Investment Q&A

Q: Good morning,
Interested in ABT and Greif Inc.GEF.US. Both have a payout ratio over 100%. How do you determine the stability of the dividend and are the dividends sustainable when the payout is so high? Do you expect the share prices to grow? Thank you as always.
Gary

Q: Hi 5i,
I am young and have time to hold stocks long term. I own some Canadian bank (bns) as well as some broad etfs (and other various non-financial stocks).

Is there value or reason to own a company like Sunlife or Manulife (or similar, please recommend if you know of something better). Or would it be better to own a second Canadian bank? Or would it be best to add the extra money to my BNS position?

Thanks

Q: Callidus Capital has been increasing the share price amount (now at 16.50) and extending the duration of its buyback offering for quite a time now. I am trying to figure out what the end game in this is. Does this mean they will go private and are trying to clear out stock at lower valuations or are they propping up the price, building awareness, etc. so they do not have to go private? Perhaps they are testing the market perception of a fair share price in a beneficial way to the company? I purchased a full position at $20ish range and I held on. I enjoy the dividend and feel the company has strong potential. I hope your greater experience in the markets can educate me on this one. Thanks

Q: I would like your Opinions in regard to this mornings news with these 3 companies. I have held NRI for a very long time. CTX was a recent spin-off. No GUD shares at the moment. Thanks, Catherine

Q: It seems that 5i and company have the power to move markets with ABT and TOY both up today!

I have 15% allocated to 4 tech companies - CSU, MNW, ENG and OTC - all in fairly equal amounts within a diversified portfolio. Would you endorse a switch out of MNW and into KXS for better potential growth with reduced risk or do you feel their profiles are similar? Would adding a fifth holding be better and if so, should I increase the tech percentage or reduce one or all equally?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: We are on vacation (but still reading 5i of course). Vancouver transit uses New Flyer made buses and they appear to be well made and designed. Much better than the clunkers used on the Wilson line here in Toronto.
Jim

Q: I'm planing on selling my position in Avigilon, sector weightings aside, which would you choose at this time between TNC and TOY

Q: So an "A" rated company, MDA, gets kicked out of the Balanced Porfolio for TOY. TOY seems to have public for about a year and looks to be much smaller than MDA. So why do you prefer TOY over NFI? Are you sure TOY should be in the Balanced portfolio - it looks to me to be more a candidate for the Growth portfolio?
Jim

Q: Hi, Could you please comment on the follwoing news item. Is there more to read in this appointment ? Thanks

Stella-Jones Announces Appointment to Board of Directors
07:00 EDT Thursday, September 01, 2016
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Sept. 1, 2016) - Stella-Jones Inc. (TSX:SJ) ("Stella-Jones" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Katherine A. Lehman to its Board of Directors.

Ms. Lehman is Managing Partner of the private equity firm of Hilltop Private Capital LLC, based in New York, NY. Before joining Hilltop Private Capital, she spent 15 years at the private equity firm of Lincolnshire Management, where she served in various roles, including Managing Director and Deal Team Leader, as well as Investment Committee Observer.

Q: Hi. Any thoughts on Michaels? (mik). It looks cheap on a forward P/E basis and RSI is around 30. Thanks and have a great day.

Q: What's your opinion on United Natural Foods (NASDAQ)? It claims to be North America's biggest supplier of natural foods. Natural Foods seems like an emerging/growthy segment. Is this a good investment? How does it compare to While Foods Market Inc.?

Q: FR is down a lot this morning, do you know why? What do you think of buying some at these prices?

Q: How would you characterize Dream Unlimited and would you think it would be better to invest directly in a REIT or renewable energy opco instead (focus, transparency, dividend)? Thank you.

Q: Hi, I own about 30 stocks 60% Canadian(mostly balanced portfolio) and 40% US stocks. I also own 4 ETF's for international exposure but feel that 2 should be sufficient. Which 2 would you keep and why? FEZ.US, EFAV.US, VWO.US and VCE.CA. All are in a RRSP so I don't think there are any tax implications?? Currency is not an issue. Thanks

Q: Do you have an opinion on Oshkosh Corp. NYSE:OSK

Cheers!

Q: evaluate SGY please - not mentioned when considering good E&P,s such as VET/RRX/WCP - how does it compare?

Q: What kind of portfolio should one have to lower risks while having a good return? By having most of my investment portfolio in equities am I necessarily taking too much risk. I am 41 have a well diversified portfolio of canadian equities (all 5i recommended, mostly from model portfolio, some growth and some income portfolio stocks) and some blue chip US equities and etfs and some bond etfs. It is currently 70% canadian equities, 25% US equities and about 5 to 6% fixed income. Is this considered too agressive. The RBC direct investment website does an analysis based on their standard ratios of fixed income to equities and put me at higher risk than agressive growth profile..I am fairly comfortable with this mix and I tend to keep my cool in adverse situations..Your thoughts and suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks. Shyam

Q: Hi 5i team :

would you buy National at this point (46.19) ?, the financial report issued today "looks" OK, but the price drop is concerning. Also many analysts have it as a "hold", why ?. Would you prefer CIBC instead ?, yields and forwards P/E are very similar for both according to Thomson Reuters.

thanks !

Q: I am wondering what the payout ratio is for the above company. Also, how is the valuation at present compared to other financing companies? Thanks.

Q: Can you give me the names of one good/liquid US and one good/liquid canadian ETF - primarily holding banks or other entities that will go up when interest rates go up?