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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: So with an imminent financial challenge ahead why would one buy any financials or keep them for that matter? I know the Canadian bank dividends are mostly rock solid but how can there be much growth with foreclosures and debt issues in the foreseeable future. After the current health situation subsides hopefully in a couple of years, one could go back into the banks to regain the diversification and dividends. Thanks for your valued insight.
Dennis
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on May 16, 2020
Q: What do you think the main reason for the current decline is among these banks. Is it fear of loan losses, fear of what the companies are to report next week or the sell in May mentality? How much pessimism is baked into these stocks already?
Thanks, Mike
Read Answer Asked by Mike on May 16, 2020
Q: I have sold my banks and Riets expecting there will be a tsnamia of foreclosures
and bankruptcies in the coming months.I also feel the survivors are learning how
to do business with a lot less bricks and mortar.
What is your opinion ?
Thanks
Peter
Read Answer Asked by peter on May 16, 2020
Q: Not only B of A (today's Globe) but quite a few analysts and BNN Guests say that Canadian Banks are going to take a hit b/c of earnings, poor reserves, Loan write offs etc., With that in mind is it worth selling BNS,RBC,TD and buy them back later ? In RRSPs/TFSAs. So, capital gains/loss is a non issue. I "lose" 60 $ in trading fees. But selling now can save me from losing a lot more if they tumble a lot AND I don't have to wait for a longer period of time for them to recover. ( You know the cliché, if a stock goes down by 50%, I have to make 100% to break even!)
Read Answer Asked by Savalai on May 15, 2020
Q: Hi, I'm looking to add to the fintech world. I'm sure online purchases and contact-less (cash less) payments only continue to increase.

What is your favorite growth stock in this category (1) overall, and (2) one that is well positioned to succeed in both the physical space (contact less at stores) and online (web payments).

C.
Read Answer Asked by Cameron on May 15, 2020
Q: Investors seem very nervous about Wells Fargo. Just today (May 14th) someone on this site expressed some trepidation. What’s your opinion about buying Wells Fargo bonds at this time? One is for a three year hold, the other for six years. If Wells merged with another bank, how would that affect those bonds? Some are speculating that Wells could be another Lehman waiting to happen. Does that have any merit? Are their bonds safe? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Brian on May 15, 2020
Q: Can you please explain the losses in the big five Canadian Banks shares. I can’t for the following reasons so would appreciate your thoughts before I start to increase my exposure.

Their mtge portfolios are mostly insured , ultimately by the govt. the balance of their mtge loans are normally at significant discounts to the property values.

The new loans being made by the government will likely be backed by the government , not the banks.

They all have a long history of not cutting dividends, BMO has not in 190 years and BNS in 188 years and I expect the other three banks to be in the same approximate time frame of no dividend cuts . Unlikely you will find a US back or an Insurance company that can say the same.

They also over reserve their loan loss provisions in order to keep their profits from the wild fluctuations we see in the US.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Robert on May 14, 2020
Q: No questions yet about this rather obscure security, so here goes. Some analysts are predicting that the very high dividend on CWX common shares will be cut drastically or even eliminated. These notes when issued paid 6.375% but at the current price of about $73 the effective interest rate is about 8.5%. Also, when redeemed at (I assume $100) in Oct. 2023, there would be a gain on the current purchase price of $73 for a blended return of about 16%. A high risk security, but would it rank higher than the common share dividend? What are the risks, aside from Canwel going bankrupt, of buying CWX.NT?
Read Answer Asked by David on May 14, 2020
Q: I am following this company. its competitors are Visa , MasterCard and American Express. In last 4-5 years its ROE is around plus-minus 25 on average, increased dividend constantly, buys its share every year. Is these are good sign to invest in it as its price has fallen almost 40 to 45% from its peak. Could it be a good value play compared to V-N, MA-N, AXP-N? Your thoughts about this company.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Piyush on May 13, 2020
Q: Why do you prefer insurance companies over banks? Thanks Ron
Read Answer Asked by Ronald on May 13, 2020