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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: Seasons greeting to the 5i team. I hold the C series preferred shares of ECN. Like many others my cost for this rate reset preferred is much higher. I understand the company has the option to redeem these shares at a specific price at different times in the future. I am wondering if at some point in the future (if held until then) the company is obligated to buy them back at par value? In other words as a shareholder can I force the company to take them back at some point and receive the $25 par value? Thanks.

Mario.
Read Answer Asked by Mario on December 27, 2018
Q: Hi team, can you tell me if there is any benefit to owning Preferred shares of a company or a bank as apposed to owning the regular shares. Is one better than the other, if so how and when would you recommend one over the other. Could you possibly recommend some based on your answer. Thanks, Nick
Read Answer Asked by Nick on December 21, 2018
Q: You answered a question on ECN.PR.C I would like to ask a similar question about ECN.PR.A. It has dropped a further $3 since last Thursday. Do you see any particular weakness other than the general conditions you have answered on previous preferred reset questions? Is the share buyback of ECN common shares weakening the company's position of paying interest? Most of my resets have been called back at reset date and new stock issued at lower rates so I have not replaced them. Is that a possibility here and with the C's? (deduct what you feel appropriate)
Thank you and Best wishes for the Christmas Season
Read Answer Asked by Paul on December 19, 2018
Q: Recently, I asked about adding to ECN.PR.C at $21 and you replied it was fine to hold but not to add (thanks). Now it's $17 and paying 9%. It is a rate reset preferred and I thought the guaranteed floor was 6.25% upon reset but you recently said otherwise in another reply.
Should I buy it now and what is the reset minimum?
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Steven on December 18, 2018
Q: Thinking of selling CPD and averaging down on ECN.PR.A My reasoning indicates that the reset return on CPD portfolio will continue to fall as the yield flattens or inverts.
In the case of ECN.PR..A if 5 year yield is at 1.06 or lower the yield is still 6.25%. Basically I’m saying there is a floor under ECN.PR.A but not CPD. What is your opinion ?
Read Answer Asked by Roy on December 18, 2018
Q: Hi 5i Team

I'm primarily an income oriented investor. I'm uncertain about where interest rates will go over the next year. I think we're close to a plateau but who knows. I don't currently own any fixed rate preferreds but am thinking of buying some (maybe up to 10% made up of 5 holdings with different reset dates). I like the dividends and see them as a kind of interest rate hedge against the dividend paying commons. My thinking is that, all else being equal, resets are supposed to increase in price with rising interest rates while dividend payers tend to decline (subject to their ability to increase their dividend).

I understand that other company/market influences may move both preferreds and common in the same direction, I'm just thinking of the interest rate issue at this point. Your thoughts?

Thanks, as always
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on December 17, 2018
Q: I am retired and have these preferred etfs making up about 7% of the income part of the portfolio. There is obvious overlap. Vrp has out performed the others and has a better yield. It is held in a rrif so the US dividend is intact. I am assuming that the downturn in preferreds will level out, as this is a long term income hold. Should I eliminate hpr as it is 50% US and just stay with the other two with the currency diversity? Also what portion of fixed income do you feel preferred should make up? Have a great holiday.
Read Answer Asked by Tom on December 14, 2018
Q: Can I get your opinion of Co-Operators General Insurance. It is small but pays a nice dividend with a low p/e. Thanks Dave.
Read Answer Asked by David on December 14, 2018
Q: Appreciate your advice on conversion privilege effective dec31/18
Presently down $4400 loss
1. To receive one cumulative rate reset Pref share series B of AQN for each cumulative rate reset pref series A of AQN converted
If u choose this option can u explain the reasoning and what might be expected in recovering the losses in the future with this option
2. If u don’t choose option1 I am assuming the pref will be cashed in at current loss
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Indra on December 11, 2018
Q: Received corporate action notice
Appreciate your advice
Conversion privilege as if dec31/18
I am presently down $5400 loss
1. To receive one cumulative floating rate préf share of series 4 CPX for each capital power Corp cumulative rate reset pref share series 3 converted If you recommend this option can u explain what it means going forward
2 those who do not convert need not submit — I assume this means it’s cashed in in dec31/18
Appreciate your advice
Read Answer Asked by Indra on December 10, 2018
Q: I hold some 5 year rate reset preferred shares series A from Element Fleet Management (EFN.PR.A) which will reset to 6.933% on Dec 31, 2018. They also carry a conversion privilege to convert to series B floating rate preferreds (3 month T-Bill + 4.71%) which will be 6.444% for the first 3 month period in 2019. Given your outlook for interest rates going forward, would you advise converting? In addition I cannot find the ticker symbol to get a quote for the series B preferreds. Do you know the ticker symbol?
Read Answer Asked by Steven on December 10, 2018
Q: I am a little curious about your answer to George regarding preferreds. Don't they move inversely to interest rates? So all else equal would you not expect a preferred share etf to fall in value as interest rates rise (just like bonds)? Not only that, would they not generally fall even further than bonds as preferreds never mature (preferreds therefor have a longer duration than bonds making them even more sensitive to interest rate changes). Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by William on December 07, 2018
Q: hi, using above as an example, could you explain why this is trading at $20. the reset date is jan 1 2019. can this preferred share be called back?? is the market thinking rates are going to get lower again??? Brookfield Properties Preferred T
Read Answer Asked by chris on December 07, 2018
Q: What to do with cpd and Ecn.pr.a .
I’ve held reset prefs before, saw it through through the downturn in interest rates and the upturn again, did well, because I had a long term objective.
I now no longer have this luxury. However I feel some comfort with the minimum rate reset preferred. Should I. I appreciate your unbiased recommendation on both securities.
Thank you.
P.s. will be asking for a complete portfolio evaluation in the new year. Paid of course.
Read Answer Asked by Roy on December 06, 2018