Investment Q&A

Q: I just wanted to clarify about dividends. What happens when one sells stocks before dividends are distributed? Do we lose the dividends in this case? Are dividends prorated for the period stocks are held? Is there any suggested good practice for this? Do etfs differ from stocks in this regard? Thanks very much. Shyam

Q: The recent 5i Globe & Mail article referred to a method of transferring Cdn to US dollars by means of using Interlisted stocks. Where on your site can I find more information on this.

Q: I read with interest your recent article in the Post and was intrigued by the comment that research shows 90% of portfolio returns come from sector allocation - if a person wanted to take advantage of that, in a simple, easy to manage and inexpensive way (ignoring taxes for the moment) what would be your view be on an approach where one's equity component of their portfolio consisted entirely of a number of ETF's with each one of the ETF's focused on a particular sector, with a periodic (say quarterly) rebalancing? What specific ETF's would you suggest for such a portfolio? Thank you.

Q: In a question Oliver asked on May 18th you answered "In our Q&A we have a tab for 'Interesting Companies not yet followed' as well as 'growth companies'.

I'm sorry, but I cannot find the tab. Can you be more explicit as to how to get there.

Thanks

Sheldon

Q: If the u.s. fed raises interest rates,what impact might this have on AQN and Zwh? Thank you.

Q: In a recent reply you talk about Sunlife's better "growth profile". Obviously this is very important in determining which companies to consider. However, I am not sure how one best determines this. Would you have some guidelines on what to look for using SLF as an example?
Many thanks for your considered response.
Mike

Q: Without going to individual Co websites, how can I find out whether a Co's Dividends are paid by Mth. Qtr or Yr? Is there a List somewhere?

Thanks. Austin

Q: What is your opinion? I'm thinking of creating a "synthetic annuity" by investing some U.S. money in a U.S. covered call etf, namely SPXX. It provides a generous dividend (about 7%) and seems as secure as a regular annuity since it invests in the S&P 500 stocks. I know the share price may decline along with the market, and the dividend may fluctuate. Therefore the income isn't as fixed as a regular annuity. However, I also retain some principle and don't give it all to an insurance company. Generally speaking, what do you think of such a "synthetic annuity?"

Q: Hello Team,
Can you help clarify for me what seems to be a contradiction. Markets are supposed to have priced in the possibility of a US rate increase sometime this year. Yet, when the Fed minutes released today (May 18) indicate that may indeed be the case, markets react with volatility (i.e., gold down, oil down, US dollar up, financial stocks up, etc.).
My question is, if the market has priced in a rate increase, why is there so much volatility when there is the hint it might actually happen?
Thank you, Michael

Q: watchlist:

I was wondering if you could share a few of the companies you have on your watch list so we could start reading about them. I, personally, am closely watching the following : PFB, HEO, TSL, SY, RFC, PTG, PIF, PHO, PIH, IBG, FTG, GDI , DIV and EUO.

Q: Is there a link to Peter's article in last Sat's F. Post. May.14?

Yx. A

Q: I understand that some individual reits are considered 'fully valued' on a P/E basis - based on historical 'norms'

question: looking at ZRE can you provide a 'rough' calc on the overall P/E with an eye to whether you feel it is at, near or over its traditional long term valuation range

or, more importantly, based on metrics you (5I) would use, what is your currently concern about reit valuations?

thank you in advance

Q: Hello Peter and Team, What are thoughts about this ETF for a 3 year hold ? Thank you.

Q: Interest rate anxiety seems to be sweeping the markets again. Refresh my memory about what sectors are likely to be hurt worst in this silliness. I would have thought reits, utilities and telcom but it was consumer staples that got hammered today while the telcos did fine.

Q: Do you or any of your readers know if there a free program that can Monitor - Streaming Data for Stocks, Major Indices, Forex, and Commodities. I was using HDVFN, but are unable to use any more. Manuel

Q: For transferring money from the UK to Canada I use Tranferwise. It is a bit of a pain to set up but fast and easy afterwards. I transfer the money to their account and receive in in my bank in two business days.
Most important they have MINIMUM fees and use wholesale rates.
For transferring to/from another country they may suggest another financial institution.

Q: I do not rely on technical indicators in a large way, but I use them to solidify my opinion of a company and to a degree timing a purchase. This would pertain for me mostly to a value or momentum indication within a stock. Is there an article or book that you are aware of that might give me a breakdown of how often an indicator proves to be correct and to what increase or decrease of price deviation might occur after the technical is noted? An example after a stock passes its upward 200 day moving average there is a 60% chance it will continue upwards by 10% within 30 days of that occurrence (Not factual). I do not mind doing the math myself but I respect and consider others opinions and formulas and also they may give me different insight. Any technical that you yourself like or consider?
Thanks
J

Q: Please give me your opinion on these two Etfs for my Tfsa. Thank you.

Q: In Peter Hodson's article in Saturday May 14th edition of the national Post he described how to convert Can$ to U.S.$ without paying high foreign exchange fees.
Question 1 what are usual fee rates you say are high.
Question 2 Can one do this in the opposite direction? ie Move U.S $ to Canadian

Q: Glacier has just announced a rights offering. Could you please explain how this works, what the advantages are for the investor and for the company, why would they do this and is this typically a prudent move by the company. Putting Glacier aside, do you recommend investing during a time when a company has made such an offering? Also, how do the backstop agreements work? Thanks for your great work.