Investment Q&A

Q: https://www.investingforme.com/data-room/rate-reset-preferred-shares

In response to Joseph's question on where investors can find some info on preferreds, here's a site I use for the prospectus of some pref securities.One of the banks also publish a monthly report which includes prices and features of each.

Q: Does Burton Malkiel’s blindfolded-monkeys-throwing-darts idea say that the portfolios of a group of perversely motivated investors trying to pick the worst stocks would be indistinguishable from the portfolios of investors trying to pick the best stocks?

I would appreciate your views.

Q: This is a follow-up questions about determining whether a company is considered growth vs income. Can I interpret what you said as being:

If the sales and EPS do not increase much, or stays the same, over many years, and the company offers a reasonable dividend then it is considered income.

On the other hand, if the sales and EPS increase steadily over several years, then it is considered growth, whether or not it offers any dividend.

And if the sales and EPS fluctuate year to year, it may be cyclical, which is a separate category.

If it does not fit into any of the above, then it is a company of that should not be considered investing in.

Q: just a comment to add to genes misery over rbc investing, i am a seasoned investor using rbc investing, been doing this for 25 years and rbc is by far the worst.
what they did with their watchlist is beyond stupidity, it is idiotic, i would love to switch to someone else but i have 15 accounts with them and switching would be even more misery. dave

Q: How will you back test an ETF like VBAL or VGRO which have not been there for long and compare it/them with an ETF that has been there for a long time? For example XIC or VDY....I ask this having your model ETF portfolios in mind. (Both in CMS and ETF Fund update newsletter.)

Q: Hi Peter/team what is blockchain and how can someone invest there.Thanks

Q: Hi 5i team, thanks for the valuable information about quarter earning beating estimates for companies in your balance and growth portfolios. Will appreciate again if you can list similarly for the following companies: TIH, WCN, CJT, PBL, QBR.B, GIB.A, DSG, SMU.UN, RY, WEED, KL, OGI, FSV.

Q: Hi All at 5i! I was reading an article in the post which made reference to Canadian debt. Not just the debt held by individuals, but also , the debt held by corporations. In a down turn, it has been predicted that this could be a large problem for the corporations and the lenders. Are there corporations that we should stay clear of as investors, which are heavily debt laden, to the point of being a major concern? Cheers, Tamara

Q: Hello,

With regard to PNN, you mentioned that a retail investor could build its own. Can you please elaborate on how to do it (example if possible). Would a 5 year maturity long enough ? Thank you

Q: Hi Peter/Ryan
Do you see any Blue chip stocks on sale irrespective of sector for cash account?
Thanks

Q: When researching companies, do you ever take ESG risks into consideration? If so how do you factor this into your process? Are there any metrics you consider significant in identifying potential alpha?

Q: My Question is on General market conditions from Technical point of view

Its seems looking at the technical charts for $INDU (DOW index) it has formed a TRIPLE TOPs with divergence in RSI and MACD with lower lows at each tops and $INDU now breaking off 200MA and from todays action its seems $INDU may run down to 20,000 or even 18,000 unless it jumps back above its 200MA
5i expert comment on this please

Q: Is there any issue with potentially doubling up on dividends in any one month? If an investor times it right, you could purchase a stock that pays quarterly just before the x date and then sell it after the record date. You could then purchase another dividend payer before its X date and assuming this all happens in the same month you would collect two dividends in the next month from two different companies-do you see any flaws in this strategy?

Q: I am looking for a long term Swiss bond etf or fund. Duration 15 to 25 in chef currency. I have registered accounts. Any recommendations? Alternatively if one does not exist do you know of any other long duration treasury bond funds in “flight to safety currencies” X United States. Thanks,

Q: Greetings Peter and team,

We had set up the Knowledge First Financial's group RESP program for my daughter and contributed for 2 years. Then opened another account with CIBC and contributing regularly. Recently, we have received a mail from KFF asking us to vote on changes to the plan. Following is the link

https://knowledgefirstfinancial.ca/subscribervote/documents/family/2019-04-15-cover-letter-family-group.aspx

Do you see any issues with the proposed changes and or about the plan and company? My daughter is 12 now, is it ok to keep the money there for the rest of the time or should we transfer it to CIBC account? Please advise.

Thank you in advance

Q: Hi team,
I saw the comment earlier from Rick on TD not offering Norbert’s Gambit option for RRIFs. I am not at the RRIF stage yet but moving closer. I have used Norbert’s Gambit many times for my RRSP, TFSA and Cash accounts at TD. Without this option, I think the FX conversion charge, if I recall past conversations with TD, is a minimum 1.5% for larger amounts, ranging up to 2% or more for smaller amounts. If Norbert’s Gambit is not available at TD once I get to the RRIF stage, I will look at moving my account(s) as well. In a RRIF, I will likely be using Norbert’s Gambit more to move funds back to Canada from the U.S. for the minimum annual withdrawals required by law. Like Rick, I am interested if other members have the Norbert’s Gambit option for their RRIFs.
Dave

Q: Morning guys:
Could you please provide me a name or 2 where I can dollar cost average every month and buy shares of a company no matter the price for a long term holding. I’ve been doing with Td bank presently . Do u think this is a good strategy ?
Thank u
Mark

Q: Clarification on my question --"whether it is best to convert money to the US and then buy stock or just buy stock and then convert to the USA stock". You say "that if one is buying a US stock there will be conversion at some point. Either C$ gets converted into US$ for the purchase, or US$ gets converted into C$ when the investor wants to withdraw Canadian cash from the account eventually."

There will be no conversion fees if I do below steps.
Example: I buy CSU on TSX Then move to USA Stock
When I decide to sell I move CSU from the USA to CDN and then sell.

Is this strategy will end up saving money or the best way to convert money from CDN to the USA or vice versa.

Thanks for the great service.
Hector

Q: Moving a Canadian stock to the U.S. side in order to keep the dividend in U.S. $.
Is it best to convert money to the US and then buy stock or just buy stock and then convert to the USA stock? Do you end up paying less or is it same? (I.e Fex fees).

Thanks for the great service.
Hector

Q: Great article in the Van.Sun d/d Feb 26. on Stock Screening.1)New Highs 2) ROE(U use above 20%) 3) Earnings & Sales growth( above 20%) 4}Low debt & 5)Dividend. Under u Bonus screen,there are 5 companies that meet above criterias except the Dividend screen.Please advise the 5 companies.Are they buyable now? & are they in the 3 potfolios.Thanks for u usual great advices & services.