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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: I've been looking at a few boutique banks, specifically Greenhill & Company (GHL) and Lazard (LAZ). They both pay nice dividends and seem to be gaining steam from all the M&A activity lately. What is your opinion on these two and boutique banks in general. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Morgan on June 17, 2014
Q: I am considering selling TD Bank and buying either Bank of Nova Scotia or Capital Power CPX. TD has had a good run and I think BNS may provide more upside over the next 2 to 3 years. I also like Capital Power for it's 4.8% dividend and it's growth prospects over the next few years. For capital growth potential and dividend growth which would you prefer between BNS and CPX?

Thanks for your help,

Duncan
Read Answer Asked by Duncan on June 16, 2014
Q: Peter; I am slowly trying to hedge my portfolios for a eventual rise in rates. I have SLF and IAG in
Canada but would like your suggestion for a US interest rate sensitive financial company. Thank you.
Rod
Read Answer Asked by Rodney on June 13, 2014
Q: Hello Peter & Co,
Would appreciate your opinion on the make up and segmentation of my RRIF portfolio.
Consumer discretionary 5.7% LNR MG
Energy 12.0% BTE CPG KEY TOU VET
Financials 10.2% BNS EFN HCG TD ZUB
Health 7.5% CXR GUD VRX XHC ZUH
Industrial/Transport 6.0% CHE.UN CCL CNR
Infrastructure 10.2% BAD BIP.UN SJ STN WTE
Materials 3.0% IFP
Pipelines 8.1% ENB IPL PPL
Retail 3.7% ATD DOL
Services 7.2% BYD.UN CGX THI
Technology 15.2% AVO CSU DSG ESL CGI MDA OTC
Utilities/Telecom/RE 8.5% ALA BCE BEP.UN TCN
Cash 2.8%
I hope I'm not asking too much of you guys and I know that I could do with less holdings.
Thanks,
Tony
Read Answer Asked by Antoine on June 13, 2014
Q: Good Morning Peter and Team,
Regarding Fiera Capital (FSZ- TSX): When I look at the Ink Insider Report I see that there is a large amount of insider ownership. Such as:
- National Bank
- Goodman and Co.
- JC Clark
- Special and common shares owned by Fiera Capital insiders

It would appear that the vast majority of the outstanding shares are held by "strong hands" so the public float would be fairly small. This would explain to some extent the lack of analyst coverage and low trading volume. Paladin Labs was tightly held as well and we all know how that eventually turned out. Would you agree that there is hidden value within FSZ and that one should behave like the insiders and wait patiently for the value to surface ??? Thank you. DL
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on June 12, 2014
Q: re: Canada's big banks

Seeking Alpha commented today that Moody's lowered Canadian Banks outlook to negative.

"Affirming the ratings of Canada's largest banks, Moody's cuts their outlook from stable to negative, thanks to the government's plans to implement a "bail-in" regime (i.e., creditors to take a haircut) for systemically important lenders."

I have a 5% position in TD and have done quite well with an excellent dividend. Is this something I should be concerned about moving forward?

Thanks for all you do

Gord
Read Answer Asked by Gord on June 11, 2014
Q: Dear Gentlemen.
Refresh Financial Debentures
I bought the debenture (with 7% interest) last year, as a private investment and so far its OK.
They offer new issue.
Its a risky investment ?
Thanks for opinion
Best Regards
Read Answer Asked by Djamel on June 09, 2014
Q: Hi Peter and Team,

Quick thoughts on First Citizen Banc Corp, FCZA.
Read Answer Asked by Graham on June 06, 2014
Q: Hi Peter and Team,

Quick thoughts on Assured Guaranty, AGO
Read Answer Asked by Graham on June 06, 2014
Q: Can you give me your thoughts on Counsel Corp, CXS, poor performance in the past few months and it's outlook going forward. All my other financial stocks, CM, BNS, TD and HCG have done well but CXS has mystified me despite reasonably good results last quarter.
Also I got shares of HGP as part of their special dividend and while I would like to sell these shares the price changes from day to day but my discount brokerage account shows no trading activity. Why is that?
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on June 05, 2014
Q: Comment to Shirley re: the new EFN preferred share issue: If you are interested in this new issue, I strongly suggest that you consider instead a "market purchase" of EFN.PR.C, which was issued a few months ago, and offers both a better (+0.1%) coupon rate and a higher (9bp) reset rate, while obviously having an identical credit quality and nearly the same reset date (a few months earlier). Furthermore, EFN.PR.C is about to go "ex-dividend", and so will from the start give an additional nearly 41 cent advantage over the new EFN issue. At the moment I'm writing this, EFN.PR.C is trading at $25.00.
Read Answer Asked by Gregory on June 04, 2014
Q: Would be interested in any up-dated thoughts on Urbana (URB.A)since last mention in Oct/13. The fund is now about a third US big banks ie. B.of A., Citi, and Morgan Stanley in addition to exchange holdings: they have initiated an annual dividend
( approx. 2.75%); continue to buy back shares: and trade at about 35% discount to NAV. Your thoughts, any caveats appreciated.
Thank-you
Read Answer Asked by William on June 04, 2014
Q: Hi Peter and Team,

quick thoughts on FIRST BANCSHARES INC, FIBK
Read Answer Asked by Graham on June 04, 2014
Q: Hi Peter and Team,

Quick thoughts on Infinity Property and Casualty(NasdaqGS:IPCC)
Read Answer Asked by Graham on June 04, 2014
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