Investment Q&A

Q: Hi 5i,

I read on Bloomberg that the 3 and 5 year bond yields have inverted in the states. I know generally it's a good indicator of a recession. How worrying is this sign to you? Would it lead you to making any investment changes?

Thanks!
Dave

Q: Hi, my question is does i5Research have any insight as to why preferred shares have drastically declined in price during November and is there any hope that this trend will reverse. My already underwater collection of Enbridge and bank preferred shares have decreased 7% in value since the start of November. My collection of preferreds are rate reset, resetting in 2019 and where issued with a 3.8% to 4.4% yield. Thanks … Cal

Q: ANYWHERE IN YOUR WEB PAGE ONE CAN FIND WHERE THE STOCKS BELONG TO THE CATEGORY ,e.g. BRK.B,,BAM,A,GOOS ,,PBH,SIS and UTX
Thank you

Q: Hi: I would like your opinion on the above named fund. The monthly payment is good but I have some overall misgivings about it. Hence I am turning to the experts. Thanks so much for your wonderful service. - IA Clarington Strategic Corporate Bond Fund
Cathy

Q: This is following on my previous question, Here is the information regarding this new fund from Spartan.
I do value your opinion on this one and how it rates regarding risk factor. Thanks

LSQ – which has been quite successful in pursuing other market-neutral arbitrage opportunities – anticipates that its SPAC arbitrage strategy will achieve double-digit returns on a portfolio basis using modest leverage (3x) with a very low-to-negative correlation to other markets, and with low drawdowns. We intend to pause fundraising once the strategy reaches $100M.

SPACs and the SPAC Market

- For those unfamiliar with SPACs, they are publicly-traded shell corporations that raise capital with a view to acquiring an operating business. Once a SPAC is IPO’d in the public markets (at say $10/share), it typically has 18-24 months to find an acquisition (capital raised is held in short-term money market instruments until deployed).

- When the sponsors of a SPAC find an acquisition, the underlying investors can either (#1) vote against the transaction and redeem their shares at the SPAC’s original IPO price (in this case $10), or (#2) vote for the transaction and participate. In an increasing number of instances, SPACs are permitting investors to vote for the transaction and redeem their shares (again, at their original $10 IPO price, per our example).
- In addition, SPACs are usually issued with warrants entitling the holder to participate in the SPAC’s potentially-successful acquisition. These warrants can also have a tradable market value.
- While SPACs can vary greatly in terms of size, quality, experience of the underlying sponsor, etc., for a SPAC investor, the worst-case scenario is a guaranteed return of capital at the SPAC’s IPO price (again $10 per our example), plus the residual value of any warrants, while the best case is participating in a very successful transaction.
Since SPACs are plentiful (33 have been issued in 2018 so far), trade on the open market (usually Nasdaq), frequently at a premium or discount to their original IPO price, and have a known ‘worst-case scenario’ and ‘timing’ attributes, they present considerable investment opportunities for a hedge fund manager with a detailed knowledge of the sector.

Please see the attached materials for additional details.


Seed investors – i.e., the first $10M – are entitled to the 1.5% & 10% fee structure with the right of seed investors to double their investments at that same pricing level during the term of the fund. We are looking to launch early in Q1 – likely end of January 2019.
We are in the process of compiling our order book so please let me know if you are interested in having an intro call and potentially allocating.

Q: Stock loss selling/ re-buy within a 30 day period.

If a stock is sold at a loss within a TFSA where a capital loss cannot be claimed, can the stock be repurchased at any time after the sale? i.e. no 30 day waiting period.

Similarly, can that stock (sold in a TFSA) be repurchased in another account be it unregistered or an RRSP?

Thanks.

Q: Hello Peter & Ryan,

After 2 incredibly gut wrenching months on the markets and the so-called repricing of equities, today the markets were cheering and have pushed indexes on both sides of the border into what appears like a 'relief' rally>
My question is a 2 part question:.

1. I would really like your insights into what were market participants betting on today and perhaps going forward. Is this possibly a "head fake" setting the market up for another wild journey or do you think that the market believes that concerns around: (a) interest rates (do not have much further to go) and, (b) that the US and China might be able to agree on a truth of sorts this weekend.

2. If the above concerns (question 1) become reality in the next month or so, what is your advice to members? What should investors chip away at in order to perhaps recover losses and defend their positions. I realize this a very broad question, but would appreciate your top 6 defensive picks, regardless of asset classes, that will boost our portfolios in the next 3 to 5 years.

Thank you very and much appreciate your opinion,
Joseph

Q: I have a Tax Free Saving Account government regulation question. In January 2019, I contribute $6,000.00 dollars, the new possible limit per year. Then, in January 2019, I transfer in-kind from regular account to my TFSA a stock worth $6,000.00 dollars. Now, can I buy another stock in the TFSA with the $6,000.00 dollars in cash in the account?

Q: I have a general question on taxation of investment income. If one had a mix of dividends, capital gains and interest income. Which source would taxed at the highest rate?

Q: 3 best etf for rrsp for cdn, us and international equity exposure?
MJE

Q: Morning guys:
In regards to tax loss selling, I sold some holdings which I was down significantly such as new flyer, dollarama, crh medical. I took the remaining cash and added more shares to pbh, savaria, and ccl which are on sale. Is this a good strategy ?
Thanks
Mark.

Q: Hi there, this is not exactly a stock related question but more of a general investment question. Between buying an investment condo property in Toronto (25% down) versus investing in the stock market (with no investments with margins), which do you feel would have a greater return over 15 - 20 years? Thanks!

Q: Dear 5i
I'm very much interested in the conservative portfolio for when i retire with in the next 6 months . I especially like bank , utilities and reit ETF`s as the yields seem reasonable and the fact that the ETF`s pay the dividends monthly which provides consistent income during retirement .
My dilemma is that i think i prefer to hand pick similar stocks myself within each of those categories most of which have been recommended by 5i .This way would all likely offer a higher average yield as there is no MER to consider . The problem is that most of the stocks in those 3 areas (utilities , banks and rents ) only pay the dividends quarterly so as a retired person there is not the consistency on monthly income as there would be with buying the corresponding ETF`s . Is this generally a personal preference thing or is there one way you would advise for a soon to be retired person .
Thanks
Bill C.

Q: Peter; I believe I have the solution to the pipeline situation. Allow Bombarder to bid on building all of those in Canada. With the Quebec political power they could be approved in a week. And likely fully funded by the Federal government !
Rod

Q: Thanks to your stellar advice my portfolio is stacked with market leaders. Consequently I felt like a hero during the summers peak. Not so much these days. I felt a little better after reading that market leaders tend to plunge 1.5 to 2.5 times the market average during a downturn. Thought I'd share that with you.
Question: will those that lead the downturn e.g. tech, lead the upturn?
Thanks
Peter.

Q: Hi,

Donald's analysis regarding Fairfax returns was quite interesting. You mentioned that timing is everything. The long-term MACD (a monthly trend/momentum indicator) for the S&P 500 now making a bearish crossover.A bearish crossover (sell signal) occurred at the 2000 tech bubble peak, the 2007 market peak, and the intermediate market peak in 2015. I came across this article and would like to get your opinion on it and keeping in mind timing as a big factor should we reduce the risk by lowering our percentage of stock holdings and get back in at a better time.

https://www.financialsense.com/blog/18799/markets-long-term-momentum-just-went-negative

Great service
Thanks
Ninad

Q: Hi guys:
In this correction, companies are so called on sale. Unfortunately retail investors only have so much money to deploy to buy shares. For example I own cargo jet and have done great on the name. Would it be wise to sell the winner and take the cash and add more shares to a savaria , New flyer , ccl , or pbh for example and dollar cost average. Or should I just stay put for my entire portfolio.
Thank you
Mark

Q: Dear 5i
I'm trying to understand how companies actually get paid when we own for example an ETF that has a MER of for an example .5%. If the anticipated yield is say 3% you had stated in an earlier question of mine that the 3% is inclusive of fees . So all yields posted are generally always inclusive of fees right ? This means then that the actual yield is 3.5% minus the MER of .5%. So its a matter of the company in question holding their fee back from the yield rather than a case of the said company getting paid the fee which comes out of my brokerage company account directly .Sorry if this sounds confusing . I'm just trying to understand the process and be sure about what yield I'm actually getting and what fees I'm actually paying .
Thanks
Bill

Q: If a person with about $20,000 dollars to invest for about five to seven years and wants to be one-hundred percent invested in stocks, what would you recommend, thanks? This person is somewhat risk averse

Q: Dear 5i;
With regards to the latest conservative ETF portfolio ;
With the average yield of all the ETF`s being 3.23%, is this before MER`s are taken into account or after ?
Also what's your rational for using HYGH vs XHY ?
Also tax loss selling generally only applies to non-registered accounts correct ?Please deduct several points .
Thanks
Bill C.