Investment Q&A

Q: Hi,

Thank you for answering Scott's question today (Jan 30, 2024) and choosing BIPC. His question didn't include all the components of BN behemoth. I know your favorite is BN for growth and BAM for dividends. Can you rank order others, especially BEPC/BIP? To one of earlier questions about energy stocks you chose BEPC. I understand the rationale there. If you were to ignore the energy sector where would BEPC stand?
Many thanks.

Q: 9:51 AM 1/20/2024
Does the US newly instituted tax rule on limited partnerships doing any business in the US now apply to BEP.UN, BIP.UN. BEPC, BIPC?
I have owned these for many years and all have very large capital gains in cash accounts so I am reluctant to sell them due to the crippling 10% 'disposition' tax on top of the big capital gain were I to sell. It seems I am caught in a tax trap! I would appreciate any advice on which ones are vulnerable to the tax and what to do.
Regards............ Paul W. K.

Q: Hi 5i,

I would like to sell BEPC to benefit from tax loss and buy back in 31 days.

Portfolio includes:
2.5% Fortis
2.5% BEPC
1% PIF

Also have :
2.5% BIP.UN
1% BAM
2% BN

I am retired, like dividends and some growth.

1. Looking for a proxy for BEPC for one month
2. Your suggested mix of Utilities.

( Will probably increase BAM some more.)

3. PIF - I like the dividend but volatile for a utility and hasn't gained SP for many years. I have a small loss. Is the dividend secure? Any reasonable gain anticipated over next year or two for PIF?
Might gains be a little more outsized due to interest rate reductions in next year or so?
Do you think it could be a takeover candidate?
Should I hold this or sell?

Thank you for your usual great advice.
I prefer more rather than less detail. (Subtract as many credits as needed.)

Q: BEPC seems to have a dividend history of about 3 years so i find it hard to know circumstances under which they'd lower it but i assume it could include climate related factors. BAM on the other hand looks to have reduced (or adjusted due to a spinoff or restructuring, etc) their dividend in 2007, 2014, 2015 and 2020. Then in 2023, it increased by 128%. As the Brookfield name seems to have a lot of cash, it appears that it might be hard to predict when the BEPC dividend could be cut. Would you please guide on how to assess the sustainability of dividend payments for BEPC? Do you think there is much risk of the present dividend being cut? Thanks for your usual market wisdom.

Q: More questions on BEPC
When it launched, it grew rapidly from 07/2020 to 01/2021, then it began a steady decline which seems to have abated in 09/2023. Are there specific reasons that you know of for its 6 month climb and the following 31 month decline? And do you know of the reason(s) for its gradual climb from 09/2023 to today, which looks like the second longest climb since it was launched? I would think there’d be a story but maybe its only known to BAM. I read once in the G&M that one of the downsides of owning Brookfield companies was the complexity of ownership and the difficulty sometimes in understanding the attribution of consequences among the firms.
On 5 Dec/23 you were asked for your top 3 utility pics and replied with FTS, BEPC, H. Would the 3 be the same today and would the order be different?
Many thanks and please serve yourself and the credits -- i don't seem to use them up fast enough !

Q: Hi 5i,
In a RRSP account, is it better to have BEP.UN:CA or BEPC:CA?
Thanks.

Q: Do you think renewables are a good buy currently?

Do you like NPI or do you have another recommendation?

Q: What would your top three utility picks be today for income and some capital appreciation?

Q: I hold both BEPC and BEP.UN. THE BEPC SHARES I HOLD AT A LOSS. I’M WONDERING IF YOU KNOW WHETHER OR NOT I CAN SELL THE SHARES IN BEPC AND BUY BEP.UN WITH The proceeds, and still claim the capital loss on the BEPC shares?

Q: I have held NPI for sometime and am down almost 8%. I know you're not a big fan of the stock currently and prefer BEP, H or FTS. That said, 9 of 9 analysts are rating NPI as a Strong Buy. None of the others are rated as highly. What are you seeing that they do not?

Q: How would you rank these electricity producers for a 5 year hold, probably longer.

Please add what other companies are worth consideration

thank you

Q: I own the above high dividend yield Canadian stocks, just under 4% yield and up. I am looking to add maybe 10 to 20 % to 4 or 5 positions. The yield on these is enough for us now so no hurry to sell anything.
Retired, but still looking at safety of capital. I have left out O&G plays and other potentially riskier plays. (except Enbridge)

Which of these, or other stocks do you believe have the greatest potential for price appreciation over the next couple of years if/when interest rates drop.

I am looking for your top 5, here but feel free to add other picks.

Thank you. Take as many credits as needed.

Q: Peter; Would owning both be like owning two separate companies in separate industries? Thanks.
Rod

Q: I own BEP and BIP. I am tying to understand their relationship to BAM and BN. The BAM website mentions their investments in renewables and infrastructure amongst other investments withut specifically mentioning BEP or BIP. Are these investments a reference to BEP and BIP or do they have additional investments in these areas?. Does BAM manage these investments by managing BEP and BIP while BN owns them? In which case, one can own both BEP and BIP by simply owning BAM or BN. Or are BEP and BIP separate companies that simply pay dividends to BAM or BN based on their percentage of ownership? I'd really appreciate if you could sort this out for me. Thanks.

Q: hi. I see BEPC with a P/E of around 3 on certain websites, and not listed on one other? what do you have for a P/E on it? further, what metrics do you use to value BEPC, and today is it expensive, cheap, or average in regards valuation based on metrics you would use? cheers, Chris

Q: How does the renewable market look today and how does BEPC fit in? Is this considered a 5 year hold with good potential upside? What is a good entry point?

Q: These stocks all have a dividend yield of 5% or greater and have market capitalization greater than 3 billion. When I see BNS with a dividend yield of 7.5% I have to think that the market is near a bottom realizing that the prices can always go lower. Please rate these stocks in two ways: safety of dividend and estimated 5-year total return. Do any of these stocks cause you any concern now or long term? Thanks.

Q: "Green" energy comprises only small part of total energy needs. It stands & falls with government (taxpayer's) subsidies, which are here today and (possibly) gone tomorrow.
Infrastructure needs, on the other hand, will only grow. I'd appreciate your take on this.
Also, would you say that one is "better" than the other on fundamentals?
thanks jerry

Q: I just sold the above stocks to harvest tax losses. I intend to repurchase them in 30 days. How important (or prudent) is it, in your opinion, to purchase proxies for them? What could you recommend if your feel it is useful to do so?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: Hello. I am looking at getting exposure in utilities. Could you please provide me with some ETF's - U.S. or Cdn? or stocks? Please rank them as well.
What is considered a reasonable management fee for ETF's?

Thank you.