Investment Q&A

Q: In the event that Corporations, REIT's or other company structures are taken private what options would they have relative to Pref Shares. Convertible Debentures etc. would they have to redeem them or could they still continue to be listed under their original terms? If the latter does that encumber the private Company in any material way?
thanks, Hugh

Q: hi, do you have a best estimate for the combined book value of the companies in the TSX now, versus what it was just before the covid19 shock. and what is your prediction 6 months from now, assuming no vaccine and things with covid grumbling along.

Q: Hi,

I'm not sure what to make of the announcement of QUIS hiring an outside company (Gateway) to help them with investor relations. Is it positive because Gateway will be able to increase QUIS visibility to institutional investors? Is it negative in that QUIS may be desperate and needs assistance? ...or is it a non-issue?

Thanks as always for your valuable insight.

Q: hi. clearly, the stock markets are highly manipulated now with direct government purchases of stock and bonds, and with central banks manipulating rates to the extreme lower side to force investors into stocks. the markets clearly are out of step with reality on Main Street. do you think this matters anymore, or is the stock market and it's players also post truth now?

Q: Good day guys ,
This might be a silly question , that being said I own shares in Canadian dollars , would u advise to transfer the shares to the south of the border side ?
Also when will 5 i be represented on market call again .. it’s been awhile .
Thx
Mark

Q: Hello and Good day,

I would really like to see some type of historical listing? under the porfolios tab to capture the changes that were made to the model portolios over the years. Example: NFI, RHT. Price the shares were bought and sold for a loss. The winners are very highly touted and rightfully so, but to the casual subscriber, it almost appears that 5i has never picked a bad one? Maybe you could do it by the year?? Just a thought. Thanks again.

Q: Re" Chris's question where to park house sale proceeds - I too just sold our house (in the process of building another over the next year) and am looking for short term low risk yield. I opened a Tangerine savings and checking account - who offer 2.5% for the first 5 months ($million max) Offer code is "EARNMORE". You have to open both a checking and savings account to qualify. No restrictions after the 5 months and the advisor I talked to told me that before moving the money out - to talk to them as they may extend the offer or provide another offer at that time. Question for 5I - With CDIC limits at $100K - would moving the max over for the 5 months be seen to be "too risky". I really don't want to have to open a bunch of accounts to lower what I see as pretty low risk of bank failure. Thanks

Q: re Data Providers

Dear 5i,
can you help tell me which data providers you use on your web site for your members;
Fundamental data?
Share Holdings Information?
Share Short Information?
I have access to multiple data sources with my discount broker so when I am researching a stock I want to avoid looking at the duplicate sources to save me time.

thanks
Insider Information?

Q: Every morning I read all news that occurred overnight on the companies that I own. I then move to articles about the sector news about each company and then to the world geo political news. Almost everyday I read an article in Yahoo news about LSPD. Recently my thoughts have turned to a conflict of interest between the companies, especially small to mid cap stocks, and the news organizations that produce the articles. It is almost entirely the same information twisted a little. Is there a conflict of interest between the two organizations, News organizations and the companies? Or are the news organizations just want the clicks to their platform for advertising stats? I assume the company does not object because they are positive articles and any positive article is a benefit.
Appreciate your thoughts.
Clayton

Q: Someone asked about a basic book on investing. A clear explanation of how investing works and how to understand various ratios etc. Is a small book by jason Kelly, called , "The Neatest Little Guide To Stock Market Investing". It is not Buffer or Dodds, but he does give a brief description of their styles, but i think it is quite useful. It is maybe fifteen years old and has had various editions. I know there is a free pdf version available on the web. I didn't post it because i don't know the legality of it. I think it is probably an earlier version that is now out of print. But i don't think the version matters that much. It is just basic information

Q: If you own 10 stocks in a Margin Account, and 1/2 have huge Gains with the other 1/2 having Small Losses, WHICH would you sell first to satisfy the Margin Call?

Thanks! Austin

Q: good day....the headline in the Globe and Mail that caught my attention is the murky role of SoftBank Group Corp. in fuelling the tech sector’s recent surge...by buying options.
with that astonishing news, what lies ahead for cautious investors like me?........like sell and take profits in US listed tech positions?.......thanks for your take........Tom

Q: I've just sold my house, and the cheque has been deposited into my Investorline non-registered account. Not quite sure what to do with it for the next few months. I've read the comments on PSA, and you've suggested money market funds too. I don't know anything much about them - is that something you buy online, or through Investorline? What would be your recommendation?
Thank you

Q: Good day I‘M looking for a few easy to understand, safe apps, where I can learn to paper trade then a few books for a young, first time investor

What info is best to relate to a new investor

Thank you appreciate your time

Q: Re the massive purchase last week by Softbank of call options of tech stocks which your message says caused the sudden price ramp up in the market, and led investors to rapidly sell once they found out about the Softbank purchase (and it seem are still vigorously selling), can you suggest a way to avoid the big losses that rookie investors like me have been having as a result? I was thinking about how to communicate such qualitative information, since most investors are aware of the quantitative info sources. Could you consider adding a market barometer that becomes active when such significant events occur with maybe a couple bullet points to explain the rise or fall ? In any case, your good advice remains exceptional and many in my category are much further ahead because of it.

Q: In an earlier question, you answered that you’re not a fan of buying options. Was that specific to short-term options? What’s your opinion on long-term call options as a buy-and-hold strategy (i.e. rolling LEAPS forever)? Thanks.

Q: A huge thank you to 5i! I joined in January 2014 and transferred my RESP which was previously invested in a Cdn Dividend Mutual Fund to a self directed account. With the assistance of 5i's Q&A, I managed to grow the $110,000 in January 2014 substantially. I have put my two children through university, one at a cost of $91,000 and the other at a cost of $127,000 (different U's, different programs). The current balance in the RESP is $70,400. For the majority of the past 6 years, I held approx 25% in VSP, the balance were all stocks (20) that were recommended by 5i, not all were huge winners, I may have even had a loss or two, but I did purchase BYD, CSU, FSV, CIGI, ZQQ. I did not start my RESP until my daughters were 3 & 1 and it was a struggle to put $5,000 a year into the RESP for many years. When my daughters started U, my rule was to sell enough stocks in May for the next year expenses and keep the balance fully invested until the following May. Perhaps the market did extraordinary well over the past 6+ years, I don't know, but I do know that I could not have done it without 5i's assistance.

Q: I have a question about 2846 - Softbank - SFTBY

Dear 5i,

A recent article in the Financial Times states that the latest increase in many of the high technology stocks is related to Softbank purchasing a high volume of derivatives lately. Can you explain in lay mans terms how this can cause stock prices to go up and how this can cause stock prices to go down rapidly. I don't really understand option trading and would appreciate your comments.

thanks for the great service!

Q: As younger person starting off their professional career, I am now contributing to the federal public service pension plan and look forward to benefitting (defined benefits) from that in 25+ years. I am hoping you can provide some guidance and insight on how I best manage my own self directed portfolio in combination with contributing to the pension. How should I be looking at equity to fixed income ratios as well as sector allocations between my own directed holdings and that of the pension. Or is it better to treat them independently? As a subscriber to your portfolio analytics, I am just trying to figure out how to balance everything as I continue to develop my first portfolio during these turbulent times.

The pension website breaks its net assets per asset class (not broken down in an easy format to compare with portfolio analytics) as: 47.8% capital markets, 14.2% private equity, 14% real estate, 10.8% infrastructure, 7.8% credit investments, 4.5% natural resources, 0.6% complementary portfolio, and 0.4% other.

I also just wanted to say that subscribing to 5i has been the best investment decision I have ever made. You provide an amazing service. I just wanted to highlight the significant financial and investment education you provide through your answers, blogs, monthly updates, etc. These have been extremely valuable to me as a new investor.

Q: Hi, you mentioned in a previous question that companies with warrants and Convertable Debentures tend to have higher short interest, please explain, thanks?