Investment Q&A

Q: Hi Peter and Team,

What are your thoughts on Axis Capital Holdings, AXS.US

Q: Hi Peter and Team
I hold these financials in my RRIF (RY 3.5%, BNS 5%, XFN 3% and XLF 1.2%) and would like to increase financial by another 3%
Debating for either TD and add to XLF, please help me decide, thanks

Q: I appreciate your opinion on FIG.US(Fortress Investment)and AINV(Apollo Investment Corp)among the two which one would you choose, Thanks

Q: Peter et al,
I bought Gluskin Sheff at $20.37 and it has risen approx 50%. Fabrice Taylor on BNN last week suggested to always take a profit when you can, but I think it deserves more consideration than that. What do you think its prospects are? Would a move to another financial e.g Cannacord CF be advisable? I already have Alaris, Element, Counsel, & Fiera. Also Davis & Henderson if it is considered a financial. They make up 23% of my portfolio. Thanks in advance for your advice.
Gary

Q: Hello Peter and Team: In an otherwise diversified portfolio, I am considering selling my position in CEW and purchasing half positions in each of BNS and SLF. My rationale is to avoid the 0.61% MER in CEW, and I also note that the top two holdings in CEW are in fact SLF at 10.38% and BNS at 10.27% of CEW's total portfolio. Are you OK with this switch? As always, thanks in advance for your advice/recommendations.

Q: I am interested in investing in one or two of the Canadian banks.
I would appreciate your recommendation and comments.
Thank you ---Gary

Q: Manulife and Sun Life. Are these good holds seeing that so many weather and other problems are occurring? Thanks James

Q: I own DFS(Discover Financial)on the American side.I thought it had great earnings announced and it has dropped.Any thoughts?Thanks Don

Q: Hi Peter and Team,

What are your thoughts on Nicholas Financial, NICK.US

Q: i have the following financial companies in my portfolio DFS.us, HCG and BNS all at 2.5%. I would like to increase two of them to 5%, which ones? Or do you have another one in mind?

thanks again

Q: I own CXS-T counsel corp and have aquired shares of HGP Heritage Global Inc. These were transfered over at .725 per share in April. The price is now .43 per share. Should I sell these?
Thank you

Q: Can you explain the cause for the sharp drop in the stock down 15% July 16 for. First Republic Bank
FRC New York exchange . This followed what seem to be pretty good quarterly results .
I bought this bank on a recommendation recently by someone who was on BNN .
Thanks. Rick

Q: re: FUNC First United Corp

this is a small bank that was recommended on Market Call. Pre 2008 it was as high as $23.41. It is now @ $8.75.

I realize it is U$ based... keeping that in mind do you have any observations you could share?

Thanks for all you do

Gord

Q: Hi guys,
I have a half position in FSZ (Fiera)which has been trading sideways for the last 2 months. Would now be a good time to top it up to a full position.
Thanks Peter.
t

Q: Hi,
Can u give an opinion on Ocwen Finacial OCN-N. Buy/Sell/Hold. Is it a strong company that is out of favour? I own & it performed well during the us housing recouvery last year but tanked when that fizzled as well as possibly on the news of an invester law suit.

Q: I have been doing some private 2nd mortgage investing and even though they pay and attractive 16% annually, you are locked in for 2 year. Instead, the Life and Bank Split Corp--symbol LBS has been recommended to replace some of the more riskier 2nd mortage investments. Can you please provide and opinion?

Q: Realizing you don't cover American stocks that much, but could you comment on Aflac [AFL] and Medtronics [MDT] as to which would be your preferential hold in an RRSP? And why if possible. Thanks

Q: This may very well be outside you area of focus, however thought I would still ask as I respect your opinion on equities.

Contra the Heard was on BNN yesterday with three very small US bank recommendations and a previous small bank recommendation. I am starting my due diligence and chart work. Any thoughts you may or may not have would be appreciated.

The stocks in question are FUNC, MCBC, CACB, BUSE.

thanks in advance, Mike

Q: I’ve been wondering if I should make some amendments to some of our investments in the financial sector which amounts to 20.75% across four registered portfolios for me and my wife. We are both close to 70 and need a little income from our investments. Dividend payouts are barely keeping up with withdrawals from the RRIFs.

We own stocks in four major Canadian banks:
Toronto Dominion TD – 3.43%
Scotiabank BNS – 3.43%
Bank of Montreal BMO - 2.87%
CIBC CM – 3.51%

We also own:
Power Financial PWF - 2.42%
Sun Life SLF - 2.87%

And
Ship Finance SFL (US) - 2.22%

The four banks were bought at different times and have all done quite well overall, some seeming to move ahead while others were lagging and then the picture changing and the positions being reversed. I know you like BNS, but I was wondering if it is a good thing to spread the investment over four institutions for diversification.
Same question for the insurance companies. This time around, I bought them both at the same time, but Sun Life has done better than Power Financial.
Ship Finance is a recent purchase and too soon to comment on.
In separate correspondence after my initial message didn’t get through, I note you answered my question that that you think the financial sector should be 15% – 20% of a portfolio.

Thanks for your advice.
John M

Q: Aston Hill? It truly baffles me why AHF trades down on a positive press release about AUM. Does this company hit a wall of selling because it issues stock to make acquisitions. It acts like no other stock I have owned and despite apparent good news it has not shown any stength for a very long time. What am I missing?