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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: This is a followup to the question just answered re financial sector weighting - you suggested either FIE or SFN - I see the yield on FIE is double that of XFN - can you give some background on that - does it increase risk in some way ? Thanks again.
Read Answer Asked by Alexandra on February 26, 2013
Q: May I have your views on GMP which I bought at a much higher price! Should I hold?
Read Answer Asked by Margot on February 20, 2013
Q: I have had a good run with WESPAC BANKING CORP (WBK: New York)in my TFSA, & notice that it generally seasonally "tops out" on Mar 1st or April 1st of each yr. Should one sell some or all in advance of Mar01, 2013, or just ride it out?
Thanks in anticipation, Best wishes, Paul.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on February 18, 2013
Q: Urbana corp...urb and urb.a...Do you have any comments on the company and which would be the better buy...if it was a buy?
Read Answer Asked by Glen on February 15, 2013
Q: Would you give your view on FIE.A. It holds canadian banks, some reits and insurance companies. Dividend sames OK.I currently hold it in my investment acct.
Thanks Harold.
Read Answer Asked by Harold on January 24, 2013
Q: DFN.T
Hi there. I purchased DFN awhile back thinking that with such a high yield and relative correlation to the TSX that it would appreciate with the Index when it turned around - but this is not happening. I certainly can't complain about the yield, but the the idea of the purchase was to see share price appreciation with the TSX in general. I know my description of the components is over generalizing...but you get my drift.
Should I sell this stock and look into another area - if so which area that you cover would be a suitable replacement?

Thanks so much for your time!
Read Answer Asked by Norman on January 21, 2013
Q: Nice move today on FSZ. I assume it was related to acquisition of GMP Diversified Alpha Fund and the Canadian ABCP Fund. How do rate the value of FSZ at the current price?
Read Answer Asked by Douglas on January 21, 2013
Q: Hello Peter - I am looking at Currency Exchange International (CXI.S) It has only been trading since roughly May of 2011 - very thinly traded and very few shares (only 3 million) It seems to be growing rapidly and in a relatively safe area of operation. They also have some warrants that might be a consideration. I cannot find a lot of information on the stock and would very much appreciate your thoughts.
Read Answer Asked by Robert on January 11, 2013
Q: Based on your previous comments, I believe you like National Bank and TD but what are your thoughts on Laurentian Bank (LB)? I have been considering taking a position for some time. It seems to be a conservative bank with steady growth, a good and improving brand (in Quebec at least), good dividend and low payout. Also, its small size and domestic operations seem positive to me. Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Pierre on January 09, 2013
Q: Hi Peter- This question is about Fairfax Financial Rate Reset Preferred Shares. FFH.C can be called in Dec./2014. Between now and then you will get 8 dividend payments totalling $2.88. It currently trades at $25.87. There will be a loss of 87 cents meaning that your profit is $2.01 share or 3.9% over 2 years.
FFH.G gets called in Sept/2015. There will be 11 payments totalling 3.44. It is trading at $24.70, so add a 30 cent gain for a profit of $3.74 a share or 5.5% per year over 2.75 years.
The one that seems to be too good to be true is the FFH.PR.E which expires in between these two in March 2015. It trades currently at only $23.11. A gain of $1.89. With 9 payments totalling $2.67, you have a total gain of $4.56 on an investment of $23.11 or an amazing 8.8% average annual return over 2.25 years. What am I missing? You have 3 pref issues with a relatively close annual dividend and relatively close call date but with extremely different market values. Same company. All Rate Reset. Is FFH.E a buy?
Read Answer Asked by RANDY on January 09, 2013
Q: I want to create a financial section of my portfolio. Somewhere between 15 and 20 %. I have been considering adding BMO and NA which are trading at 10 and 8 times earnings and yielding 4.3 and 4.66%. I think a good entry point would be a yield of 5%. Could you comment on the portfolio percentage, stock choices {are there better ?} and entry prices ?
Thanks Garth
Read Answer Asked by Garth on January 08, 2013