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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: Hi, I have a pile of different rate reset preferred shares that have done nothing but lose value, and I am considering ditching some of them and buying bank stocks. Of the choices between the big five Canadian banks which ones would you favour the most, I am looking for steady dividend payers that could go up in value. .........thanks Joseph.
Read Answer Asked by Joseph on November 29, 2018
Q: Good morning 5i,
I believe you have said somewhere that you would prefer the American banks at the current moment. I am wondering if I am remembering correctly and if so, would you stand by that, and again if so, would you buy bac now instead of BNS, all things being equal.
thanks as always
Read Answer Asked by joseph on November 29, 2018
Q: Can I have your comments on BNS's earnings and announcements this morning? At first glance it doesn't seem likely to be well received. Would this be a time to switch into a better performing bank or add to the one that is underperforming? Could you suggest which US bank and which Canadian bank you would switch to? (no problem if this is a multi credit question).
Read Answer Asked by Tim on November 27, 2018
Q: Hello 5i team,
Since its inception, your balanced equity portfolio has generated something like 16% compound return pa; it has beaten the other "advisors" hands down and I enjoyed the ride. Congratulations!
Of the 6 major banks, BNS is the worst performer with a 5-year return of 7% compared to TD 47%, RY 35%, BMO 33%, NA 30% and CIBC 24%; and yet BNS is perennially in your BE portfolio. Why?
Thanks,
Antoine
Read Answer Asked by Antoine on November 26, 2018
Q: Odlum Brown has just recommended to sell CME and replace it with BLK. Seems like an odd time to sell CME as my understanding is that the recent increased volatility should be good for it, which is likely why it is actually up over the recent period!!

BLK also looks good, especially after its recent pull back.

I currently have 2% of my portfolio in CME but do not have BLK.

Would 5i support holding CME and initiating in BLK or does it seem reasonable to exit CME on its recent strength and pick up some BLK? I have 15% of my portfolio in financials at the moment.

C.
Read Answer Asked by Cameron on November 23, 2018
Q: I am retired and own GMP Capital preferred series B in a non-registered account for income. How safe do you think the dividend is? I was encouraged when they recently re-instated the dividend on the common shares, suggesting management confidence in ongoing profitability, yet the pref B price continues to trend lower. Why?
Read Answer Asked by David on November 23, 2018
Q: I think that 3 more increases in interest rates are expected by end of 2019. You commented recently that one of these banks stock dropped due to bad loans. Is the info on bad loans available in the QLY rpts or elsewhere? I understood that the banks generally do well in rising interest rates but will this be offset by fewer mortgages?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by TOM on November 23, 2018
Q: I have a 10% position in TD and a 2.5% position in BNS. Would you reduce the TD position and use the proceeds to bring BNS up to 5% or just add to BNS using the 25% cash position in the account? In addition, I have 5% positions in V and BAC. Over exposed to financials period? I am a retired conservative investor who would ideally prefer to have good dividend with some growth. I have substantial gains in all financials mentioned.

Thank you for your great service.

Tom
Read Answer Asked by Tom on November 22, 2018
Q: While it is true FFH has had an annual compound return of 18% since inception. 1985, the lions share of that return was created between 1985 and 1998.
Since then , a shareholder who

bought FFH In 1998 has had an annual compound return of less than 1% a year. ( 540.00 1998 )
600.00 2018.
How would you judge this performance??
Read Answer Asked by Bill on November 21, 2018
Q: Hello there,
I don't want to beat a dead horse here but doesn't GS look pretty tempting here as it drifts toward $10/share.? It hasn't been this low ( other than the last few weeks) since January 2009 during the worst days of the financial crisis . Certainly the world is in a better place now than it was back then? Also approaching a 10% yield which is either highly enticing or highly dangerous?? I haven't figured out which yet? As a very profitable cheap company with a large cash position is this a buy here? I see no insider buying activity at all in the last few months though, what don't they like here? Any thoughts here would be appreciated.
Thank-you
Read Answer Asked by Chris on November 21, 2018