Investment Q&A

Q: Hello 5I
Is there a method I can use to review my question history where I can review my previous questions and the answer you provided, without having to scroll back in the hope of finding it?

Q: For those interested in dividend growth stocks I recommend the "Canadian Dividend All Star List". The list is comprised of Canadian companies that have increased their dividend for 5 or more calendar years in a row. The list is updated monthly in excel form and can be accessed/downloaded here:
http://www.dividendgrowthinvestingandretirement.com/canadian-dividend-all-star-list/

Q: Where does one find your "suggested sites" list? Thanks

Q: To answer Mike's question of April 2 concerning ex-dividend dates I use this web address: http://tsx.exdividend.ca as a source of upcoming ex-dividend dates for all the tsx and/or for tsx 60. Included useful information are date, yield, frequency and pay-out ratio. Also the TSX website has a new tab called Dividends where next dividend date is indicated plus all past dividends important dates.

Derek (the dividend hunter)

Q: I have a general question regarding the number of positions you suggest holding in a portfolio. With $50K I consider 12-13 positions as adequate. 15 to 16 positions for a $100K portfolio, and 20-22 positions for a $200K portfolio. Is this reasonable? Also how many positions would you suggest holding for portfolios of $400k, $600K and $800? Thanks for you help.

Q: Hello Peter and Team
Thank you for creating the Growth Portfolio , i have created a mix of your Balance and Growth Portfolio along with some large Blue chip company to lower my risk .
Much Thanks
Claudio

Q: Hello Everyone,

This might help others so I thought I would share. Every now and then we hear from a member that their question is not answered. I think I know what is happening here. If you take too much time to write and then send your message, the browser actually fails to send it. You need to make sure that you see confirmation as oppose to going back to the question box after you click on send. The best way to avoid this is to type your long message in word document and once you are ready cut and paste to 5i question box. By long message I don't mean just the wording. I mean if you take long because you are doing some research or getting information from your portfolio to share with 5i as you are writing. If you take long it is also prudent that you copy the message you typed on in the box before you send it just in case. This way if you don't see the confirmation you don't have to retype the entire thing again. Happy trading every one.

Q: Can you please post your note 'Alerts' versus stop sell orders. I have looked and could not find the answer that Rick had given.

SS

Q: With microcap stocks I sometimes see stocks where the number of shares on the bid is small, say 500 shares and the bid price is higher than the last trade. When I check later a buyer has bought say 3000 shares at that bid price. Do pros often conceal the amount of shares they want to buy by only putting in a small bid? Do you understand my question?

Q: Hi Peter, In your survey you had asked about interest in creating etfs' based on your portfolios which I am interested in. I am wondering if this is now in your plans. For me this is a far more managable option. Dale

Q: I have noticed members have expressed their concern or disappointment in putting in stop loss orders and getting stopped out early in the day only to have the stock move up. I for one have been there and done that, and avoid it now.
I use TD webbroker, and for the last while I have been using the "Alerts" section for cut off prices for both high and low on stocks. Also if you use screeners you can actually set a specific alert for a stock not only on the positive and negative techinicals but a stop loss and upon hitting this level and email or a text is sent rather that stopping you out.

I have been using the technique for sometime now, and find it most useful and help in avoiding losses and costs.

Post if you feel this is worthwhile for consideration. I am sure other on-line brokers have the same service.

Again thanks for the awesome service and look forward to following you.

Q: Re: My question about Companies that are Monopolies/Durable Competitive Advantages.

Thanks John and 5i for the discussion and comment that Rail/Pipeline companies also belong in this category.

Q: I found Eugene's question on investing in monopolies very interesting, as it has formed the backbone of my investment strategy for about 20 years. While absolute monopolies may not exist, in Canada we do have some oligopolies that are very powerful. In their response 5i referred to banks nd telecom. I would suggest adding rail and pipeline to the discussion. Think about how difficult it is to build out large scale infrastructure in N.A. these days due to politics, nimbyism etc... For example, I have owned CNR and ENB since 1997. I invite fellow members to go to longrundtata.com (a great site, previously recommended by 5i) and check out the long run returns of such companies. There is no way CNR and ENB could outperform by that margin, for so many years, without significant barriers to entry in their industry. The marketplace is just too competetive for that. These companies obviuosly have the tables tilted in their favour and in the long run have been excellent holds. Personally I add to them every year. Just my two cents, sorry for being long winded.

Q: When it comes to investing in the US economy versus the Canadian economy, how do you treat companies like SU, BNS, OTC, BIN et al. that are listed on both Canadian and US markets?

Q: Hi! Today (March 31) you commented on a question that you do not like stop loss orders as one can get burned...as did today's questioner...how do you recommend one protects against a big loss? Just regular checking the markets?

David

Q: Hi,

When placing orders, do you have a strong opinion regarding limit vs market orders? I almost always use market orders and have never had any surprises...even with odd lots. I use BMO Investorline. I read something recently about flash events that can cause very brief dramatic price sings that could theoretically cause some significant surprises. Am I exposed when I use market orders? Would my broker have any built in protection? Thanks.

Q: Hi Peter. I sold 300 shares of Teck yesterday and was planning on buying them back today but Andy Bell said this morning that the trades made during the halt would be undone. My trade was late in the day. 12:30ish in BC. How will I know if my trade is being undone and when will I know? Thanks for any info.

Q: I think I got stopped out by high frequency trading and am quite annoyed. I put on a stop loss and saw that there was a momentary downdraft on the chart, poof my stock was sold and the price immediately jumped up about 5% after it took me out. I read that a new stock exchange is opening in Canada that will not allow HFT. Can you tell me something about it and will it be convenient for a small retail investor like me to use? Thanks for your help!

Q: Good Day 5i, I look after two RRSP's, two TFSA's and one non registered outside account. in these 5 accounts I hold just over 60 stocks with a total of approximately 600k. Do you feel that the sixty stocks is over done? I do hold a lot of the same ones you have in your porfolios. Thanks MC

Q: I am in the process of figuring out exactly the amount of each sector holding that I have and wondered how should I record preferred shares, should these recorded a financial sector?

Thanks