Investment Q&A

Q: Hello 5i Team
Canadian General Investments (CGI) and United Corporations Ltd. (UNC) are “closed end funds” with a discount to book value and low trading volumes. Both of these entities have been around since the 1930’s.
The primary reason for holding them would be long term growth and stability and not dividend income. I would view them as “ballast” in the portfolio to maintain stability (i.e. low volatility).
In addition, since they hold foreign stocks, it eliminates issues with Foreign Holding reporting (Form T1135) and potential US Estate taxation.
Questions are:
1 – What are your thoughts on either of these as a long term holding in a non-registered account?
2 – Which company would be the better choice?
3 – Would it be better to hold E-L Financial (ELF) instead of United Corporations (UNC) since ELF owns approximately 52.5 % of UNC?

Q: Hello, split shares have dropped quite a lot recently. Most are well below the $5 threshold (DF-$3.08, DGS-$3.50, FFN-$3.52), where monthly dividends ($0.07-0.08) are distributed. Most of the companies that are being held in split shares are bank stocks and other high quality Canadian stocks.

I am trying to better understand the risks of owning split shares. I estimate the only circumstances I would not collect dividends are when:
1) the prices of the equity inside the split shares never go back to the normal level, and
2) the dividend-paying equity inside the split shares cuts and suspends dividends.

What other risks can you think of? Do you think the risk outweighs the rewards?

Thanks

Q: PSTH-UN

Can you please give me your opinion on Bill Ackman's new SPAC IPO. In your opinion, is it a good medium/high risk investment?

Q: Dividend now reinstated. Yield 20%. What's not to love?

Q: What is the net asset value of this stock presently and what has to happen to get it back to the $15.00 value?

Q: Thoughts on the Fairfax Africa deal? Thanks.

Q: I saw you made a comment on AOD a few days ago. I am currently in PKO and wondering would a switch make sense here or stay the course with PKO?

Thanks

Q: It looks like PTF is trading at a nice discount to NAV now and they have been buying back some shares. Is this a decent time to buy it? What do you think of it? Thanks

Q: good for income at this level ????. risks ??????

Q: Can you please review Liberty All-Star Growth Fund (ASG:US). Net assets of approximately $ 193 million, Expense ratio 1.22%. Would you consider it investible?
Thank you for considering my question.

Q: Hello 5i Team

I am reviewing global infrastructure / real asset closed end funds as a means to diversify into US/Global infrastructure companies. Two examples I could find on the Canadian Market are Brookfield Global Infrastructure Securities Income Fund (BGI.UN) and Middlefield Global Real Asset Fund (RA.UN).
Questions are:

1 - Which is the better choice BGI.UN or RA.UN?
2 - Any Canadian or US listed ETFs that I should be looking at?
3 - Any other Canadian Closed End Funds I should be looking at?
4 - Any US listed Closed End Funds I should be looking at?
5 - What is a reasonable MER for these products (BGI.UN is 1.25 % and RA.UN is 1.10 %)?
6 - What is the minimum assets under management (AUM) I should be looking at ( BGI.UN is +/- $102M and RA.UN is +/- $100M)?
7 - Any other items to review?
Thanks

Q: Hello your thoughts on UTG US

Q: I know that 5i has not generally recommended these split corp funds but I would like your take in this scenario. We know they bottom when asset value drops below an acceptable number and this has occurred. I recall years ago the same thing happened and yields disappeared and values plummeted. When the market bounced back however each roughly doubled and paid lucrative dividends until of course the next major downturn. My question given that we all expect new highs some day, is whether these would not be nice tuck ins today that will eventually appreciate if not double and begin paying great dividends?

Q: Would appreciate your analysis on this company.

Q: I've held since its inception due to a) the track record of the former Sprott fund manager, and b) beause it was a fund that would have tools to perform well during a stock market setback. I am looking to sell as the fund did not fulfill purpose b. Am I missing something? And can I sell JFS.UN as I would my other stocks (without a penalty) in my Direct Investing account?

Q: May I have your opinion on GAMCO Natural Resources, Gold & Income, for income? It's a covered call fund yielding 12% dividend. The holdings include 45% metals and mining, 20% energy, and the rest in health, industrials, agriculture. It seems to be 55% held by insiders. How secure is it for income, in your opinion? Thank you.

Q: Hello strictly as an'income source could you give-me your opinion,payout divi.
Tank You
Dan

Q: I would like to know how this fund pays such a large dividend in relation to the yields of its holdings. Secondly, how likely is it to maintain the distribution, especially in respect of the energy holdings. Thanks

Q: Could I please have your opinion of this fund. I am a retired income investor looking for diversification away from Canada. The only knock I can see in it is 30% of the holdings are financials, mainly US banks, which I do not own but like most Canadians I am overweight Canadian financials.

Q: If DFN moves over $5.00 per share in April will they reinstate the dividend for May ?