Investment Q&A

Q: Based on available historical data, the above have compounded earnings > 10%. I intend to put these good companies into a RRIF to boost the return of a mostly bond/gic content.

In your opinion would you regard each of the above as a good company that should be able to provide a relatively stable future annual return of 8% to 10% with the exception of a market meltdown. Looking for some reassurance regarding the picks. Thank you.

Q: I would like to use GRT.UN, CM,ENF,PZA,TD,SMU.UN,T,AX,BCE,AND FC in a retirement income portfolios what do you think. Are there any I should not use.

Jim

Q: I would like to buy some preferred shares of the canadian banks.
Would you recommend one bank over the other and which series.

thanks,

Q: Canadian banks and residential mortgages
My impression is that Canadian banks sell their mortgages. (Perhaps this is only the case for smaller banks.) Also, a portion of their portfolios would be insured. Do these points have a material impact on the actual exposure of the big banks relative to the apparent exposure arising from the volume of business? Are there comparative bank stats for their exposure in various lending markets, by sector and geography?

Q: Hi Peter and Gang,

Just wondering what your views are on Canadian banking industry going forward and if the 5 big Canadian banks are a buy, hold or sell.

Thanks,
Harry

Q: do you think this is a good time to buy a bank stock or the ETF. for a long term hold? could you list your top 3 Cdn banks? thanks Jack

Q: Hi Peter and Ryan, I have held Lloyds and Santander for a long time still down 35%. Should I sell both due to the uncertainty of Briex and buy some more BAC, C, TD, BNS That are also held in equal amounts. US Banks are ADR's.
Do you know when Lloyds will receive the next Dividend and how much it will be ?
Thank you, to you and all your staff for excellent advice, I have all the stocks in your Balanced and Growth Portfolio's and the best performance I've ever had. --- Ian

Q: TD shares dropped a bit recently. Is it a buy now or will it drop further in your opinion?

Q: Hi. Since joining your service I have slowly sold my mutual funds and built up the portfolio listed. I have an equal percentage of these listed except M at 16% AVO at 1.6% and SGY at .6 %. I have a mutual fund left at 6% that I would like to sell. For a balanced portfolio today what would you recommend I purchase? 3 - 5 year timeframe. Please deduct appropriate credits for the long question. Thanks.

Q: Hi 5i,what do you think of WDO, hold or sell I am holding this since Jan.2012 and why the big drop on TD, is there bad news on the company ? Motoi

Q: i think the market doesnt like TD taking on a $9 bln in loans to a single borrower in the oil sector.

Q: Good opportunity to add more TD ? Thx J

Q: Just comment so please do not deduct credit.Re TD,agreed with 5I that the some $6b drop on 3/10 is excessive,& if TD is found guilty,the fine will likely be not material, plus no move now is the best move.So far this are just allegations,which have to be proven.TD stated that employees must abide by Code of conduct & ethics,i.e. act ethically & place interests of customers first.OSFI is always monitoring the financial institutions.As a retired employee of one of the other big Can.Banks,I can attest that we are closely supervised by management,plus many checks in place to ensure correctness. As a matter of fact,there was a booklet,Code of conduct & ethics on top of my table so that it is visible.We need to review it periodically with the supervisor.

Q: (1) ALL Canadian Banks seem to be teetering now . Should we simply ignore this - trim, or are there still some gains to be had in staying the course ?
(2) Do you feel that a switch to TD from BNS would be a good move with the damage to TD's price ?
(3) I have done so well with Banks and fairly well on Insurance , but my REITS and Financial "Others" ( like CXI ) have reversed ... After the TD over-reaction, should we be expecting a mass exit from the financials on the slightest hint of bad news ?

Thanks for rescuing me from my fear-driven-frequent-trader past .

Q: Please expand on the following statement given as part of an answer to a recent question on TD. I don't understand whether it is a positive or negative point of view:

"Even if the bank is 'guilty' the amount of market cap decline is far more than any fine would be".

Thanks

Q: After what happened to Wells Fargo its very likely that our banks would have taken steps to ensure this does not happen here.
It is possible that short sellers are trying to cover their losses.
Your opinion please

Q: TD is down 3% as of 11am. I assume the CBC investigative story is the cause. How serious is this and should the stock be reacting so poorly to the news? What's your take on all of this?

Q: Any idea what is going on with TD today? The rest of the banks are doing fine but TD is down over 3%, which is a huge fall for one of the big banks on day which hasn't seen a severe fall in the markets.

Q: Is there any reason to react to the news and subsequent dip in share price coming out about TD's lending practices? Thanks.

Q: Please accept my apologies for what could be a request for a long-winded answer. You welcome to debit my 5i bankroll for 5 question credits in effort to better compensate you for your time.
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If possible, please provide your opinion on something I wish to term "Peak Credit" in Canada. We are all aware that Canadians are spending themselves into a life-long love affair with mortgages, lines of credit and credit cards. With Canadian interest rates at 35 year lows, the availability of loans and credit climb while region-specific real estate prices inflate to valuations that seem to defy logic. Young families in their 30's commonly have mortgage debt over $500k and barely earn the income to cover payments at today's rates.

In general, what is the mix of insured/un-insured mortgage debt on the books of Canadian banks? If wages are not keeping pace with inflation and the cost of living, how are Canadians ever going to own their own home? Are we doomed to a life of the English, where the concept of home ownership is more of a dream than it is a reality?

Do you feel banks in Canada are prepared for higher rates in the next 3yrs?

Is Canada showing the early signs of a credit bubble?

Do bank common stock investors have anything for fear?

Am I a coyote howling at the credit moon?


Thank you for your guidance. This topic should be on the minds of many Canadians.