skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Dear 5i,
Would you trim/remove any of these holdings from my “pipelines” sector?
ENB 2.0% weighting (down 9%)
PPL 1.5% weighting (down 21%)
TRP 1.5% weighting (down 11%)
VSN 1.5% weighting (down 28%)
The yield on some of these names is quite something. Will we all look back in 3 years and wish we mortgaged the house to buy them? Or is it “different this time”..? 
Thanks for a great “go to” for professional advice.
Read Answer Asked by Carlo on November 12, 2015
Q: Hi Peter,

Just wondering which company would be a better choice for a retired person. From your answers on previous questions both have relatively safe dividends and are around the same cost per share ($25.00).

Which would you think is a safer choice?

Thank you,
Charlie
Read Answer Asked by CHARLES LA on November 12, 2015
Q: While Savaria does not have a rating yet, would you expect it to start with a similar rating to Prism, given its size and liquidity issues? Or would it fair a bit better with slightly higher liquidity and a good level of insider ownership?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Alan on November 11, 2015
Q: I seem to be noticing a trend over the last few earning seasons (particularly this last quarter and in Canada). If a company’s earnings (and general outlook) surprise to the upside, the stock price may move up a bit but usually not by much. If earnings are in-line with consensus estimates, the stock price might just hold steady but more often drops anyway. If there is a small earnings miss the stock gets severely punished, and on a large miss the reaction is often brutal (i.e down 30%-50% in the following days ex. Amaya). The daily moves that some supposedly steady large cap names can encounter these days on a single piece of news is getting more and more exaggerated. It almost makes me believe that selling an entire portfolio before earnings season and buying back immediately after could make a lot of sense. The downside risk seems to be so much more amplified versus the upside potential when quarterly numbers are released. I would obviously never expect you to endorse such a timing strategy, so my question is simply: 1)Am I imagining this or have you noticed this trend? 2) If this is in fact the case, what are your thoughts on the reasons why and when /what might stop it? Is it just a function of current investor sentiment?
Read Answer Asked by Steven on November 11, 2015
Q: I am down approximately 40% on SCR, I realized there was risk going into this one so I wasn't blindsided by a downturn, just didn't expect it this quickly. I hold it in my TFSA so there are no advantages to a tax sell off I can see. I can afford to hold it longer term so am wondering if you think I should hold on, add or cut my losses.
Jim
Read Answer Asked by Jim on November 11, 2015
Q: 1:34 PM 11/11/2015
Hi Peter
Both TDWaterhouse and Morningstar show PrairieSky Royalty Ltd. as having zero debt. Also the list of Oil&Gas stocks on page B12 of Globe&Mail's "Stock Analysis" article shows PSK with a Deby/Equity ratio of 0.00%
Surely the company must have a lot of debt. Can you clarify this issue and comment on the future stability of the dividend and the potential for future dividend increases.
Do you consider it a reliable income stock for a very long hold?
Thank you........... Paul K
Read Answer Asked by Paul on November 11, 2015
Q: Referring to your earlier comments of the bought deal, as I have a small position in PPL and a larger position in IPL, do you feel PPL is a hold or sell and if PPL is indeed a sell would converting the sale proceeds to IPL make sense as IPL has a higher dividend.

Thanks,

Bob
Read Answer Asked by Robert on November 11, 2015
Q: Good morning guys,I see Badger is at 52 week low,do you know of problems with the company or their any catalysts for the stock in the short term and would you be a buyer here at this price,thanks
Read Answer Asked by Greg on November 11, 2015
Q: Are you aware of any company specific problems with Theratechnologies or has it just been caught in the general health care malaise? Either way, would you expect much improvement before year end?

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by John on November 11, 2015
Q: I'm looking to increase my exposure to the U.S. technology sector. Which of these etf's would you recommend for a Canadian investor. What are respective advantages and disadvantages?
As always, thanks for your much appreciated guidance.
Read Answer Asked by Les on November 11, 2015
Q: I would like to add international stocks to my portfolio for diversity. My current mix is 90% Canadian stocks and 10% US. I know I should not be so heavily weighted towards Canada therefore I am considering 50% Canada, 30% US and 20% International. Many of my Canadian companies have US and global business. My US exposure is through two low cost ETFs with Vanguard, namely VFV and VUN. Although VFV is comprised of US companies, more than half of those companies have international exposure. Although I am hesitant to buy mutual funds because of their high fees, I note that Mawer funds have lower fees than others plus their performance is much better than passive ETFs. I would appreciate your comments on my goals for diversification, and any other mutual fund companies or actively managed ETFs that you would recommend for international exposure.
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on November 11, 2015
Q: Recently, you recommended enb.pr.u as a possible preferred investment. Could you please give me the details regarding the recommendation. i.e.
-what kind of preferred is it? reset?...
-what is the actual yield?
-how often does it pay?
-why do you think this is a good investment at this time?

Also, could you recommend 2-3 other investments in this area that would be as good as this one and explain why they might be good investments?

As always, thanks for your guidance.
Read Answer Asked by Les on November 11, 2015
Q: Just a comment on a question asked by Ann about efn and the first dividend initiated by the company. There is a bit on a company's first dividend under 'education' Lessons From The Trenches. Scroll down to 'The Single Best Idea'

Dominic
Read Answer Asked by Dominic on November 11, 2015
Q: Hello team, It's noon and no shares traded....unusual?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Silvia on November 11, 2015
Q: Is this a Canadian registered company or does it require filling out T1135(CRA)?

Thanks for your help.
Read Answer Asked by Ed on November 11, 2015