Investment Q&A

Q: Have you compared BIP.UN and BEP.UN before?
I hold BIP.UN and see that you recommend BEP.UN in your income model portfolio.
Thanks, Gary

Q: Hi. I would characterize myself as an income investor, but like many others am also trying to position myself for "conservative growth".

I currently hold 3% positions each in BIP, FTS, BEP and a 3.5% position in CPX. I also have a 4% position in ENB (I see it as a pseudo utility/energy).

I'm down about 5% on FTS and BEP, even on BIP and up 15% on CPX.

I'm thinking of selling FTS at a tax loss and picking up AQN for the higher dividend and what I see as better potential for growth.

I may consider adding FTS back in at a later date. What do you think of this strategy, or would I be better to leave things as is? Do you see BIP, BEP, AQN and CPX as having better growth potential in the next 1-3 years? What would be your recommendations given this mix of holdings?

Thank-you in advance.

Q: Continuing our discussion on these two companies BIPC trades at a much lower PE 12.4 versus 170.8, had lower P/B 1.4 versus 2.5 and also has higher momentum short term- doesn’t this make for a compelling buy for BIPC versus BIP.UN. Very confusing situation created by Brookfield.

Q: I owned shares in Enercare which was taken over by Brookfield. I still hold the units that were exchanged for the shares. BROOKFIELD INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS EXCHANGE LP EXCHNGBLE LP UNITS.
If I exchange it will trigger a capital gain. In the meantime, the dividends are still being paid.
Is there any downside to keeping these units and not exchanging them?

Q: Further to my previous question on this topic I’m Attaching report claiming these two stocks do indeed own different assets

I’m wary of holding BIPC because the new corporation only owns a small subset of the partnership’s global infrastructure assets. Is this a concern?
It’s true that BIPC directly owns only natural gas transmission assets in Brazil and regulated utility operations in the United Kingdom. However, the fact that BIPC shares are exchangeable into BIP.UN units and both will pay the same dividend/distribution means BIPC investors are getting access, albeit indirectly, to the complete global portfolio of infrastructure assets including railways, ports, toll roads, pipelines, communications towers and data centres. It also means that BIP.UN units and BIPC shares should track each other closely in price, which has been the case so far. (My note: NOT TRUE)
“In order to effectuate the stock split, we were required to transfer assets to BIPC since it’s a separate reporting issuer/listed entity,” Ms. Low said.
“The assets we chose to transfer (being the gas transmission system in Brazil and regulated distribution operations in the U.K.) were selected as they were relatively easy to transfer considering regulatory, legal, financial and tax implications,” she said.
“So while BIP LP and BIPC do hold different assets, investors should be indifferent as BIP LP and BIPC should be considered one entity, which collectively share the same assets, returns and management.”
Full disclosure: The author owns BIP.UN and BIPC personally and in his model Yield Hog Dividend Growth Portfolio

Q: The gap between these two tickers seems to continue to widen.

BIP.UN yields over 4.5% and BIPC 3.9%. Even with the dividend tax credit, the aftertax dividend cash flow is much high from BIP.UN. Am I going crazy? I have been wanting to step in here for a long time (definitely miss the "boat to a certain extent) but why wouldn't I invest in BIP.UN?

Q: I was under the impression both shares held the same assets and differed only in structure- Corp versus trust. Now I heard BIPC only owns Nat gas transmission in Brazil and regulated utility in UK. Can you please confirm if this is correct. If it is what is NAV of both shares.
Thanks for your service.
Steve

Q: Hello. When calculating 5 and 10 year returns including dividend reinvested, BIP.UN has been doing better than BAM.A. In the last 3 years however, performance is the opposite. If I'm buying either one for my RRSP account, which one would you prefer in the long run? Thanks

Q: I have full positions in the above except KXS and REAL. For available cash is there a stock that you like and would consider adding to this portfolio .

Q: In response to a recent question on BIP.UN, you mentioned it is best in a RRSP or non-registered rather than a TFSA. Is that the same with BAM.A:CA and BRF.PR.E:CA as well? Is the RRSP the best account tax wise? I understand this is true for all US Dividend paying stocks and US Reits, but is it also the same for any TSX listed stocks that make income outside of Canada? Then for TFSA accounts, are they best for Canadian and US growth Stocks, and Canadian Reits?
Thank you!

Q: Is BIP.UN looking attractive at current prices?
If held in a non-reg account, does it still get the dividend tax credit?
Is it best held in a reg or non-reg account and why?
TIA!

Q: Can you please explain why BIPC trades at such a significant premium to BIP.UN. I hold both now in rrif and tfsa accounts and read BIPC is structured to provide equivalent returns to BIP.UN. Yet as I’m writing this BIP.UN is $55.65 while BIPC is $62.06. I thought both units held the same securities and differed only in structure- partnership versus corporation for some tax reasons. BIPC is said to be exchangeable to BIP.UN yet why do this at a current loss of close to $7 /unit.
Thanks for your help,
Steve

Q: Hi 5i,

I'm quite surprised at the premium of BIPC vs the LP. I am tempted to sell all my BIPC and buy the LP units to get more units and the higher dividend yield. If I don't make the trade, do you think the premium would persist? Or, is there something the company could/would do to remove the premium (e.g. issue more shares of BIPC only or make the units exchangeable both ways). Is that a risk of losing the premium then?

TIA!

Q: Can you please compare/contrast AQN and BIP in terms of what they do, valuation, and growth. What do you prefer?

Q: I own BIP.UN and received a small interest in BIPC as part of the transition from a “Unit“ to a regular company. It was my impression that the shares of the old company would be automatically converted to the new company, but so far this has not been the case.
Do I have to sell the shares in order to convert?
Thank you for your advise.
Ernie

Q: How would you determine the fair value of the premium that the BIPC shares should trade over the BIP.UN? What do you think of the current spread?

Q: Webbroker indicates BIP.UN having a negative EPS growth of -26% over the past five years and BAM.A having an -11% negative EPS growth rate of over the past five years. Both stocks have performed well for me regardless of this negative EPS. Do you have any insight to help explain this? Thanks, Patrick

Q: If I sell BIP,UN at a loss and buy BIPC would the loss be considered a superficial loss by CRA.
Thank you.

Q: I believe the next payment is .485 on June 30.
Is that amount in Cdn or U.S.$?
.

Q: There is news that Brookfield Infrastructure LP reduced the dividend by 10%. I suspect this simply reflects the dividends declared on Brookfield Infrastructure Corp, not a real reduction for the enterprise as a whole. Is this correct?