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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: Ray.a did not participate in the last 3 great up days.Today closed@ $3.25 down 0.24 on big vol.of 440k(av.133k) with a 1yr low of $3.18. On Mar 23 increased NCIB to max 4.9m shares from 2.9m As at Mar 20,bought back 2.9m shs at av.price of $6.01. Between Mar 12 to 19 CEO bought 200k shs at av.$4.33 & Chair bought 251.7k @ av.$4.49(total shs held- 2.91m).At last Q div was increased by 7%,now the yield is 9.23% in part due to drop in price. Why the price keep dropping? Is it because of its business?. My p/p $9.10,now 1% position.Is it time to move on to some better stocks(if so,please give 2 names} or stay put. Please comment.Txs for u usual great services & advices.
Read Answer Asked by Peter on March 27, 2020
Q: Just a comment about your answer to Stephan's March 26 question regarding Genworth (MIC). You mention that Genworth's payout ratio was over 95% in 2019, but that was just because of all the special dividends they paid out. The company paid 5 (yes, 5) specials totalling almost $9.00/share between Jan 1, 2019 and Feb 29, 2020. The regular dividend is only 54 cents a quarter, or $2.16 annually, compared to 2019 net earnings of $4.92/share, so the regular dividend is very well covered, and I doubt you will be seeing any more specials for a while. Of course, the net income this year will likely be lower.
Read Answer Asked by Dan on March 27, 2020
Q: I hold a couple of Ford Credit Canada bonds with one issue maturing in 12 months and the second issue in 36 months. With today's downgrade I've taken a hit on the market value of the bonds, particularly the longer maturity. Is there a risk of default by Ford Credit on these bonds?
Read Answer Asked by Brian on March 26, 2020
Q: Hi Folks
can you comment on Enbridge and TransCanada ( TC Energy ) - are they still okay to hold at this time ? In particular are they okay to hold at the same time - I have both BUT not in the same portfolios. I have ENB in my RRSP (2.5% position), in my wife's TFSA (2.5% position) and in my non-registered account (2.5% position) . I have TRP just in my wife's RRSP (4.5% position ).
Appreciate you comments.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by JOHN on March 26, 2020
Q: I have the above 3 holdings with losses ranging from -60% to -85%. They each now represent less than 0.5% of my overall holdings so whatever happens they will barely move the needle. I am at a point where I feel I need to do some type of clean-up and would appreciate your advice. I see 3 possible choices:
1. Dump them right away regardless of price in the name of cleaning up my portfolio
2. Given that we might be close to a bottom wait (say between 1 month to a year) to hopefully sell at a better price
3. Top them up to at least a quarter or half position and hang on to them long term
They are all in registered accounts so there are no tax benefits in selling. Furthermore I went into this downturn with 30% cash and have since bought into the drop (other positions) bringing my cash down to 15%, with plans to do additional purchases if the market drops further. So at the moment, I have no immediate need for the little cash that selling these right now would bring. What would you suggest?
Read Answer Asked by Steven on March 26, 2020
Q: Hello Peter and co,
Thank you for your voice of reason in these crazy times! My 18-year old granddaughter has been talking about investments, and recently announced that she has decided she wants to invest in a cruise line company, since they are probably way down. Her thinking makes some sense to me, as the cruise industry will survive, and the strongest players may benefit from assimilation of weaker players assets. Similar thinking regarding airlines. In both cases, bankruptcy may be a risk. Is it safe to assume that buying these sectors is a good long term strategy, and if so, which companies would you suggest? Presumably strong balance sheet is a must. I think I read that Warren Buffett bought some Delta Airlines shares recently. Considering all that, what would you suggest for a young 18-year old?
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Ed on March 26, 2020
Q: I get most of my income from dividends. Please name 4 sectors where dividends might be relatively Less likely to be suspended and 5 companies that will do best with the criteria mentioned. I understand that at this time it is hard to project but I ask for relative possibilities with the current situation that may change. 
thanks 
Yossi
Read Answer Asked by JOSEPH on March 26, 2020
Q: While our politicians and others say this is unprecedented, the truth is it has happened before. The 1918 Spanish Flu killed 33 million world wide because they didn't know much about prevention and soldiers were returning from war. Some areas did close borders and practice self-isolation. Even the word quarantine comes from the 40 day isolation period in the middle ages. What happened after 1918?
Markets improved, then there was the 1920-21 depression (maybe war related) followed by one of the biggest bull markets ending in the 1929 Great Depression.

We haven't used the word depression yet but a depression is a fall in GDP of 10% or more or a Recession lasting more than 2 years. I think it is likely that we will have a technical "Depression" and using the word may send markets lower. Either way we are not finished and we need to test the lows and see some real light at the end of the tunnel. But it will end and return to normal and higher prices. My thoughts as I sit in self isolation. Stay safe everyone.
Read Answer Asked by Earl on March 26, 2020
Q: Assuming markets will tank again, which would you suggest be purchased for a long-term hold at that time: BAM.A, SLF or TRI? Retired investor looking for dividends with some growth.

Many thanks to the entire 5i team for your collective efforts to provide us with timely, thoughtful information and a much-needed balanced perspective during this most challenging of times.
Read Answer Asked by Maureen on March 26, 2020
Q: The above TFSA holdings have not performed well and of course, are not eligible as tax loss harvesting. This is one of the potential downsides of TFSA investments. Please give me your thoughts on which ones you would move on from and without worrying about sectors, some replacements you think will recover well. Thanks again for your guidance.
Read Answer Asked by bill on March 26, 2020