the table, or let it carry on a bit more.

Thanks for your advice
John

Q: hi. could you please give your assesment of the 4th quarter results. thankyou,

Q: Visa is going to split 4/1. Stock aprox $270. Would it be prudent to buy now or wait for the split. Do the shares normally go down after splitting? Would MA or another stock be preferable.
Do you think LUN Lundin mining is a stock to buy now?\How do you value the Canadian banks now?
Many thanks.
Helen

Q: Several months ago I bought TVA.B on a recommendation from an analyst. The holding company was Quebecor, Brian Mulroney was on the board of Quebecor and Desjardins group owned shares in TVA. The book value was $12.50 and I bought in at $9.00. I figured this was good however I made a classic mistake and didn't research the details. When the price declined (I sold at $8.50) I decided to do some research. This structure was so complicated that the more I analysed the more I was confused. I made a classic mistake and confirms the old Ben Graham adage "never buy anything you don,t understand. At any rate, I noticed that they have now announced a distribution of rights at $5.66 and from what I see essentially folding the company. In terms of education can you give me, and members, a brief synopsis of what happened. Who are the winners? Obviously from what I can tell, the common shareholders are the victims.
Thank You

Q: 50yr old looking to start investing with an advisor who would be an active manager. (Not just follow the herd or stick me in a fund for 10 years and collect his fees). How do I go about picking a financial adviser? Is there a book or website where I can research this? For example, is it safer to pick an adviser at one of our Canadian banks or the larger investment firms vs smaller firms? Which qualities should I look for and which to be cautious of? What would you suggest? Any information or direction you can provide would be great.
Thanks

Q: Hello Peter and Team,
I`m looking to chose between AQN and RUS as a long term hold for Income within a diversified portfolio. I am interested in the respective potential growth that is characterized by these two stocks, albeit for separate reasons. Could you please offer your own perspective on the long term growth of each and as well as to the viability of each respective dividend payout? Thank you kindly. Rick

Q: Can you please comment on Cipher's latest earnings and your opinion going forward? I know the health sector has been hot but wonder if I should continue to hold or swap out and add to my half positions of Knight, CRH Medical or perhaps intimate a position in Convalo?

Q: For a health-care stock, how would you rate cxr, gud,rxx, cph ?

Q: Can you please comment on CLR and CPH results released today. Also, Peter Imhof recently suggested ESP as a takeover target. Do you agree with his thesis? Thanks

Q: Your take on Clearwater's report today? It didn't impress the markets. What do you think of Clearwater going forward?

Q: Morning Peter and Ryan...looking for some clarity in self managing a retirement fund(s). Both of my RIF/LIF accounts require cash for the monthly payment ...is there a standard amount of cash on hand (ie 6months,1yr,2yr) that a person would have to avoid being handcuffed on lets say market correction or pullback. Thanks as always.

Q: Hi, I’m trying to replicate the Tangerine Balanced Portfolio and avoid the 1.07% fee. This is what I’ve come up with so far:

1. FTSE TMX Canada Universe Bond Index;
a. XBB

2. S&P/TSX 60 Index;
a. XIU or
b. ZCN

3. S&P 500 Index;
a. VFV

4. MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australasia and Far East) Index.
a. EFA or
b. VEA

Do you have any recommended adjustments or suggestions on this approach? Any preferences where I’ve listed a choice of two ETFs?

Thank you,

Q: I've been holding this for about 3 years and basically spinning my wheels thanks only to the CDN $ dropping. What are your thoughts on this investment? I also hold the Vanguard Growth as well in my US side of my RIF which has done well. Should I switch to more of the Vanguard or maybe convert back to Cdn$ and invest here. Thanks

Q: 11:15 AM 2/24/2015
Hello Peter :
We are retired and living on dividend income plus modest pensions so the equities we own are chosen for their stability and for good dividends. The balance of the portfolio is reasonably spread into the other sectors, and we have a good position in Provincial bonds.

I am very confused as to what exactly constitutes the "Energy" and "Utility" Sectors, and as to where "Pipelines" fit in. You suggest a maximum of 10-15 % in "Energy", and 10% [which you later downgraded to 5%] in "Utilities"

We have an 18 % allocation to what I call "Utilities"
EMA 2.4%,
FTS 4.5%,
NPI 1.0%,
BIP.UN 4.6%,
BEP.UN 5.6%,

and a 17% allocation to what I call "Pipelines"
ENB 2.7%,
ENF 6.1%,
TRP 2.3%,
PPL 2.9%,
PKI 2.8%,

and a 4% allocation that was 10% before the oil price dropped, to "Energy"
COS 0.4%,
SGY 1.0%,
BNE 0.3%,
BTE 2.0%,

1. Which of these would you consider to be Energy, or Utilities, and where do you place pipelines?

2. Would you agree that these stocks are reasonably robust and likely to survive a serious market correction and still maintain dividends with at most modest dividend cuts other than the oil stocks?

3. Would you maintain these investment levels now or should some be sold off and to what level?

4. Which would you suggest selling if you feel it is advisable?

Many thanks...... Paul K.

Q: Do you recommend buying the above companies. What are the good qualities and risks of holding each and what should be the size in a portfolio? Thanks

Q: in my opinion this stock is underpriced or mis priced,what other stocks you think are miss priced?Thanks a lot.

Q: I'd appreciate your updated opinion on CRP, particularly in light of their recently announced results.

Thanks!
Greg

Q: I would appreciate a few suggestions in the consumer staples category, I'm trying to diversify.

Q: Which would you choose between these 2? I know that ATB is much, much larger and successful but is it getting too pricey? Would PKI be a good substitute? I really like this kind of company as I think they present reasonably stable but growable parts of the economy. Do you share my thinking that now is the time to get in on the ground floor of PKI or would yo go with ATB?

Thanks.

Paul F.