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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: Good Morning: I would appreciate your advice in the following situation. I currently hold roughly 15% of my portfolio in a Hi-Yld savings acct. paying 1.5%. The benefit of course is total flexibility in case of a market correction where I see opportunities. The down side is the relatively low return on assets. I have been thinking about transferring some portion of those monies to CBO (or an equivalent if you know of a better option.) However, when I look at the fact sheet for CBO I see the following data: Weighted average yield to maturity is 1.72%; distribution yield is 2.84%, and the trailing 12 month yield is 3.23%. To my relatively novice eyes (esp. in regard to bonds and bond etfs) it doesn't seem that I would be getting that much of a premium, and I would be giving up some flexibility and there is always the risk of a continued decline in the share price (even though it is near its recent lows) thus erasing any gain in yield. There are a lot of issues here that I'm finding it hard to balance out and would appreciate any insight or suggestions you have to offer. Sorry for the length of the question. Don
Read Answer Asked by Donald on September 15, 2016
Q: Self driving cars appear to be in our future. Which companies are involved in developing the control systems for such vehicles? If we believe in the concept, are there stocks that you would recommend? I assume Magna (which you seem to like) will certainly be involved in general parts supply. Do you know if they are involved in the controls as well.

Thanks for all you do.
Read Answer Asked by Dave on September 15, 2016
Q: What are your thoughts on the insurance companies in Canada versus US in general. Interest rates seem to affect the performance of the insurers and with the US on track for at least some small increase in rates in the not too far off future, I wondering if switching from Manulife (my current holding) to a US insurer (Aflac perhaps) in a registered account makes sense.
Read Answer Asked by Todd on September 15, 2016
Q: I own a basket of REITs and am concerned about Cominar, moreso after their bought deal at a large discount yesterday. They are not growing and with a high payout ratio it seems to me that the deal may have been in an effort to avoid a cut in their monthly distribution. My position is a little down since purchase quite a few years ago, but would rather sell now than at $10.
Appreciate your advice
Read Answer Asked by richard on September 15, 2016
Q: Peter and Team,

I have some covered calls written on Badger Daylighting, Tourmaline, and Painted Pony that look like will get called away at the end of this week. This will make approximately 10% of the portfolio available. I have essentially replicated the Balanced Equity portfolio otherwise (don't hold Whitecap or Magna, though) and I have approximately 10% of invested assets in short term bonds and approximately 7.5% of invested assets in US stocks (Xylem, Starbucks, and Visa).

My initial plan with the new cash available was to top up a couple Balanced Equity positions (SYZ and SLF, probably) to full positions and then to add a US Stock or two. My first thoughts for US stock were JNJ and GE.

What do you think of this plan and would you suggest any modifications? Should I be adding more to fixed income? I am 34, by the way and feel like I have risk tolerances that matches the BE portfolio quite well in general.

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Marc on September 15, 2016
Q: I have just read a BMIS explainer on the PG sale to Coty. They offer an Option 99 for a PG shareholder to do NOTHING. My read of this is if you want to participate in this transaction you must tender some of your PG shares to enter a convoluted process to determine what you receive. My take on Option 99 is if you don't opt to tender any PG shares, you are effectively letting PG mgt to look after your residual value from this Tx.
Is this a correct conclusion? Is there any material value for a small PG holder to participate in this auction?

Tnaks as alway for your advice.
Ernie
Read Answer Asked by Ernie on September 15, 2016