Investment Q&A

Q: Hi - in an answer to a question on Friday re BCE prefs - you referred to Benchmark 5 yr Gov bond yields of 1.75%. Here is what you said:

"The benchmark 5 year bond yield right now is 1.75% (from the BoC site), but yields are much lower now."

I read the latest benchmark 5 year yield as .80% - from the BOC website. Am I missing something. I am looking at rate reset prefs so would like to be clear on the benchmark for the reset.

Thanks

Q: SJR.PR.A now trades at $17.50 or there abouts and it will be going to a floating rate next June 30, 2016 using the 5 year BOC +200 basis points. What do you think might happen to the price of this preferred when it goes to the floating rate?

Q: Which vehicle do you prefer, CPD or ZPR, and why? Thanks!

Q: My debentures with CHE.UN mature in March 2017 should I hold till then and if yes
do I cash out or stay with them, I like the dividend. Suppose it would depend on the deal at that time.
What are my options?
Mel

Q: Good Morning
BCE.PR.G is a fixed-reset preferred share. Almost all fixed reset preferred shares are reset by taking into account the 5 years Government of Canada Bond plus a fixed reset rate.
The terms of reset for BCE.PR.G are quite different and are being described by various brokers as ">80% of 5 YR Government of Canada Yield".
Can you please explain as to HOW the rate will be reset for BCE.PR.G on May 1, 2016?
Thanks

Q: I hold some conv debentures, all trading above par and yielding around 4.5%, all maturing in 3-5 years. Recognizing that I would give up any conversion advantages should a stock take off, what do you see as the pros and cons of selling all these and replacing with CVD with a higher yield and probably better liquidity (I would be buying about 3,500 shares). Does CVD move more with the bond market, or the stock market?
thank you

Q: Recent weakness in ENB preferreds is caused not only by the shift of assets to ENF and the common dividend increase, as 5i pointed out, but also a downgrade of the company from stable to negative by Standard and Poors last Nov.22, which you may have missed and caused a significant weakening of the issues in Dec. They state in part "We view Enbridge’s financial risk profile as “significant.” The continuing large capital program to expand existing and build new liquids pipelines will continue to pressure financial metrics for the next several years."

The whole article in prefblog is here http://prefblog.com/?cat=31

Q: Bombardier announced that it has suspended its dividend. Is that just for the common shares or does that include the preferred shares?

Q: Dear Sirs,

Looking for your thoughts on Primero - it recently came to market with a 5 year US pay debenture(5.75%)and subsequently has traded down from the $5.80 area, where the debenture has begun trading in the low 90's. Any reason for the steep decline and do the debentures represent value at these levels?

With thanks,
B

Q: Hi Peter and Team

I am a 70 year old retiree and currently have 90 percent of my savings in Equities and 10 percent in cash. I am concerned that I should have some fixed income for safety in event of a significant market pullback. Can you recommend either a bond etf or bond mutual fund that would offer some protection and a modest return. What percentage would you recommend.

Ray

Q: Hi Peter,

Could I have your opinion on Bombardier Pref B ? I have about a 50 % loss if I sold today, don't mind the income but concerned about future down side. Would you sell and move on ?

Thx
Dave

Q: I am confused re value received on call / reset date and would appreciate if u could clarify
Example : perpetual BRF.PR.F trading now at $22.40 and bought at par @$25.00 with a call date 31 July 2018 at $26.00. Can you explain why it would be called at this price and how likely is this ?

Example : RESET. AQN.PR.A trading now at$18.40 and bought at par at $25.00 with a reset date 31dec 2018 for $25.00 Does this mean that on 31/12/2018 the investor has the choice (or is it the company's choice ) to cash in the shares ? Secondly does the investor get the par value $25 or the current market value on that date for the shares?

Q: I own the above reference rate reset preferred shares,. All of the share were bought at the issue price of 25.00 and all are now underwater. It appears that recent rate reductions by the Bank of Canada have pushed their value further down. My question ,are these shares permanently impaired or if the five year rate were to increase, significantly, in five plus years would they return to their 25 dollar value. Is there in effect a type of " option" not reflected in the current price. Thanks

Q: Hi Peter- Rate reset prefs dropped around 4% with the BOC cutting rates due to the fear of a lower BOC rate upon reset ( I think!!). We know that perpetual prefs 'should' drop on interest rates rising. Therefore, can I assume that rate reset prefs offer a good hedge to perpetuals? In my preferred portfolio, my mix is 70% Canada bank resets and 30% US bank perpetuals. Assuming yes to the first question and the current interest rate environment, do you agree with this mix. Thanks for your opinion.

Q: A point of clarification regarding rate reset pref shares. When the rate is reset - I assume that the new dividend is based off of the "par" value of the share - $25 - and not the current market price at that time. For example - ENB.PR.B - on the reset date the new div will be derived based on the 5 year gov bond rate plus the spread of 2.40% applied to $25 and not the current market price at that time which is currently lower than $25. Thanks

Q: My question is regarding ENB preferreds. It would seem they have all been subject to a sell off. Do you know the reason and is this a buying opportunity? I hold two of the issues and would seriously consider a top up.

Q: I hold a few preferreds of different types and from different companies and must admit that the recent price movements of perpetuals versus rate reset, floating etc. has been an eye opening experience. Some of your Q and A explanations have helped explain a lot. I have a question specific to Bombardier preferreds BBD.PR.C There is a lot of talk about the possibility of Bombardier having to raise money with either a share or debt issue to overcome the current cash crunch and respect debt covenants. If this were to happen, it would obviously be taken negatively by the market, but how would you expect the preferreds to react? Is it possible that shoring up their balance sheet would actually support and lift the price of the preferreds, or would you expect them to drop together with the common shares? Same question if they were to reduce or eliminate the common share dividend, how do you think the preferreds would react?

Q: Hi - Back in 2009 I bought a number of Corporate Bonds (all at a discount) which have done quite well. Unfortunately, a good chunk of them are coming due and I would like to replace them. Finding decent yields is alot tougher. I am looking at Preferred Shares as a potential replacement both for the yield and the dividend tax credit which makes them look even better than corporate or gov bonds. In my view the Prefs - particularly for banks and utilities have risk closer to bonds than equities. Do you agree? Many thanks

Q: I set up a 5 year preffered ladder on the advice of a local adviser. Most of these investments are rate reset types. This ladder is has lost me a lot of money. I note that I'm not the only one in this sinking boat. My question is straight forward. Do I hold these shares or sell them?

Q: I am down 25% after today on cpx.pr. I must admit I did not understand how much it could go down in a reset rates. If interest rates go up later in the year, will those shares go up again? Though it pays a 7% yield, when you are down 25% it is not much comfort. I am thinking of selling and putting the money I have in something with growth and try to recoup the money that way, something like exco or evertz. Your thoughts please. Thanks.