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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Hi 5i, I currently have preferred shares in 13 different companies. I would like to diversify as they are all in finance, utilities, energy and Telecom. Can you name three companies to put into my RRSP that are US based with preferred shares that are solid. I'm looking for 5y resets or perpetual, thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Mark on March 14, 2023
Q: Do you agree with this statement....
"BPYPO matures (at the option of BAM) in March next year, with incentives for BAM to retire the ticker at par of 25% per unit, translating to a potential 56% yield to maturity opportunity in one year."

BPYPO is trading at roughly $15.40 USD. Is the par price $25 USD ? Do you believe BAM (I think that should actually be BN) will retire this preferred next year ? Is this a good investment ?
Read Answer Asked by James on March 14, 2023
Q: Subject Preferred Shares are up for reset June 1, 2023. In the event company redeems on this date (they redeemed ENB.PR. J USD last year), is there any recommendation to avoid large currency related capital gain on this shareholder uncontrollable event while Can $ is particualrly weak vs US$?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Mark on March 09, 2023
Q: I hold these Brookfield Infrastructure preferred which currently pay 5% but reset March 31, 2023 at 6.642%. I can happily continue to hold these, but alternatively I have the option to convert them to Series 10 Preferred which will pay a floating Rate of 3% above the Government of Canada 3 month Treasury Bills, reset quarterly. This will be set for the first quarter to June 30 at 7.564%.

I suppose it's a gamble on what interest rates are likely to do over the next 5 years; but do you have any thoughts on which option I should choose?
Read Answer Asked by David on March 07, 2023
Q: Couple of days ago you listed some preferred shares that you like. As they are perpetual, and not rate reset, will the yield vary from what they are at now? When can the issuers change the rate?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by steve on February 28, 2023
Q: Hi Peter,

On January 10, you were asked a question about Loblaw Preferred Stock (L.PR.B). I really appreciated the relevance of your comments (a net benefit of being a 5i member) and bought it for the income. My question is, do you know of any other perpetual preferred shares that meet the same definition as what you stated (of all the preferred shares out there like this: (Of all the preferreds out there, this would be in our 'no need to worry' category, easily).

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Charles on February 22, 2023
Q: I own some of the above preferred shares which reset on April 30/23. If Artis REIT does not call the preferred they reset at 5 year GOC (currently 3.454%) plus 3.93% or about 7.38% . Alternatively, I can covert to the floating rate of 90 day t-bills (currently 4.7%) plus 3.93%. or about 8.63%. I noticed not many preferred with the option to convert to floating rate are successful as they normally require a minimum number of shares . Is there a reason? Are t-bills rates more volatile than GOC rates? Any recommendations?
Read Answer Asked by Albert on February 22, 2023
Q: These two preferred are going to be reset next month. Is a conversion from BCE.PC to BCE.PD, or the reverse, tax-free if we choose to do so?

I was very successful in the last 2 years with the BCE.PD floating shares, but would it be wise to let them go and convert to the fixed-reset at this moment of plateauing interest rates? I guess it could depend on the new rates which will be determined on Feb06.

Thanks to the team.
Read Answer Asked by Denise on January 23, 2023
Q: I hold convertible debentures from Invesque IVQ.DB.V, maturing 30 Sept of this year, but which are only trading at 80 cents on the dollar. This seems to indicate that there is a substantial risk of default. In your opinion will I get my principal back or will I be given newly-issued and hence highly diluted IVQ shares? Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Gregory on January 20, 2023
Q: Hi 5i,
Sorry for all the preferred share questions but I'm having problems finding US based fixed rate perpetual and if possible cumulative preferred shares. The ones above are on my buy list can you name three more preferably in other sectors that have high to highest ratings or are unlikely to default. I still have memories of 2008 with the CDOs fiasco so like diversification if possible. Thanks for your service.
Read Answer Asked by Mark on January 17, 2023
Q: Hi. I’ve held Corby since April 2020 and did some profit taking in April when it was trading in the high $19’s; and added to PBH which was trading down.

I’d purchased Corby for safety/stability and reliable income. The dividend is variable and occasionally fluctuates. It has a low beta and has held up well until recently; as I suspect that many investors are seeking better opportunistic for growth.

I’’m considering selling Corby and moving to Loblaw’s Perpetual Preferred for largely the same reason I’d purchased Corby, for safety/reliable income with a lower beta and somewhat higher dividend. It is currently trading at $23.00. As interest rates fall, I can see where there will be some modest growth in addition to a relatively safe dividend. I’m considering L.PR in order to maintain my sector allocation.

In 5i’s view would this trade make sense, or would I be better off “staying the course” on Corby? I currently don’t have any preferred shares. My holdings in the Staples Sector are Corby, Northwest Company and Premium Brands.

Are there any other Staples Preferred shares (either rate reset or perpetual) that you feel are more attractive?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Cory on January 17, 2023
Q: I'm looking at my legacy pile of preferred shares of which I have never been fond and wondering if this isn't a good time to sell and invest in a bond ETF such as XHY. I know you have expressed ambivalence about prefs but have also said in better times the class can do better. However, yields are roughly comparable, I can use the loses and invest the proceeds in XHY or a different bond fund which you might suggest, keeping the investment on the fixed income side of the page, Many thanks. al
Read Answer Asked by alex on January 12, 2023
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