Investment Q&A

Q: Thinking long term on the themes of infrastructure spending, recent pipeline approvals, (with maybe more to come in the US), and projections for crude to stabilize in around ~$60/barrel, do you see any tailwinds for BDI assuming they can keep the balance sheet clean? If not BDI, any other recommendations for companies providing support services to future infrastructure spending?

Q: I recently read in the Q&A`s that ECI is offering a DRIP program with 5% discount on stock purchased via DRIP. I own a number of dividend paying stocks in both registered and non-registered accounts with my discount broker and wondered if there was a simple way to find out 1) if the companies offer a DRIP and 2) if there is any discount they offer through their DRIP purchases (is this common?)....does such a website exist? If you do not require the funds, it seems to be a `no brainer' to enroll in the DRIP and receive an immediate 5% return. Your comments are most welcome.

BTW, I an a new member and am very impressed with the quality of the information you provide. Thank You
Scott

Q: Hello Peter and Team,
On the strength of your recommendation to consider Absolute Software (see Ryan`s blog of Sept. 06),I took a 4% position on ABT; of course as always seems to be the case when I buy any stock, the SP immediately started a decline and continued to a downslide of almost 15%+. What caught my attention was the reference to growth, coupled with a healthy and sustainable dividend. As well, this was a good fit in that I did not previously own any Tech stocks. Since the blog, I have read your response to other members, that ABT should definitely be considered a good candidate for an Income portfolio. Is there any change to the thesis that, although not a near horizon event, the growth profile is still a consideration?
Thank you,
Rick.

Q: I plan to add a U.S. financial services stock to my portfolio. I know you don't cover US equities but could I get your thoughts on First American Financial or others you might suggest?

Q: Peter and Team, I want to choose some ETFs for my mother in-laws RRIF and LIF. My approach is to be well diversified, looking for some dividend and a little growth to achieve btwn 5 to 10% annually. I plan to select Equal weights using ZLB,ZWB, ZDV FOR Canadian content and ZLH, ZWH, ZHY, and ZGI FOR US Content. Your opinion and any pitfalls or suggestions would be apprecuated.
Thanks, Steve.

Q: Hi 5i,

Do you have any numbers on this company ICC? Market cap, balance sheet, guidance, etc. It just started trading a couple of days ago on the Venture Exchange.

Thanks, Shane

Q: Do you think I would be wise to switch from CPX to RRX?
Jim

Q: Please help me understand the growing professional advice that we avoid 'defensive' dividend payers ( REITS, Utilities, Telcos etc).
I understand there might be downward pressure on share prices if investors switch to debt instruments. But we buy 'defensive' payers because they have sustainable, and usually
growing dividends...right? If there is downward pressure on the share prices we buy more.
What is it that I am not getting?

Q: I note that you are selling DH from the 5i income portfolio. Unfortunately I hold DH in my TFSA so cannot claim Capital Loss. In this case, would it be better to hang on for a bit?

Q: I have this position in the resp of the children (2%).
before the change take place better to sold the shares or to continue with the new compagny which I don't know.
thank you.

Q: Hello 5i,
I an thinking about positionning my portfolio for long term growth and, as I respect your views considerably, I thought I may add GOOG and Qualcom, as well as JNJ, as you are quite positive on these stocks. (I checked them myself, of course, and what I am able to see confirms your ideas).

To do this, though, I am going to have to sell a few US stocks in which I have a pretty good profit. My question is whether you would see this as a good strategy, given that my sector allocations are OK?
The stocks that I would be thinking of selling are:
Finning-it is Canadian but I can get US dollars from it.
Goodyear tire and rubber
HPE:US hewlett packard
XHB:US a homeowners ETF that i have been holding for the rebuilding of housing in the US.
thanks

Q: Would you choose OTC or CSU today for growth over the next 2-3 years?

Q: Hi Peter and staff
I assume MX is still a good add after the big up in the day before you added it to the. Balanced portfolio?
If so I plan on adding it . Please list the first one below you drop to add some as well as the next suspect to go for it in order and reasoning

AIM
ACQ
DH
DIV
WIN

Thanks for all you do
Dennis

Q: Hello - thanks for your great service! I have 2 questions. The first is in regards to the Balanced Equity Portfolio. I follow it fairly closely and I noticed that you suggest a 5% weighting in each name, however it looks like it has grown from 20 names to about 23 names. Would you then begin each name with a ~4% weighting as opposed to 5%? If so, at what percentage would you trim the weighting? Would it still be at 7% as per previously suggested or would you say 6% if the starting point is about 4%?

My second question is in regards to starting a position in MX. Generally I will add names as soon as it gets added to the BE Portfolio. I saw it had a big run up today. With today's big run up, would you be comfortable taking a full position in it at the closing price today or would you wait for a lower entry point? If so, what would that be?

Thanks again for your great service!

Q: Kinaxis Inc.
Chief financial officer Richard Monkman sold 25,000 shares on Nov. 10. CEO John Sicard sold 10,000 shares at a price of just over $67 a share. The chairman Douglas Colbeth sold 37,500 shares on Nov. 8, and trimmed his holdings by 12,500 shares the following day.

Would you have any concerns here?

Q: I currently have CSW.A which is not doing very well in my balanced portfolio, would you consider replacing it with MX?

Q: Why is cotts declining ? Thank you

Q: In terms of valuation,which of the aforementioned 4 companies is the best buy.Please list your preference in order of 1 to 4 with 1 being the best.Appreciate your normal great services & views

Q: Looks like they have missed earnings again. This time on record sales they still managed to have a pretty big miss. I have owned for a year and a half and the stock has been pretty disappointing. I know you guys have been very high on this name in the past. Is the investment thesis still intact. Does this just require more time or is it time to look for a substitute?

Q: Please comment on their results.