Investment Q&A

Q: Hi 5i. Just a comment, further to your December 8th answer to Paul’s question on opposite direction same-day moves exhibited by WPM and precious metals prices. In addition to the points you made, it is probably worth considering that the value in the market of either a royalty streaming company or a metals producer is more tied to available futures contracts than to the present day's spot price for the metal. It makes sense to value a producer by the expectations for the entire period of time it will be producing. Generally what people see quoted is either spot or a futures price for a single delivery date, rather than something that extends out over the range of the futures contracts for the next several years. As futures pricing can shift relative to spot, and different futures dates’ pricing can shift relative to each other, it is not only possible that individual companies will move opposite to a commodity quote on a given day, it is almost certain to occur fairly frequently.

Q: What is your opinion of this company? Is it a buy?

Q: Could you please comment on Baozun, specifically how its merits compare to Shopify?

Q: Just a comment on Earle’s post on Friday on the 30 day waiting period on capital losses and being able at least to adjust your cost base. I am an “active” investor, which is a polite way of saying I trade a lot. I am not recommending that for all but here is my approach to taxes. I really don’t pay much attention to the 30 day rule during the year. If I sell a loser and change my view in a week or so due to new information, I will buy it back right away so as not to lose potential upside on that stock. At year end, I get my detailed trading statement. When I am calculating my capital gains/losses for the year, I check each losing security to see if I bought it back within the 30 day window. If I did, I just don’t claim the loss. For me, missing a taxable capital loss feels a lot better than missing the opportunity to get back onboard a stock on day 10 or 15 if my view has changed rather than waiting for day 30 to pass. I agree with Earl that taxation should always be secondary in your investment decisions.
I assume my approach is fine with CRA as I do not try and claim my capital losses if they are not past the 30 day window. Your views are appreciated.
Thanks again,
dave

Q: Hi Team
What are your top american banks
Will this new tax bill help them

Thanks Mike B

Q: I presently hold this reset preferred which I bought at $16. I see the chances of interest rates rising not great. So I’m cashing in this investment to buy a minimum rate reset preferred. My object is to supplement my income with reasonable preservation of capital. I’ve had a good run on equities, the market is expensive, I don’t want to be caught offside. My portfolio is a dividend portfolio.

Q: Hi, I work for one of the big 5 Canadian banks. I have the majority of my portfolio in shares of the bank I work for. Simply through unvested and vested shares. Some are paid via performance and others are through an employee share plan. I want to manage risk so should I sell the shares as they become vested and put elsewhere or leave them be. Seeing I work in banking I understand the business moreso than other sectors so there is a comfort factor here. Has Peter experienced such a dilemma at any of the previous companies he worked for and how was it managed? thank you

Q: Good day. Any particularly interesting stocks that have been getting hit hard through what would appear to be tax loss selling? Thanks!

Q: Good morning Gentlemen.
I need to re-balance my Industrial sector.
Actual holdings BAD 1%, ATA 1.5%, SIS 3.3%, and WSP 3.4%.
By selling BAD (1%) I will have 5% to add to the sector.
Can you please suggest 2 or 3 Can or US solid mid-cap stocks for at least 5 years.
Thanks
Best Regards

Q: is there a good etf of cannabis stocks that you would recommend, regards from tom in kelowna

Q: I'm trying to diversify a bit more and sell a quantity of banks and utilities Would you consider WSP as a long term buy and hold. Would I buy a full position now or stagger the buys. Thanks

Q: I'm looking to diversify outside of US/Canadian stocks, as this represents the bulk of my portfolio. Can you recommend any international or developing market etfs? Any international etfs with a value investing model? Thanks.

Q: Is it a good time to to invest in Japan?
If so, which do you prefer? CJP, CJP.A or WisdomTree fund or other?
It would be a small part of my portfolio and for growth.
thanks very much. Helen

Q: Kinder Morgan received a favourable ruling yesterday. Yet KMI.PR.H dropped.
Can you explain?

Q: Hi Peter and Team,
I recently read an article on bitcoin. In this article, the author identifies a number of companies as equity proxies for bitcoin. Square (SQ), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Goldman Sachs Group (GS) are 3 of the companies mentioned in this article.
Would you please enlighten me on the connection between the 3 above-mentioned companies and bitcoin. Your comments, as always, would be much appreciated.
Cheers,

Q: In response to a recent question you said that VXUS is a very attractive possibility for stocks outside the US. I already own VWO and was wondering whether it would be a compliment to that, or whether there would be redundancy? Isuppose I could ask the same question of a European ETF?
thanks for the great help

Q: What do you think of the acquisition by Xylem?

Q: Six questions regarding pipelines:
(1) I understand that Enbridge finances most capital expenditures by way of debt or new equity, not retained earnings. I am thinking that this would be OK if its GAAP earnings per share are keeping pace with dividend increases and its debt service coverage is stable. Do you agree with these comments?
(2) I assume that the prospects for ENF are tied to ENB. Do you agree?
(3) Do PPL and IPL have the same policy as ENB regarding the financing of capital expenditures?
(4) Do you have preferences among ENB, IPL and PPL and, if so, why?
(5) If I am correct, ENB is mostly pipelines, PPL is mostly other midstream and IPL is somewhere in between. I have this idea that pipelines are more stable than other midstream activities. Is this simply wrong or an over-simplication?
(6) ENF, IPL and PPL represent 10% of my portfolio. Would you suggest lightening up? (I am retired and my portfolio is geared to income.)

Q: Peter and His Wonder Team
Please give your current assessment of BXE. It has crashed since the 5 for 1 consolidation and also hit with tax loss selling. Would you rate this a hold because it may be over sold or just sell and take the loss even though it does not qualify as a tax loss. On the other hand would it be a reasonable contrarian play going into 2018 with more optimism concerning global growth?
Dr.Ernest Rivait

Q: Hi 5i team,
If I buy shares in a dividend paying stock the day before the dividend pay date, would I still get paid the dividend, or is there a minimum amount of time you need to own shares before you get paid the dividend?
Thumbs up on the new website!