Investment Q&A

Q: Retired dividend-income investor. On the company page, Park Lawn in listed as Consumer-Cyclical. On the Monthly Income Portfolio report, it is listed as Consumer-Non-Cyclical. I would assume the latter is correct...one would think that burial services would be considered a staple. Question #1 = Please confirm your view as to the appropriate sector for PLC.

I am light on Consumers and have been wanting to top up this sector, but am thinking of staying away from the Discretionary sub-sector until things attempt to normalize over the next few months or quarters. I currently own PBH and NWC, both food companies. I used to own MG, LNF, AW and I will reconsider them again at some point, especially LNF. Question #2 = What are your thoughts about taking a new position in PLC ? I have read your March 25/20 report which concludes with a B+ rating. Some of the current metrics look ok (P/BV, P/CF, P/S, Beta, forward P/E). However, I calculate the payout ratio to be 175%...am I right? Is the dividend sustainable? I see a ROE of 1% from one source and 8% from a 2nd source. Comments please...thanks.

Q#3 = I actually need two consumer stocks that pay a dividend, ideally over 3.0%, but I'm willing to bring the threshold down to around 2.5%. Would you please rank PLC, LNF, AW, MG and any other consumer stock your filter system could identify for me to consider.

Thanks for your help...much appreciated...take 3 credits...Steve

Q: Which one of these, if any, would you sell to increase my tech sector allocation? Can you please rank them as well.
Alternatively, if they all have good long term potential, I have the flexibility to increase my equity allocation with additional cash. Please let me know you thoughts and thank you!

Q: Hello 5i,
As a pensioner who requires dividends for my income, I have been looking at the above names to potentially add over the next year or so. It is my belief (uneducated guess) that it might take that long before we see any solid bottom and subsequent recovery begin.
In that vein, out of the above, how would you rank these based on the following:
1. Safety of company through a one year to 16 month recession.
2. Safety of the dividend through this same period.
3. Confidence in management team
4. Sector vulnerability
5. Value at current levels
6. Any other considerations, warnings or caveats for any of these ??
i.e. some of these have a decent 5i rating (B or higher), but the rating dates back to 2019, some as early as the summer.
And, finally, are there any suggestions you might have that are not on this list that deserve serious consideration in place of any of the above?
I am in no rush for an answer so take as long as you need to consider this question and deduct as many credits as you see fit - I should have enough to cover it. I hope that this question might also prove beneficial to other 5i members who rely on dividends for income.
All the best to everyone in this very trying and uncertain time!!! Be safe above all!!
Thanks to all at 5i!!
Cheers,
Mike

Q: Hi 5i Research Team:

I have traded Forex before and am new to stock trading. 90% of my RRSP, RESP and TFSA is in cash and I'd like to avail the current market conditions by "gradually" buying the dips.. and holding it over the long term, 5 to 10 years. I understand that no one can time the market or its bottom.

After exploring the reports and questions on your site, I have identified the enclosed 29 stocks based on following criteria:
- Current Retracements of > 75% over 52 week high & low
- Dividend Yield > 5% (in some cases, like WEED, which is a bit risky, I understand there's no dividend in the near term.. and I am simply going for the upside swing over the next 2 years... same for CRON and Air Canada)

Considering my 90% cash position and strategy to partially buy in on dips over the next few weeks, can you please advise if my stock selection is sound. In addition to my stock picks, please advise anything else that I should keep in mind.

Thanks for everything you do. Much appreciate.

Q: MG: really low debt., low P.R., great ROE, beat EPS estimates by a fair bit 3/4 Q reported so far. Down a lot. FPE of 4.2 x. This thing looks like a good long-term buy: suffering over fears of shut downs - COVID-19? Even with electrical vehicles coming they would be involved and gas/dis. vehicles will be the majority for a long time still, don't you think> Is this a good buy for the long term?

Q: Hello 5i team
Thanks for working through this mess.
I have BCE, ENB, EIF, FSZ, MG, PBH, SPB in a non registered. I can sell these for a tax loss presently but should I, and if I do should I replace them with similar dividend players or risk 30 days to buy them back? This might fall into the personal decision category but if there is any comments or advice that you could provide please.
Thanks
Jeremy

Q: Hello team,

Would you please mark (from 1 to 10) each of the above companies in terms of their ability to weather a recession scenario. (the lower the mark the worse the current balance sheet and inability to service debt).

Thanks a whole bunch especially in this crazy times....

Q: Hi,
Would you start buying these and in what order?
Thank you for great service.

Milan

Q: Retired, conservative dividend-income investor with a "buy-and-hold & trim-add around a core position" strategy. At times like these, I take a fresh look at my holdings and ask two key questions. #1 = are there any of my equity holdings that have alarm bells going off? #2 = how safe are the dividends (knowing that no dividend is 100% secure)? The portfolio capital may rise or fall, but it is the continuation of the dividend that is more important.

For asset allocation purposes related to individual stocks (as opposed to sector allocations), I use the following:
5% targets = AQN, BCE, BNS, PBH, RY, TRP, WSP
4% targets = AD, AW, CSH, NWC
2% targets = LNF, MG, NTR
ETF targets = roughly 3-7%

Q#1 = are there any of these equities that you hear alarm bells?
Q#2 = are there any of these equities where you foresee dividend risk?
Q#3 = any thoughts on how I have my asset allocations set up (knowing it is a very personal decision?

Take a bunch of credits. Thanks for your help...Steve

Q: I'm a little low in both of these sectors and was wondering which of these two companies you would currently invest in.

Dave

Q: Hi...just read your March 1 email....very timely. I have been evaluating some of my current equity holdings from the point of view of topping up some or all of them over time...to reach my asset allocation targets. I do a monthly review of all of my holdings using metrics like P/E, P/BV, P/CF, ROE, Beta, Analyst targets, charting vs 200 mda and higher highs-lows. Mid-Feb I raised roughly 5% cash (basically trimming oversized positions that also appeared to be stretched) and could direct it to the above list. I am a retired, dividend income investor.

The 4 BNN Market Call guests on Thursday-Friday indicated that legging in to this buying opportunity should be considered, as, in their opinion, the market is extremely oversold. In your past life as a Fund Manager, what metrics did you use to guide your process on whether to buy or sit on your hands? For example, "when the VIX is high, it is time to buy"...the VIX is now at 40.

If this is a fair question, could you rank the above 9 equities for topping up to existing positions? My process, for example, has identified LNF as one of the priorities.

Take as many credits as you think appropriate. Thanks...Steve

Q: Appears this is a good time to prune stocks for tax loss to then buy best in class. Would you pls. offer your best choices in various or obvious.

Q: Could you please provide your opinion on how the Chinese CoronaVirus might affect Magna's business / results in upcoming quarters ? I am still 10% up on my holding so wondering should I sell it for now and buy back in weakness in future?

Q: I am underweight in these companies from your Balanced Portfolio and I have some money to buy into one of the above. It would not materially affect my sector weighting and dividends, while nice, do no affect my choices. Which one would you suggest for a long term hold?

Q: I have some American cash that I would like to put to work but am hesitant to buy American stocks. I know there are Canadian companies that are listed in the United States. My question is, which Canadian companies that are listed in the U.S. would you buy today, based on the belief that they have the most upward potential for 2020. I would appreciate it if you could suggest 5 or 6 companies.

Q: Hello Peter,
If the US economy hypothetically grows closer to 3 percent as forecasted by Trump; which sectors would lead the way in your opinion?
Also, the Canadian economy should also experience a tailwind. How would you suggest the portfolio could be adjusted?
Any pointers to specific stocks both here and south that one could look at?
Regards.

Q: I currently hold RUS, TFII and SIS for my industrials. How would you rank the above industrials and should I be making changes?

Q: Hi Peter and 5i:
May I have your opinion about the MG Outlook statement today. The EPS growth will come from share buybacks for the foreseeable future (3 years)? 5i went to half position in September 2019 in Balanced portfolio. Would you still hold MG going forward at a half position? MG has had nice dividend increases and do you anticipate this would continue?
Thank you for stellar advice. Thank you.

Q: Your thoughts on Magna's press release today and what that means for stock price growth and dividend growth?

Thanks...Steve

Q: Comments please on the announcement from Magna today with regard to guidance? Thx