Investment Q&A

Q: In response to Dennis Mcv comments on brokerage permissions.
I understand that brokers/bankers can only loan out your shares for short selling if they are in a margin account. So they tell us!!!
I think the only way to ensure that your shares are not short sold is if you hold in your hands the physical stock certificate. but who does that today. I have always believed that the practice of short selling is not a good thing and is destructive by its very nature.

Q: Hi, like most of your members, I have an on-line trading account. The problem that I encounter when I wish to buy shares is that I'm at work when the markets are open and I don't want to use my work computer to make trades. How do you suggest we place a Buy order once you've chosen an equity that you wish to purchase. You once wrote that we shouldn't place a "market" bid as that is like giving a blank cheque. Should I place a bid in before I leave for work and limit it to the previous day's closing price? Or what do you suggest?

Thank you for the education,

Q: Hi Peter and team, On Nov 5th YRI and K hit multi-year lows. Just 20 days later they have gained/recovered 22% and 54% respectively from that multi-year lows. Would like to know the underlying reasons for this quick recovery. Thanks.

Q: My question concerns RIF withdrawals. Within my RIF portfolio, I have Canadian and U.S. equities, cash, corporate bonds - 2018. During the course of the year, I require about 75% of the minimum withdrawal to cover the expenses for the year. I generally withdraw the assets in-kind. I would like some advice as to what strategy I should use to determine what assets should be withdrawn.

Q: Hi Peter and team,

Could you please suggest several investments for a portion of a portfolio, in a non-registered account, where capital preservation and income (as frequently as yearly or more) are a priority?

It would be important to avoid the risk of losing capitol over a 5 year time frame. A distribution/interest/dividend/etc payment is also important for this investment.

With GIC rates being so low, I'm struggling with what to do.

Could you please recommend a few ideas which would yield more than a GIC while also minimizing risk and taking into account the tax implications of it being in a non-registered account.

Thank you very much for all of your helpful answers.

Q:


Hi Peter et al:
I owned 1000 vod at a cost of $25,459.95. for every 11 vod I received 6 new vod. I also received 263 verizon shares, and a cash payment of $4928.01. I know you are not in the tax advisory business, but perhaps wsome member comments are possible. BMO INVESTORLINE tells me they will issue a T5 showing the full cash payment as foreign income. They also mentioned an election under section 86.1 of the act to defer
some or all of the amount. When I checked section 86.1 deals with spinoffs. Comments Please.

Thanks,
BEN

Q: I have noticed that when you suggest to members that tax loss selling might be a desired activity to lower taxes, you have used a 23% saving. Am I correct that this is because the Ontario maximum Tax on Capital Gains is 46% X 1/2? I live in Alberta, and I believe our similar rate is 39% X 1/2. Just clarifying.
Thanks for all you do for the members.

Q: Much thanks to the post by 'Peter' re: Shorting America
By Walter Cruttenden.https://www.sec.gov/comments/4-627/4627-95.pdf
Short selling with it's manipulating ways has always been a sore topic with me .
I would advise every investor to confirm with their investing broker that they 'do not' want any shorting of equities held in your name without your permission.
Thank you D McV

Q: I must have missed it but how do you calculate your fee for your Portfolio Review service?
Thanks and I am very impressed by your (and my)portfolio performances.

Q: Just wondering if I wanted a portfolio review is the fee that 5i charges tax deductible?

Thanks
Dolores

Q: Hello Peter & Co
Some of my holdings have a negative beta (globe investor); how does one explain that?
Thanks
Tony

Q: Thought this was an interesting article on the history of short selling. https://www.sec.gov/comments/4-627/4627-95.pdf

Q: Hello Peter & Co,
In the fall of 2008 (I was then 65) I converted my RRSP portfolio to cash with the intention of taking over the responsibility of managing the investments; the objective was to generate a 7% compound annual return with the assumption of a 3% annual inflation rate on the income for the next 25 years. My retirement would have been 60% from the RRSP (now RRIF) portfolio and 40% from fixed/guaranteed sources such as CPP, OAS and a very small private pension.
Since the portfolio's inception date of June 30, 2009 (I am now 71) I have managed to get a much higher compound annual return of 17% (all in equity at a low beta volatility of 0.4), which has allowed me to double the RRIF income (vs the original plan) and assuming a reversion to the original 7% compound return for the next 20 years.
As a consequence, the original income split of 60/40 will now be 70/30; in light of that, I a wondering if I should reduce the equity portion of the portfolio to arrive at 60/40.
Would it be wise to do so?
Thanks,
Tony

Q: While on the topic of the role that analysts play, while I do not make a purchase based on the usual analyst's comments (that is where 5i comes in!) I do find it useful to know what they think as it prepares me for stock movements and does sometimes provide food for thought.

I am often confused, however, by how they phrase their recommendations. For example, the following was taken from today's Globe: "Raymond James downgraded Chevron to "outperform" from "strong buy" with a price target of $140 (U.S.)" Given the current price of Chevron ($117 US) and its 3.7% dividend, that represents close to a 25% gain they are expecting! Does this mean they expect most oil companies to grown more than 25% this year, since this would not represent out-performance? What should we take from this type of comment - anything?

Your opinion is greatly valued.

Thanks.

Paul F.

Q: Hello Peter and team,

I took some profits along the way in 2014 in a non-registered account and now I am wondering which of my losing stocks I should sell to offset the capital gains. The “losers” to choose from are:

RUS, <1% of portfolio, down 15%, capital loss would be 10% of total capital gain
XSR, <1% of portfolio, down 35%, capital loss would be 23% of total capital gain
AVO, 2.1% of portfolio, down 14%, capital loss would be 20% of total capital gain
TOU, 2.5% of portfolio, down 18%, capital loss would be 33% of total capital gain
D.UN, 4.1% of portfolio, down 11%, capital loss would be 27% of total capital gain
CPG, 5.4% of portfolio, down 5%, capital loss would be 16.6% of total capital gain

When I say the “capital loss would be 10% of total capital gain”, I mean that if I sold all the shares the capital loss generated would offset 10% of the total capital gain I have to declare in 2014.

If I sold RUS and XSR that only contributes a third to the capital loss I need to create. I am willing to wait it out for AVO. I like the dividend on CPG and D.UN. I don’t really want to sell TOU at this time, but I may not have a choice if I want to offset all the capital gains.

What should I sell? Should I suck it up and just pay some or all of the income tax when I file my tax return in April (I would be in the top tax bracket)?

Paul J.

Q: Could i get your opinion of the value in analysts going out on a tour of a mine, oilfield, or even touring a manufacturing plant. I can see the value if it is someone like Brent Cook going out to a mine but the majority of the analysts have no background to realize what is going on out in the working world. As a working person I have been on 2 sites where tours of analysts took place and it is similar to when senior management comes out (clean the place up, and make sure everyone looks busy, and they are so careful to go to certain areas and not others).
Thanks

Q: Further to Gerry's comment/reminder to fellow Members:
1) Check for prevous questions regarding the Symbol/Ticker you are about to ask about.
2) NEXT before asking a question, ALSO use the "Drop down"
selection of "Search by Text" as a subsequent check that
other comments in miss-labelled/titled questions might
reveal insights to what you are asking.
3) Just as an example when I did a 'Search by Symbol' for AYA
it did not turn-up Gerry's comment/question, probably
because the symbol field contained two Symbols (AYA,AVO).
Whereas when I used the 'Search by Text' feature, Gerry's
comment was displayed.

As a note to 5i...I only discovered this feature by accident.
Was it ever advertised to the Members? Maybe a banner announcing this feature would be a good idea. The less time you spend repeating yourselves in your answers means the more time you will be able to spend on NEW questions.

Q: Hi Peter & Co
More of a general question.
With your years experience on Bay St I was wondering if you could give us some insight on what information analyst are given/get from companies.
i.e. How are estimates/guidance determined (do companies provide numbers or do analyst figure them out);
What information is asked and answered at private meetings? What are the disclosure rules?
How assessable are most companies for private meetings and is this something private investors can request from companies or is this generally reserved for investment professionals?
What questions are off limits?
Thanks
Joe

Q: Not a question but a reminder to members.. At the top of our members page 5i has suggested looking up the company you may have a question on, it may have been answered already. For the month of November the TMX had 15 trading days, questions were asked by members about Amaya 9 times and Avigilon 14 times. 5i provides us with an invaluable service at extremely reasonable cost. Fellow members please search before asking your question.
Just a comment not wanting to hurt anybodies feelings ( I'm Canadian you know ) Gerry

Q: I have now subscribed to your newsletter for almost a year, and I am very impressed. I have a question for you about a now bankrupt company, Poiseidon Concepts. I lost a bundle on it. It was a darling of the analysts before it tanked, and was recommended in two of the newsletters I was subscribing to at the time. One even recommended doubling up after it had dropped by 70% (which I did), then it "went to zero". Had you ever followed the stock, and were you able to see its demise coming? Thanks for your help.