Investment Q&A

Q: My former broker stuffed my RSP with some Sprott funds which I have now sold at an aggregate loss of 55%. I am now left with some Sentry Funds to dispose of . I ask herein about one in particular : it is SENTRY SELECT PRIMARY METALS CORP CL-A SH (PME) . PME has lost 64% of its value. I don't understand how this fund makes money. It pays a good dividend -- but is that return of capital. Fees seem high.
I read your comment of Jan 27 on PME. Do you hold the same view you expressed then? Given the huge drop in PME, do you think I should just keep it OR do you have other better ideas? I surmise from this forum that you suggest most people should hold a bit of gold. I know nothing about gold and would be thankful for suggestions . I would also be OK keeping PME as is , IF , in your opinion, holding PME is optimal given the loss already sustained in PME.

Q: DFN is down. Dumb question coming: The 15 core holdings (7 Cdn banks, 2 insurance cos, 3 oil related, 3 others) are all or mostly down. The markets are down generally. Dividend payers are down generally on fear of a rate hike(s). For income purpose, isn't all that 'just noise' for DFN earnings & payouts unless its holdings actually cut their dividends? current price is looking attractive to me. What do you think?

Thanks and also for all the info you provide daily,
Mark

Q: I own this fund but it has been underperforming (3, 5 and 10 year) relative to the other fund I own, Mawer Cdn Equity. Should I move the balance in BTG to the Mawer fund?
Thank-you.

Q: Can I have your opinion on this fund which focuses on increasing dividends of companies with solid balance sheets. Would this be appropriate for a registered account which I shall not need to touch for about 5 years?

Thanks

Q: I hold VIP.UN-T as well as AV.UN mainly for income Since 2008. I have small capital gains in each, however the income has been steady. I wonder if there should be any concern and should I continue to hold these investment in light of the fact that the manager is planning to convert VIP.UN from a closed end fund to a mutual fund and the manager itself is experiencing some issues which include recent losses of clients as well changes at the top.

Q: I have been retired for one year. My asset allocation is: 75% equity, 6% cash and 19% fixed income. My broker at FBN says that I need to increase the fixed income part of my portfolio (RSP) and suggests those notes or ETF from BMO to stabilize my portfolio:
ZUH
Bank of Montreal JHN 8901 or Bank of Montreal JHN 8902
JHN 8905
NBC 1780
What do you think of those choices?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Serge

Q: What is your opinion on this fund. This is a closed end investment fund; could you briefly elaborate what this means. Would an investor able to see the under lying assets of the funds like an ETF and MER?

Q: Thoughts on this. Is dividend safe

Q: WE OWN BLUE RIBBON INCOME FUND. THEY HAD A 20% EXPOSURE TO THE ENERGY SECTOR & BOUGHT MORE WHEN IT WAS DOWN. I THINK THEY ARE EXITING THE ENERGY SECTOR NOW BUT CAN NOT OBTAIN ANY DETAILS. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS FUND GOING FORWARD AND IF IT IS WORTH HOLDING.

Q: Please comment on Healthcare Special Opportunities Fund spearheaded by Michael Dalsin of Patient Home Monitoring.

Thank You

Q: Hi Peter and the 5i Team,

I presently hold 1000 shares of CVD in my RRIF and it's down about 5% (excluding the dividends, so it's down only marginally). I saw an ad in today's Globe describing Fiera's "Canadian Preferred Share Trust", where you can exchange shares in CVD for this new fund. Do you see any advantage in doing this? The Fiera offering is actively managed, but since it's essentially a closed-end mutual fund (am I correct?) wouldn't the fees be higher than CVD's? I know you like Fiera as an investment, but would this translate to liking this product? (Don't buy mutual funds; buy shares in mutual fund companies?) As always, I appreciate your advice and recommendations.

Q: Any good gold ETFs worth looking at?

Q: I have a very small position in the BSO.UN:TSX for income -- presently it pays an 8.1% dividend yield and the beta seems to be very low. Just wanted your thoughts on this -- thanks.

Q: What is your opinion of these stocks - Buy/Sell/Hold?

thx, Ross Siemms (New Subscriber)

Q: What are your thoughts on LXF.I own some and has been less volatile than most and pays a 7.6% div.Thx

Q: Hello 5i Team,

I have had this fund for about a year now in a non-registered account. I bought it for world wide exposure and at present my exposure to this fund and world wide exposure is small. I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the fund and if it would be prudent for me, retired, to increase my exposure here? I like the monthly dividend.

I am slowly working toward more balance in my portfolio but am satisfied with my progress in that area. I review my allocations quarterly and ponder making allocation changes, but do not necessarily make any.

Thanks

Q: Hello.I would like to know your opinion on canoe eit income fund.With a 9.8 yield what is the risk.

Q: My broker mentioned this to me today as another client asked him to purchase some. Looks to me like a closed end fund trading on the TSX. Thinly traded. Returns look interesting but I'm trying to get away from mutual fund fees by owning stocks directly. Do you have any comments on the name?

Q: I am building an income portfolio to live fully off the dividends and therefore am mainly interested in yield in quality companies and not capital gains. What are your thoughts on investing 10% each into ETO.US (Y8.72%) and EOI.US(Y7.52%) to make up up 20% USD of my income portfolio?

Q: I have started building a position in this fund in my RIF-type account mainly for an income stream as I am retired. Although it is small, it has the major healthcare companies in its portfolio.

Is this the type of fund which you would add to, working toward a full allocation of +/- 5%?

Thanks...