Investment Q&A

Q: I am sitting on some US Dollars in a cash account and am putting together a small portfolio of USD dividend paying stocks that are also quite stable i.e lower downside risk, not likely to go out of business. So, essentially long term holds.

This portfolio already includes US listings like Apple and RAI. Most of the other stocks that I am considering, know best and am comfortable with are Canadian companies that also have US listings. Examples would be BCE,Telus,TRP, BNS,TD, ENB etc

My question is: does this make sense? Are there any guidelines to follow when making this kind of a decision?

Most of the stocks under consideration are already in my CAD portfolio. This would be a matter of increasing my weightings which would still be at acceptable levels.

I also see this as a relatively "safe" way to build up a cash reserve of US dollars via the dividends.

Any help you can provide to help me work through this process will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Q: Hi Friends! I know many people avoid the airline stocks because of their cyclical and often unstable status. I believe the forward PE is actually very low on Air Canada and I believe many of the problems that have plagued them have been sorted out other than they still carry a lot of debt. Is perhaps now one of those times where holding the stock may be an opportunity for some gains in the short-medium term? Ian

Q: i have been reluctant to buy telcos because of customers reducing or dropping tv packages at ever increasing rates.i would very much appreciate your opinion on this and how it could affect future earnings and growth profile for bell and telus . thanks for the great service!

Q: My company will contribute 50% of what I contribute to the RRSP, however I can only invest with Manulife Mutual Funds.
What's your suggestion ? My time horizon is 18-20 years and I am an aggressive investor. The have a product called Assett Allocation that seems to invest a little bit in all of their funds.

Q: Is it possible that the recent weakness in gaming stocks is partly the result of the U.S Gov. position on Fan Duel and Draft Kings . If the Gov. action is succesfull it will mean the end of these two large companies and probably the end of the Fantasy Sport business in the U.S. More than 5,000000 people play this daily in the U.S and there is billions in revenue at stake. What do you think?

Q: Hi Peter and Staff
I have my own ETF built of REIT type investments so no position is large.I have done well on Tricon but with some analysts concerned with their last quarter and many blowing the horn for HOT.UN, I wonder if I should split my Tricon in half to pick up some HOT.UN . Dividends are not needed not but must admit it looks nice versus TCN unless TCN is going to really pick up some big gains on their cheap real estate down the road when I still hold it? Would you just stick with Tricon or split it with HOT.UN ? and why?
Thanks for all you do
Dennis

Q: I would like your opinion of selling NA (my current holdings of NA are 13.3% of a total CDN-Margin A/C dedicated to financials of 42.9 (RY & TD). The only other holding is CNR (56.2%)... I know it is way overweight for a single holding, but suffice to say I know this and am prepared to carry this risk (it has worked out well for 20 years)
My thoughts are to buy BCE (1000 shares) & EIF (1000 shares) to diversify a bit from financials. I currently hold no telecoms, and I like the dividend paid by EIF (assuming it is fairly secure).
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. My capital gains on NA would be offset by losses on BB.

Thanks in adavance,
Scot

Q: Hi Peter and Staff
Bought some of this on your recommendation. Under water a little bit..thesis still intact? TD and Scotiabank both agree with you but nothing happening yet.
Thanks for all you do
Dennis

Q: Hi Peter and Staff
Sold some at $5.50 at a gain , went back in for some at $8.85 which is looking good now......still okay to add a bit more(still a small position) at over $11 or is this thing running away for no reason?
Thanks for all you do
Dennis

Q: For these Vanguard ETFs, which is the better choice (hedged or unhedged)? (We do not travel to the US, and have no need for US funds.)

VFV or VSP
VDU or VEF
VUN or VUS

Thanks.

Q: Hi Peter and Staff
Did well on this initially by buying in low $20's and sold off a bit at a gain at $26 ish,now under water big time of the rest. Small Position....once Transalta started down (I sold), it never stopped for a long time.....many blamed it on bad management. How big an impact how soon is the Alberta coal changes going to affect their FFO and can they adjust their business plan enough to make me enjoy the dividend now and hope that even if my capital loss does not reverse itself quickly, it does not get bigger?
Thanks for all you do
Dennis

Q: Hi Peter
Small position,patient investor.worth an average down or a falling knife?
Thanks for all you Do
Dennis

Q: Hi Peter and Staff
Ugly Duckling Contest
If you had to pick 2 of these to average down on which two would they be and which two would you cut off at the knees to do it?
Thanks for all you do
Dennis

Q: Hi Peter
Seems like a decent P/E multiple..small position.......patient investor...any reason not to average down?
Thanks for all you do
Dennis

Q: i have been contemplating buying some shares on its recent sell off...can you comment on its investment merits at this time , please and thank you ...i can appreciate your limited coverage of US stocks

Q: Hi Peter and Staff
All 3 bought small positions in based on BNN experts...down on all 3 large......any of them worth averaging down on?
Thanks for all you do
Dennis

Q: On Sep 28,You chose the following stocks for my risk aversed 27 yr old daughter:SJ(Investment a/c),POW,CGX & ATD.B(Rsp)& CSU,BIN,MG & GIL(Tfsa).Please advise if the selections are still effective & any changes.Is this a good time to star?.How much has the strong gain in October taken from November & the rest of the year? Appreciate your usual great services & views

Q: No dividend can be considered safe in the resource world right now however ENSIGN kept its dividend through 08 and 09. With a major shareholder behind this company and a yield in mid 6 range is this company a decent buy now. When the world changes will Ensign be a Canadian leader in the way back?

Q: Hi, The banks report next week and I'm wondering what expectations are? It seems a lot of analysts are negative on them right now? Is it because of housing? With dividends of close to 5% the banks have never looked better to me.Is this a good time to buy or am I missing something?

Best,

Carla

Q: Would BHP be a good alternative to TCK? Or should it also be avoided? BHP's dividend is getting pretty high...do you think it is at risk?
Thanks.