Investment Q&A

Q: Dividend 15 Split Corp. Preferred Shares DFN.PR.A has been rock steady for the last ten years or so (except for a plunge in '08-'09), paying 5%, while CPD and ZPR took a plunge starting in 2015. Why the steady performance of DFN.PR.A? How much would you recommend buying it? Thank you.

Q: Income Financial Trust pays a 12 per cent on its basket of financial holdings, and its share price is currently some 27 per cent over NAV. My question: its 2015 tax form indicates that almost all of its payout consists of return of capital. Does that mean that investors in INC.UN are just repaid their own money, and NAV will get reduced significantly over time?

Q: Good morning 5I staff.

What effects would higher interest rates have on this closed end fund.

Thanks

Vince

Q: My broker recently bought CGL.C and not CGL. Do you prefer CGL over CGL.C. If so why?I was not aware that there was a hedge and non-hedge fund.

Thanks
Dolores

Q:
Hi team :
below is info. or BK. I HAVE DONE WELL FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.I have no other bank stocks.I mostly live on DIV.
what would you advice:
1. wait and get paid out 2018 ( I HAVE 5K BK and no BK.PR.A )
2. SELL 0.5 OF THE POSITION
3. BUY BK. PR. A TO BE SAFER { My expectation that bank stocks will be flatish)
4. HANG IN FOR A POSSIBLE BEYOND 2018
5. OTHER SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS
THANKS AS ALL WAYS
YOSSI

Q: I am wondering if the general share price trajectory for this fund will basically follow high yield indices rather than equity indices? Can this be viewed as a kind of junk bond fund? How sensitive to a rise in interest rates would this be? Trying to understand how this will move in the future, thanks.

Q: I hold Harvest group closed end funds HBF.UN (Brand Leaders Plus) and HHL.UN (Healthcare Leader) Only a total 3% of overall portfolio and fully for div income and diversive purposes into firms I couldn't hold individually. I just received notice of their plans to change over to a ETF for each of these close end funds. These are the only closed end funds I hold and I am wondering your point of view on this move. They of coarse say its to our advantage for Liquidity and growth potential. These are small funds and I wonder what kind of notice they really would receive in an already crowded ETF market and if the management team is really acting in our best interests here. I am not so sure they can maintain their current div yield of 8%ish either it seems high for an ETF. As always thank you for you good honest work on our behalf

Q: I have a question about Manulife Floating Rate Senior Loan Fund (MFR.UN). It pays a monthly dividend of .0563 (annual div .68) at today's share price of $8.48 for a yield of 7.96%. Is this riskier than a preferred share? Does the floating rate change monthly? Or is it set annually or on a longer period? This investment could be in my RRSP or TFSA account.

Q: August 22/16 ? Asked by Carla:

The question implies that CEF.A represents gold bullion, however that is only 60% true as the rest represents silver and cash. This is a frequent misconception. Publish at your discretion.

Q: I've owned this fund for quite some time. It trades consistently at around 30% below it's NAV. The yield is decent and appears safe/reliable. I was thinking about adding to my position for the yield and "hopefully" some share appreciation or at least limited downside. The price to NAV seems long overdue to improve and the company continues to buy back units. What are your thoughts about this investment going forward and buying at today's valuation?

Thank you

Q: I would appreciate your opinion on BK (Canadian Banc Corp Cl.A). I understand you generally don't like split corps. However, I have been a long time holder and have done quite well with it. It is 2.3% of my largest portfolio but a smaller percentage overall. I have not found any previous questions on this company.

Q: In your answer to my question yesterday you noted "If the NAV falls below a certain level (found in the prospectus), the payout will be cut and that will likely be a huge hit to returns."

To be more precise the prospectus says:

"No regular monthly dividends will be paid on the Class A Shares in any month as long as any dividends on the Preferred Shares are then in arrears or so long as the Net Asset Value per Unit is equal to or less than $15.00 (calculated as described under Details of the Offering Valuation of Assets ). Additionally, it is currently intended that no special year-end dividends will be paid if after payment of such a dividend the Net Asset Value
per Unit (calculated as described under Details of the Offering Valuation of Assets ) would be less than $25.00."

When I look at the actual dividend history, I see that DFN has consistently paid dividends of $0.10 per share every month since inception -- including 2008 & 2009 when the markets were so unsettled.

I also note that DFN shares have traded below $15 since Jan 2008, reaching a low of %4.66 in 2008 and trading in a range of $10 - $12.50 since July 1, 2009.


My questions are:

1. Does it seem like they like have more flexibility to continue dividends than the prospectus indicates?
2. Given the this history of consistent dividends over a fairly long period, covering the scary 2008 -- 2009, why would you not consider DFN a screaming BUY?

Q: I would appreciate your views on EIT.UN . It trades at a considerable discount to NAV, and pays almost 11% ( .10/ month nonstop since 2009). Are there hidden dangers lurking?

Q: I'm thinking about taking a position in physical gold before the US election thru either MNT or PHY.U. could you compare and tell me the differences between these 2 vehicles. Which is better? I'm thinking about taking a 10% position and increasing cash to 40% leading up to the election. Thoughts on this strategy?

Q: would you own FAP in a income account.
PHIL

Q: My question is in regards to my TFSA. I am adding new money to top up this account to about $45k. Currently I have only one holding($12k) in this account which is HPF.un, Energy Leaders Plus Income. My intention was to mirror some of the names in your growth portfolio. Do you see any potential in keeping HPF.un or should I sell it and re deploy those proceeds as well.
Thank you

Q: Hi Peter and Team!! My investment adviser is really enthusiastic about Canadian Equity Notes. She has a Bank note based on the TSX 60 that pays 4.5% . It has a 45% downside and is callable as soon as the market is up 10%. ( same type of investment as CBL9436.) I am a little leery and have a few questions. 1) Are these good investments. 2) what are the potential risks 3) because these sound too good to be true, how do the banks make their money? What's the catch. She claims that these are as good as fixed income with minimal risk and got a little upset when I seemed not to be so keen on them. Thanks for your insight, Cheers, Tamara
P

Q: Which silver bullion holding do you like best: SVR or CEF.A?

Q: Can you please explain FTN to me and how can it afford such a high dividend ... have a great day.

Q: Can you tell me the dividend payout ratio on "FAP,TO", also where can I find this information myself?
Thanks,5i,
Ken