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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Hi, BCE shares took a hit (3%) after Shaw's announcement of buying Wind Mobile. Price decline was not as severe as Telus, though. But, as per analysts, BCE also has a subscriber base in BC and Alberta, which may face competition due to Shaw's ability to offer competitive TV/Wireless bundles. BCE recently completed a secondary @57.10 after purchase of HBO Canada from Corus. However, shares have mostly traded below the offering price and now took another hit. I added the stock recently in $55 -$56, for strong dividend yield with some dividend growth potential. Do you think the Shaw overhang will be there for a long time or BCE stock could trade back above $57 in 2016? It would help me to decide whether I should consider reallocation to other sectors like IT, with more certain growth prospects. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by rajeev on December 21, 2015
Q: I am sitting on a small amount of cash ($50000)I would like to invest into dividend canadian compagny. I really don't know where to put it. It is for dividend revenue until I died! It is extra money that is not part of my retirement assets. So looking longterm (20yrs), good structured company. What would be appropriate. I understand that you do not take any responsibility toward my decision to buy or not. Thank for your help!
Read Answer Asked by marc on December 03, 2015
Q: i have been reluctant to buy telcos because of customers reducing or dropping tv packages at ever increasing rates.i would very much appreciate your opinion on this and how it could affect future earnings and growth profile for bell and telus . thanks for the great service!
Read Answer Asked by keith on November 27, 2015
Q: I am a retired, conservative dividend income investor, with a well diversified portfolio of stocks, ETFs and mutual funds (AD, AQN, ALA, BCE, BNS, CGX, CPG, PBH, RY, SLF, WCP, WEF, WSP, XIT, ZLB, RBC Cdn Eqty Inc, Sentry Cdn Inc, Sentry REIT, Insured Annuities, Fisgard Capital), as well as a company pension and CPP.

Question # 1: BCE is 4.0% of my TOTAL portfolio, but 6.1% of just my EQUITY portfolio. When you discuss stock weightings, is it of the total portfolio or only the equity portfolio? What general guidelines do you recommend? I use roughly 2-4% per stock, and 4-10% for either ETFs or Mutual Funds.

Question # 2: My asset mix is 65% equities and 35% fixed income. Within equities only, my mix is 25% finance, 18% utilities, 17% consumer, 4% health, 14% industrial, 9% info tech, 10% energy and 4% materials.

I am looking for a very conservative, blue-chip, dividend-paying stock (> 3% dividend) to add and I'm not sure which sector to top up. Please point me to the right sector (or two) with 3-5 stocks to consider.

Thanks, Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on November 13, 2015
Q: My position in BCE has crept up to almost 8% of my portfolio which feels a bit high. Its currently trading within 5% of the 52 week high so I am thinking of reducing the position a bit (to around 6.5%). I would like to replace the yield, div growth and risk profile. I was thinking of adding to my BEP.UN holdings (now at about 3%). My telecom total holding is now at 10.5% and my Utilities/Industrial holdings are about 12%. My Brookfield company (BIP.UN and BEP.UN and BPY.UN)holdings represent 13% now. Your thoughts on this move please. Many thanks
Read Answer Asked by Gary on October 19, 2015
Q: 9:35 AM 8/23/2015
Hello Peter & Staff :

I have a large Prov of Ontario bond representing 3.5% of my portfolio, maturing soon with a 4.3% yield. The only altenative I have is to replace it with the safest most reliable dividend stock that I can find as I choose not to buy bonds, GICs, or preferreds because of the very low yields and the risk of capital loss on preferreds.

I searched today for any Provincial bond worth owning and I don't come up with much : The bond with the highest yield that I can find is an Alberta bond maturing 2029 that yields 2.49% to maturity, so any "safe" stock that can beat that return surely is better even if they cut the dividend by 50%

I am expecting a very protracted very rough time in the markets in the next years ahead. I would like a stock that I can hold indefinitely that has a rock-solid balance sheet, reasonably low debt, reliable growing dividends, and long-term stability.

It seems to me that the "safest" sectors with good yields are financials, telecoms, utilities, and the few consumer stocks with decent dividends, and I have been searching through all your answers and am considering CM, NA, GWO, BCE, FTS, EMA, CSW.A, and CSH.UN as possible candidates.

Could you comment on these companies please, indicating which you believe to be "safest" for long-term ongoing dividends, and explain your choices for me, and perhaps list them in order of preference.

Your answers are always most appreciated, Many thanks...... Paul K
Read Answer Asked by Paul on August 24, 2015
Q: Hello Peter, I manage my elderly mother’s accounts. Investments are well-diversified amongst her RRIF and non-registered account. As she had significant unused TFSA room available, we decided to contribute a few stocks and some cash from her non-registered account. Currently, the TFSA is 50% WSP, 23% NPR.UN and 27% cash to be invested. The situation changed, however, when she (thoughtfully) decided to name her grandchildren as the TFSA beneficiaries, which causes me to consider the TFSA’s makeup on a more standalone basis (including to protect the children’s legacy). With a 5-year plan, would you agree with acquiring BCE with the remaining cash (with its almost 5% yield and some growth potential) or do you agree with my inclination to perhaps buy CDZ instead (giving up some yield but gaining some diversification safety and presumably better growth potential). Or you may have a different recommendation. Thanks in advance!
Read Answer Asked by James on June 19, 2015
Q: Hello 5i.
I would like to compare apples to apples. For example I'm comparing BCE to the TSX60 over a period of 5yrs. In TDwaterhouse I look at the graph for BCE for 5yrs and it shows a 55% increase. When I compare it to the TSX60 capped Index it shows BCE at 80% and the index at 25%. Why the difference of 55% and 80%? What goes into calculating the value of BCE over this time frame. Is it the appreciation of the stock price plus the compounded dividend reinvested? Is it the same for the index? Also is it the same for mutual funds?
Read Answer Asked by Paul on April 27, 2015
Q: I loved your article; Five Quick Fixes For Your Investments.
I am especially interested in the following: Dividend growth is far more important than dividend yield.

I know there exists the Canadian Dividend All-Stars list, however, it contains an overwhelming amount of data. Can you recommend about 8 Can. stocks to buy now and hold indefinitely primarily for the dividend growth, with the intention of re-investing the dividends? (This would exclude the banks and BCE, which I already own.) Thank you in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Helen on March 19, 2015
Q: Hi Peter et al, I see BCE has been downgraded by two analysts from Hold to Sell. It has performed so well for me and I love the dividend, so what am I missing? Is it tome to unload some of it? It's about 6% of my portfolio so I could take a bit off... Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Kate on February 06, 2015
Q: Thank You for the great service. My question generally relates to dividend paying stocks. I own the following dividend payers, BCE, BIP, BNS, BPE,CGX,CU,EMA,ENb,FTS,IPl,PPL,RY,SLF,T,TRP,NA,TD,CNR, KBL and a few others. These dividend paying stocks make up approximately 45% of my portfolio. My question is: Is this too much of this type of security to own in one's portfolio? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Brian on January 05, 2015