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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: I hold Harvest group closed end funds HBF.UN (Brand Leaders Plus) and HHL.UN (Healthcare Leader) Only a total 3% of overall portfolio and fully for div income and diversive purposes into firms I couldn't hold individually. I just received notice of their plans to change over to a ETF for each of these close end funds. These are the only closed end funds I hold and I am wondering your point of view on this move. They of coarse say its to our advantage for Liquidity and growth potential. These are small funds and I wonder what kind of notice they really would receive in an already crowded ETF market and if the management team is really acting in our best interests here. I am not so sure they can maintain their current div yield of 8%ish either it seems high for an ETF. As always thank you for you good honest work on our behalf
Read Answer Asked by James on August 29, 2016
Q: PARK LAWN CORP have contracts with 2 companies namely Edgemark Developments and Nine To Seven Limited with both controlled by directors of Park Lawn. This seems like a conflict of interest to me since the Directors will be biased to use their companies and not shop around.
Secondly Park Lawn lends money to these 2 companies to buy PLC shares at a low interest rate payable on maturity far in the future. I think this practice is hurting share holders. Not only are they giving our money away but at the same time are diluting our shares.


I would appreciate your view on my objections.
Read Answer Asked by Robert on August 29, 2016
Q: What are your thoughts on HBI? I came across this idea from a Morningstar article focusing on undervalued US stocks. I don't have any defensive consumer stocks in my portfolio and thought it might be a good addition.

The company apparently has a strong brand and market position in underwear and other apparel and is trading at lower multiples than Gildan (HBI 12x forward p/e). EPS and dividend growth have been strong over the past 3 years but a recent guidance decrease has sent the stock down.

They recently acquired Champion brand in Europe and Pacific brands of Australia.

One potential risk is the increasing leverage of the balance sheet by issuance of new debt and recent large share buyback. An intention change the capital structure to boost ROE and EPS seems to be taking place. E
Read Answer Asked by Chris on August 29, 2016
Q: Hot.un Bhy.un Bgi.undrg.un
I have over 1000 shares in the above companies could you give me your opinion
They are all for income would you suggest other choices as they have not been
Performing that well for some time
Thanks Pat
Read Answer Asked by Patrick on August 29, 2016
Q: Would you have some suggestions for reading material on covered calls? I wasn't looking for something too complicated. But I am interested in information that would cover (a) stocks and stock markets best suited for covered calls (b) logistics of how to choose the best case of option cost and duration for a particular stock ( c) option timing in dividend paying stocks and (d) what is a realistic rate of return. Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Linda on August 29, 2016
Q: There was an article from the Globe describing an investment stratigy to look for areas where capital is scarce. I havn't seen this before, at least described like this, I guess basically the opposite of momentum investing. Or maybe this is what value investors look for. In any case they did not back the article up with any evidence that the strategy has been successful over the long term.

So: are you familiar with this conceptype and do you think there is merit to it? I guess it could help being early to a sector that will soon turn around, but it seems to me that investor capital (aside from a lot of retail) is pretty smart money and may be avoiding areas for a good fundamental reason that could last many years.

"Returns are best where capital is scarce” is one of my favourite bits of investing advice. The idea was popularized by Richard Bernstein, former chief quantitative strategist at Merrill Lynch and founder of RB Advisors."
Read Answer Asked by Kel on August 29, 2016
Q: I have held ATS for almost 3 years with a capital gain of 13%. I would like to see a larger gain in the future but note the fall in order bookings & backlog. Do you think this is a sign of future problems ? Do you think ATS is worth continuing to hold or are there other companies that you would favour. Other Industrial sector holdings are BOS, LNR, CJT, WSP, DRT, XTC, KBL.
Thank you as always.
Read Answer Asked by Alexandra on August 29, 2016
Q: I am a new member to 5I and wish to realign my RRSP investments partially with the above stocks in my balanced portfolio. Kindly give your input. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Sriram on August 29, 2016