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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: Thanks for the Income Portfolio and in pdf format. What does "P & L" stand for in the column heads? I take it these differ from the lower left 'returns as a per cent'. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by PAUL on April 02, 2014
Q: Hi Ryan and Peter: I have a question about the income portfolio. You include FLOT which has a trailing dividend of 0.4%. I presume therefore that the role of FLOT in the portfolio is to preserve capital, and it does seem to have done this well through the recent downs. But it seems to me that HFR (Horizons actively managed floating rate ETF) does this just as well while posting a trailing payout of just over 2%. What am I missing? Roland T.
Read Answer Asked by Roland on April 02, 2014
Q: First thanks for having an excellent service!

In your new Income portfolio your first item is FLOT which is US. Aren't there dangers in holding a US item in a CDN portfolio? Aside from the exchange issue, which I have been burned with in the past, aren't there tax implications with the new IRS rules concerning income and agreements as well as estate filings required to liquidate the holding if the holder passes away?

If someone didn't want to hold a US holding in the portfolio would you recommend just changing the weighting or have an alternative?
Thanks again!
Read Answer Asked by Kenneth on April 02, 2014
Q: 1) I understand that companies that have increased their dividends recently do so because they're confident of their earnings for the next year or two. Is there an ETF that focuses on these companies?
2)I own PKW (concentrates on companies buying back their stock)and wonder which of these two approaches, companies that are buying back stock or those that increase their dividends, you would endorse?
Read Answer Asked by Graeme on April 02, 2014
Q: I have been looking at Lyondellbasil (LYB:NYSE) and Methanex (MX:TSX) as potential plays on the US industrial/chemical resurgence and cheap natural gas prices. I notice that LYB is not mentioned very often despite having had a great run and IMO still trading cheap relative to the rest of the S&P 500 (forward P/E). What are your thoughts on LYB? Is it worth picking up or is Methanex a better investment?
Read Answer Asked by Scott on April 02, 2014
Q: Hello, Regarding CCT, what do you see in the future for this company. I have held it for years, and done very well, but it seems to have stalled. Better prospects elsewhere? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Lavern on April 02, 2014
Q: Taking a real beating on WFI, down 15%. Any insights or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Dave on April 02, 2014
Q: one last question regarding SUM

You have mentioned you would hold it here and wait it out which makes sense but I do not have a position a this time. Would you buy right now or wait to see what effect the CEO share sale plan has on the stock? It did recover somewhat yesterday.

Thank You Peter & Family
Read Answer Asked by Gord on April 02, 2014
Q: Hi Peter,
I'm looking to deploy new money into one or a few names in the small to mid cap energy space. Could I please have your current thoughts on Crew (CR), RMP energy (RMP), and Raging River (RRX). Which of the three (if any) would you recommend at current levels? Also, do you see any of the three as takeout candidates in the next 12 months or so?
Many thanks, Peter!
Read Answer Asked by Scott on April 02, 2014
Q: Alter NRG Corp

I am down 15% which (with a small position of $1,000) isn't that big a deal. And I know you mentioned in the past this needs to be considered risky. I don't have a problem holding unless there is something you know or can see which should tell me to get out now.

Thank You Peter & Family

Gord
Read Answer Asked by Gord on April 02, 2014
Q: Good Morning Peter and Co.
Can you expand on your response to what you think the economic and market conditions for 2014 will be like? What sectors or industries do you see as outperforming the market if any?
Thank you for your advice and information.
Read Answer Asked by Colin on April 02, 2014
Q: Hello 5I team,

Looking at the ajusted model portfolio am I correct in thinking that you have changed the sector asset allocation? For example my calculation shows 25% in tech, 20% in financial and 0% in healthcare.
Is this correct and if so is there a reason behind this change.
Read Answer Asked by Josette on April 02, 2014
Q: What are your thoughts on SPLK?Are there other companies that do what they do?
Read Answer Asked on April 02, 2014
Q: Hello Peter
I have brokerage accounts at two large full-service brokerages [Scotia McLeod, and National Bank Financial] and one at TD Waterhouse. I use the TD Waterhouse one with the low commissions for smaller positions and for ones I may expect to trade.

To simplify things I am considering consolidating the two full-service ones into one account, however I worry that then I may have too much riding on the solvency of a single bank, and in view of possible troubles and the possibility of "bail-ins" as happened in Cyprus and in several other European countries, maybe I am better spreading the risk.

I understand that the Government of Canada has already passed into law the regulations for the bail-in of an insolvent bank whereby the depositors are the losers. What do you think?
Thankyou........ Paul
Read Answer Asked by Paul on April 02, 2014
Q: EIF Exchange Income Corp

The expansion of cell phone usage is supposed to increase significantly in the coming few years. Hard too believe considering how many cell phones there are out there. But that along with 4G usage has me watching American Tower Corp (AMT) closely.

I asked 5i & family about AMT Jan 7 of this year and you recommended EIF as a way to have access to a private company Westower which is in the same business as AMT and as reported by 5i was showing good financials. Since Jan 7 EIF is down 13% from $23.68 to 20.55 as of my writing this today.

I still believe that cell phone tower companies have a bright future, especially considering 4G, tablets etc... coming on line in the very near future.

What is your present opinion of EIF and/or are there any other recommendations you are making in this sector? And do you agree with my assessment of the future opportunities for cell tower companies such as AMT & Westower?

Thank You Peter & Company, always appreciate your time

Gord

Read Answer Asked by Gord on April 02, 2014