Investment Q&A

Q: The only one I've owned and still do in this group is SLF - been a great investment over last 10 years +. I was thinking of buying MFC for my wife's portfolio since she does not have an insurance company. MFC's balance sheet looks great: very little debt., low pay-out ratio (lots of room to increase dividends). The stock seems to languish - low interest rate environment, I guess? Do you like this one for the long haul??

Q: Hi Peter and 5i team,
The impact of low interest rates is most acute in the life insurance industry. We have shares of Sun Life which has done well this past year. Would it not be prudent to sell now and lock in profits? What about switching to a consumer staple stock? What is your favourite in this sector for growth?
Thank you for your opinion.

Q: My daughter’s well balanced acct holds 2.3% ECN plus 1% ECN.PR.A. I’m considering going to 2 % with ECN.PR.A.
Any view on survive-ability of ECN in a recession?

Q: Good morning...I have searched the internet and found the payout ratio of fsz at 60.62% is that correct. I have a 3% weighting in this stock and love the dividend as I am a senior that uses that dividend for expenses. Do you view a 3% weighting in this company proper considering its valuation and payout ratio...thank you..gene

Q: Hello Gentlemen,
I was looking to invest into Canadian Banks; Would appreciate your opinion on which two or three banks would be your top picks over the next 6 months to a year. I am looking for something more secure and pays a dividend.
Thanks Hugh

Q: Gentlemen, good morning would you buy canadian bank today? Which one and why? Thanks. Alnoor

Q: Do you have an opinion on FIS-N how would you compare it to FISV-N?

Peter

Q: I am currently overweight the financial sector. I am concerned about the trend to negative interest and the risk of a recession. The odds of market declines are increasing in my opinion.
Protection of capital is more important than income.
We are not supposed to time the market.
Should I put this group in cash ?
The group will be hurt by negative interest rates or am I wrong on this.

Q: I will be selling CM on the US as I have enough Canadian banks and wonder if I would to buy a bank on the US exchange which would be the one you prefer or better to buy a ETF since only one US bank would be own?
Thanks

Q: 5 eyes - why is the bid 10% less than the ask on this US insurer? If I want to sell shares (I don't actually) then do I take a 10% haircut? David Fingold's fav insurer - which would you buy between PGR and Chubb and secondly would you recommend a buy at this time of a US insurer generally? Delighted as always - Ken

Q: With interest rates moving lower why do you still remain so positive on SLF? Why is the stock superior to GWO?

Q: Can you explain how an investor can get a negative yield on a bond? For instance German 10 year bonds have a negative yield. Does that mean that there is a premium paid on the price say 102.00 and investor receives 100.00 at maturity. Does the investor receive semi-annual coupons like other bonds? Are the coupons more than 0.00 or are they negative also? Thank you.

Q: Hi,

I am looking to reduce my exposure to financials across my family's portfolio, from 23% to 13%. Sunlife (3.03%), Royal Bank (3.41%) and TD Bank (5.55%) comprise our most significant holdings, all of which we have held for many years. I am looking to reduce and reallocate one of those positions as part of the overall reduction. Which in your judgement would be the best candidate to let go?

Finally, and I apologize if this question has been asked and answered before: is there any drill-down facility planned in the 5i Portfolio Analysis features that would list all holdings in a particular asset class, geographic sector, and/or industry? Or does the facility exist and I am missing it? For example, it would be helpful to have the portfolio analytics tool to be able to list the holdings that it is including in its calculation of the portfolio “financials” weighting.

Thanks
Derek

Q: How do you feel about the prospects for the banking sector over the next 12-18 months? What stock would you buy in this sector at this point?

Q: Thanks for all the help with my investing. I have valued your info on companies as the only one I truly believe. I would like your thoughts on this part of our RIF's. I rely on the dividends for 3/4 of my yearly cash flow and the principle for the rest. I do not want to be out of the market so I keep 2 years of cash in our RIF's but would like to put 3 years and put 2 years of that into PSA-T getting the interest of 2 plus %. This would take the sting out of getting nothing for the cash. My question is does this make good sense. Thanks Gary

Q: What do u think of this company for a 1-2 year hold ,specifically management,dividend safety,and any growth possibilities thanks

Q: Interested in your opinion on the news of Brookfield buying a controlling interest in MIC. I hold a full position. You seem to like Brookfield companies. Seems it was good for the U.S. parent but neutral on MIC price.

Q: Hi Team, I am thinking to buy European banks (some say European Banks is going down), please comment on HSBC please !
Thanks as always, Tak

Q: Your thoughts on Power Corp for income and growth.

Q: Curious about your assessment of Cymbria for a long term hold of 3-5 years? Also, is low volume a concern?
Appreciate your wise advice.
Lorraine