Investment Q&A

Q: Would you add to SLF at $37?
Any reason for the recent weakness outside a bad market? Would they have higher than usual insurance liability in this environment? (Such as business interruption clause or other). Thank you!

Q: Hi team - I was hoping to get your general thoughts on leveraging during this time of turmoil. Some of the Cdn banks are throwing off significant yields, CIBC for example 8.09% at the time of writing. I can't find any info on when they last cut their dividends even during the 2008 crisis. I'm considering using my HELOC at 3.45% (interest payment s only) and buying one of the banks and collecting the difference between the yield and interest charges. As well, writing off the interest payments next year as carrying charges in a non registered account and thinking the stock will grow in value over the next year or so. Is this a sound strategy or should I shake my head, your thoughts? Thanks.

Q: Looks like a good entry price here, do you feel the dividend is secure.

Q: I have held the above stock, (TD) for several years and recently sold,, as it has easily been the most volatile stock in my portfolio. I am thinking of spreading the risk by investing in a good bank etf or reinvesting in one bank when the situation calms down. What are your thoughts, and if the etf route is best, which one or ones would you recommend.

Thanks, David

Q: Do you have an idea why IFC made two preferred share offerings and one medium term note offering in the past weeks?

Q: Retired dividend-income investor. I currently own BNS and RY. I was planning on topping up BNS, then read an answer about harvesting capital losses. I had already take enough losses to cover my gains to look after 2020 income tax implications.
I selected BNS for its international diversification and RY for its USA diversification.

I am now considering harvesting my new BNS capital loss and was considering either CM or BMO for immediate replacement, wait a bit then do my original top-up later. Which bank to you consider the better replacement?

Thanks...Steve

Q: Why are all the insurance companies getting slaughtered? Because of ultralow interest rates? Good buy at these prices? Think the dividends are safe?

What would be your favourite?

Q: I am a buy and hold investor with 5 to 10 years of time horizon.
Have the following 7 stocks in Canadian financials in the order of their weights in our portfolio. Financials makeup roughly 7.5% of the total portfolio including cash positions and we like their dividend. TD, RY, BNS, BMO, SLF, CM, and MFC. I like to reduce exposure to financials and also like to reduce number of different shares. Two questions:
1. Is 7.5% a reasonable weight considering the current situation?
2. Which one of these I should sell to reduce financial weight and to reduce the number of shares in financials?

Q: hello team,
citigroup worth considering at this level? how does this company compare to its peers?
thanks

Q: Hi- you mentioned SLF was one to pick at being signficant value. Why lifeco over a bank? What are the risks associated so say a BNS verus SLF and why do you prefer SLF.

Q: Atrium Mortgage traded down some 10% on Thursday, March 19th for no reason I can find. Do you have any knowledge as to what may have happened?

Thank you for your market insights. They are very much appreciated, particularly in these turbulent times.

Don

Q: What do you think of their latest quarter and this company going forward.

Q: Hi - I've had about 4-5% in each of the above going into the recent crash. Do you have any thoughts on hanging on to AD vs moving money to the banks (for example). AD has been hit much harder, but the dividend is larger. I would hold on if it's clear they will come out the other side ok. Similarly with APO, if you can comment on the US side.

Thank you!

Q: Hi there,

GSY has been brutally beaten down. Is it worth stepping into at $32? If one had no position in it, would you recommend a full position here, quarters, thirds? How would you proceed with buying it here?

Thanks!

Q: Could you please tell me total debt, debt/ cash flow, book value, and tangible book value for this company. What was its book value, and tangible book value in 2010
Thanks
Ian

Q: I’m struggling with why you would think GSY would do well in a recession. They serve sub prime customers with very little discretionary disposable income. Wouldn’t you expect these customers to be most impacted by unemployment, lost wages etc which would then drive late payments and then eventually loan losses. Initially I would expect GSY would take a similar approach to banks by deferring payments for customers to limit losses but eventually they will need to take them. New business will be impacted with branch closures, not to mention their leasing business, historically the reliable cash cow will be impacted as well without the foot traffic. Given the adjustment that big banks have taken to their stock prices over the last 3 weeks. GSYs massive drop looks warranted to me.

Q: Hi Amazing Team,

Don asked a question today about Canadian Western Bank: With Alberta hurting and oil prices crashing would you consider the western bank safe. Your answer began with: We would be cautious on CWB....

My question is please: I have a significant CWB bond maturing Jun 16 2022. It is in the money. Would you be inclined to hold or sell?

Many, many thanks for what you are doing in this time of crisis. Michael

Q: Thanks for all you are doing during this turmoil. Your steadying voice is reassuring, at least to these ears.

Would you swap out a holding in ECN for an equal holding of GSY at this point?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: Do you think the very high yield of First Financial is simply a case of being dragged down with everything else or is there anything else I should be aware of.

Thank you

Paul

Q: Why did BMO get hit the hardest? Thanks!