Investment Q&A

Q: I have questions about earnings estimates, triggered most recently by your answer to an earlier-today question about Bird Construction. Your answer stated "The earnings estimate for Bird was $0.22 . . ."

WHO comes up with these earnings estimates and, more importantly, HOW do they come up with them? What credentials does anyone (outside the company) have to come up with such statements?

Even more importantly, why do "investors" (??) believe such estimates, to the extent that an "earnings miss" like BDT's drops the share price? Or, more correctly I guess, why does the belief in what would seem to be flimsy evidence like an estimate drive up the share price?

But I'm willing to be educated (that is why I'm here<g>).

Q: I am interested in adding Dundee International REIT. (DI.UN) to my portfolio for income. I found the book value and it is ok. I am unable to find the payout ratio. Could you please comment.
Thanks.

Q: Considering VYM and VIG for my TFSA. You were more up on VYM in Dec 2012.
Is that still the case?

Q: Hello and great work! I see AAH may be sold and is up 14% today. Should I hold or would you sell here? I have just a small position. Thanks. Helen

Q: Hi Guys,
I have a comment concerning Bryon. I would eliminate all answers concerning Mutual funds and ETF's. How can you possibly know what is in an ETF of mutual fund to give a proper answer.

Just my 2 cents.

Regards
John

Q: CEF.A: asked by Richard

"if CEF sold all of its gold at the current price, and bought back all of its shares, it would be 5% short."

Not sure of the answer as expressed here.
The shares trade at 5% discount to the bullion. Selling all the bullion and buying back the units at the current discount yields a 5% cash surplus. Publish at your discretion.

Q: I am going to buy SLF through an on-line broker however when I put the SLF ticker symbol in there were several options to purchase like ordinary shares and preferred shares series 1 through 5.
Which should I be putting in my TFSA?

Q: Hi own ZEB in my RSP and am thinking of increasing bank exposure by purchasing something for a TFSA (no banks yet in TFSA). Would you recommend more ZEB or instead going with BNS? Am thinking of about $5000.00 exposure. Thanks, Bill

Q: Ivernia - IVW TSE
IVW is a pure play for Lead, and as commodities go, Lead has been performing well. The boom in car production bodes well for Lead, both in emerging markets and developed. Magna and the likes of GM, Ford Toyota have already had big moves, would the guys mining the Lead from the ground be an untapped way to gain exposure to the automotive market?

Q: Hello, Gentlemen,
I have CUF.un (12% loss) and HR.un (even) on open account , each are 2% of the portfolio
I want to sell CUF and buy HR . It's a good idea or better to more patient with CUF.
Thanks and Best Regards

Q: Hi - have you looked at PSD results? What is your opinion of the current valuation. Still like it for long term hold? thanks

Q: Central Fund of Canada (CEF.A) is presently traded at a minus 5% premium. Could you tell me how one arrives at this value considering that the price of gold fluctuates daily and the number of shares is presumably fixed?

Q: Please provide your opinion on TIH-T. Technically breaking out. Many thanks, Don

Q: Hi 5I Team, any thoughts on what is moving RKN higher today? Thank you for your service.

Q: I support comment by Bryon. Further more most of the questions asked by members already have a recent or prior satisfactory answers in the Q & A section of the website. I suggest members should search first before asking.

Q: I have a comment rather than a question.

From the chorus of gratitude expressed, you can tell how valued 5i service is. I certainly join the choir and I particularly value this question/answer section. Ironically that is my source of concern.

My concern is that the volume of questions is becoming so high that you will be forced to suspend this part of the service. I would find that a major loss.

I would hope that if volume is becoming a problem, you would consider other approaches rather than suspending the section. I would consider eliminating questions on the US, restricting the number of companies per question to one and/or restricting the number of questions one individual may ask.

I would love the question section to continue as it is but if any problem develops I would certainly prefer restrictions to losing it completely.

Bryon in Elmira

Q: Hi There
I was interested in your comment about WFC.PR.J - 8% coupon.
Would there be any withholding tax on a preferred share held in an RRSP?
Thanks

Q: I currently hold only 6 companies in my TFSA. T.TO, TOG.TO, RFC.V, CSU.TO, STN.TO and BEP-UN.TO. I want to sell off a portion of my gains from this year and also add a bit more capital to add two or three more stocks to this portfolio. My goal is to eventually have 10 good stocks to manage in this portfolio. Do you have any suggestions of stocks to add that would both add diversity and growth potential?

Thanks

Q: New Flyer Industries (NFI) seems to be under some pressure after what I thought were some reasonable quarterly numbers. Any insight would be appreciated. Excellent site. Bill

Q: AC.B -reported good Q-buy as short term trade only? Your thoughts please.