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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: We have a substantial investment in our RRIFs in SPY, IWO and XLK together with US banks.
We now want to purchase CDN ETFs with complementary US stocks for our TFSAs. Could you please recommend a few such ETFs that would fit.
Separately could you advise on how stock future prices affect the opening each morning.
Thanks for your great service.
Alex
Read Answer Asked by Alex on December 31, 2015
Q: Inovalis seems to have decent fundatmentals but trades very lightly.Could you comment on this ?
Read Answer Asked by terrance on December 31, 2015
Q: Ovivo might also fit into the Green Investmet category.
Read Answer Asked by Murray on December 31, 2015
Q: I have held BAM and some of its spin offs going back to the Brascan days. I will likely hold BAM.A forever but recently waded back into BIP because the NAV of BAM.A was so heavily weighted to Commercial real estate. I am always hesitant to bet against the smart money though. The combined Brookfield holdings are a 10% position. Any thoughts on the use of both holdings? I know that sentiment with one will affect the other and am ok with the large total weighting. Thanks for the thoughtful service.
Read Answer Asked by Derek on December 31, 2015
Q: Insider trading for SYZ shows an entry described as:
90 - Change in the nature of ownership
Can you explain what this means?

thank you
Read Answer Asked on December 31, 2015
Q: Is it advantageous to convert shares to series 6 by the end of January. What happens to the dividend if I just hold the stock long term.
Read Answer Asked by Gino on December 31, 2015
Q: If I have 30k to put in the balanced and 30k to put in the growth portfolios, what would be an appropriate number of stocks to hold in each for diversification?

I'm on a 15 yr timeline.
Thx much.
Read Answer Asked by Rick on December 31, 2015
Q: The Big Dogs in my portfolio, each of which is down in the 20-70% range (are AVO,ACQ, KLS). Can you outline a compelling case for holding on to any of these DOGS?

Like many others, I was stung by the debacle around WIN - but in less than a month after selling .... the stock has increased about 40%. I would hate to see history repeated for me by selling these stocks and then sit on the sidelines and watch each of these DOGS become "Leaders of the Pack" shortly afterwards.

I know you do not have a crystal ball, but still would appreciate your take on these stocks.

Conversely what 3 stocks would you see as compelling opportunities going forward to replace them.

My portfolio is well balanced with a blend mostly of your Growth, Income and Model portfolios.

Thank you and best wishes for 2016.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on December 31, 2015
Q: Hello Peter & Co,
I'd like to invest in the US through ETFs; assuming that the exchange rate is not likely to change significantly, which should I buy? hedged or not hedged?
Thanks,
Happy New Year
Antoine
Read Answer Asked by Antoine on December 30, 2015
Q: please address balance sheet,mgt issues.are they in a position to buy troubled companys should/when the price of oil continues to decline? tkx pat
Read Answer Asked by patrick on December 30, 2015
Q: Hello,

I wrote in recently about whether I should move SIS and SYZ from our non - registered account to my TFSA and my husband's TFSA on Jan 4th when we get the new contribution room, or keep it in non-registered. You suggested I move them to our TFSAs, as they are growth companies.

Jan 4th is only a few days away. SIS is only 2% above where I bought so I'll definitely transfer that, but SYZ is now up 30% (It was up only 10% at the time of my original question.) If I move it into my TFSA I will have to pay tax on the 30% gain. Then if it drops back I will lose money in the TFSA, but won't be able to claim the loss. I currently have a lot of stocks in my TFSA that are in a loss position (PHM, CXI, MG etc).

Does this recent gain change your opinion about me moving it or do you think that over the next few years it might go up to 20 or 30 dollars which makes the move to the TFSA worthwhile?

Carla
Read Answer Asked by Carla on December 30, 2015
Q: I'm sorting positions between growth, balanced and income portfolio segments. I'm inclined to put BAM.A in income because it manages trust positions like bep.un. What say you?....thanks also for the help with the small stuff.......tom
Read Answer Asked by Tom on December 30, 2015
Q: I originally posted this in the markets forum but did not get any response. Perhaps it was inappropriate for that forum? Anyway I thought I would pose it as an official question.
I am trying to set up a little environmentally friendly “GREEN” investment portfolio. I would like to have ten Canadian (or traded on the Canadian markets) publicly traded stocks, I would like to avoid the power generators wind, solar and hydro and focus more on cleaning up the environment.
For example something like water purification or a bicycle manufacture would qualify.
I am having trouble identifying qualified companies. Either they are not available or my research methods are not effective.
So far I have identified the following four companies. And even then two are closely linked to oil production and are pretty shaky right now.
1. Questor (QST)
2. Newalta (NAL)
3. Lumenpulse(LMP)
4. Vitreous Glass (VCI)
I wonder if you can suggest additional companies or might have some tips to improve my research.

Read Answer Asked by David on December 30, 2015
Q: According to Globe Investor the C$ hedged ZUB outperformed the unhedged ZBK over the last 5 days. Over 30 days and YTD ZBK has out performed by a wide margin. I was surprised after reading some analysts are predicting a 68 cent C$. For initiating a new position with new money today would you go with ZBK or ZUB. The last 30 days ZBK is up 2.44% while ZUB is down 1.23%. Thank you and I would like to wish you a Happy New Year.
Read Answer Asked by Richard on December 30, 2015
Q: I know what something is worth is what someone is prepared to pay for it. However, Morguard seems to be a very good company, well run etc. Yet it trades well below asset value. I have seen previous answer but wonder what would be a catalyst to propel the share price higher. I am a long term holder but the stock has been in idle for quite some time. Thanks, Bill
Read Answer Asked by Bill on December 30, 2015
Q: Hello, I have mailings regarding tendering my shares of COS. I don't understand the risks or even how to tender. If its tendered do I get the approx $8.00 the stocks at now or the $10.approx that was offered? How do I tender? Do you have any thoughts on the right course of action?

Thank you, Dave
Read Answer Asked by David on December 30, 2015